College of DuPage Board Fires Robert Breuder | Patch

By Amie Schaenzer (Patch Staff) October 20, 2015

 

 

The College of DuPage Board of Trustees fired its embattled President Robert Breuder at a meeting Tuesday night.

The board voted 4-1 to approve the termination, with Trustee Dianne McGuire of Naperville casting the sole no vote. She said the firing of Breuder was centered around a ”politically driven vendetta that is unworthy of this board.” Two trustees, Erin Birt and Joseph Wozniak, were not present and did not vote.

Other trustees spoke of the many examples of misconduct and mismanagement during Breuder’s term. Deanne Mazzochi, board vice chairman, said improper “electioneering activities” by Breuder helped the college secure a $168 million referendum “that this institution and taxpayers will be paying for for decades.”

The College of DuPage and Breuder have been under fire for months regarding its finances and administrative practices and Breuder has been the subject of public scrutiny regarding a $762,867 severance package the former board of trustees approved, according to the Daily Herald.

An investigation into Breuder began in spring 2015. During the course of the investigation, “the college found evidence of misconduct and mismanagement, which Breuder, participated in, oversaw or failed to prevent,” according to the special board meeting agenda. A full list of the allegations of Breuder can be viewed below in the board agenda.

Here is a brief timelines looking at some of the allegations leveled against Breuder, who has been on paid leave, over the past year:

• In January, school board members voted to send the community college’s president Robert Breuder away with a $762,000 buyout. That was funded by taxpayers.
• Audio tapes of the buyout negotiations between Breuder and the board of trustees revealed that the president initially asked for a $1.5 million severance payment—almost three years’ salary—and other perks. The board refused to accept those terms.
• Then there were the business dealings at the college radio station and a move tocensure a board member.
• Earlier in March, it was revealed that nearly $200,000 was charged in food and liquor costs at the college’s fine dining restaurant, Waterleaf.
• The last week in March, the college allegedly awarded signage contracts to a foundation member without going to bid for the jobs.
• On April 13, the former radio station employee pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces.
• Then on April 20, it was discovered that an additional $160,000 has been spent at the College of DuPage restaurant, Waterleaf, from an account that was previously undiscovered.
• August 2015: College of DuPage trustees vote to close the Waterleaf restaurant.
• September 2015: The Chicago Tribune releases an article about a pricey, private locker room Breuder had built
• October 2015: The Higher Learning Commission said COD did not meet two core components for accreditation. HLC found COD non-compliant in the area of institutional integrity and in the area of effectiveness of administration and governance.

College of DuPage Board Fires Robert Breuder | Patch