@Byron What you forget what state you live in. This is NORMAL nothing to see here move along "citizen".

@Byron : SSHHHHHHHHH!! You're not supposed to notice these things!!

I do find it odd that they would not get multiple proposals for this work.

This is not something new. This kind of thing happens all the time. The bad thing is the voters who approved it essentially allowed/encouraged it.

@joepyeweed : Oh please! No you don't! **chuckle**

@kraziebill : How so???

Just my opinion....I see a lot of "wasteful spending" and feel there seems to be room for improvements which would save money that could be used for buildings or whatever.

@joepyeweed Why would you find it odd? Nicholas contributed close to 7K to help pass the tax what is going to fund the bonds. So did this contribution help them gain this no bid contract?My hope is enough D-150 taxpayers (I do not live in 150) show up at the next board meeting and respectfully demand competitive bids.

Well technically one does not "competitively bid" professional services such as legal, architectural or banking services. But there is a quality based selection procurement process for those type of services, where multiple firms submit their qualifications, the selection is based upon that qualification, then they negotiate fee for service. Had the school district already gone through this process for other bonds and selected this firm that way?

@joepyeweed :
I believe for other bonds a lot of the issuance of these has been through the Public Building Commission (PBC). So I am not sure if they had to use a bond underwriter.Keep in mind there first has to be a feasibility study first before bonds are issued. I fail to see why the district can not seek other financial firms while the study is being completed.The bigger point is that 150 should compare Nicholas with other firms for expertise and to see if they can save some taxpayer dough. When's the last time that PPS has had a budget in the black?

Contact info for District 150 board members. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 12th.www.peoriapublicscho ols.org/Page/578

District 150 Board meeting tomorrow night at 6:30. Ask them to consider other financial firms besides Nicholas. It is possible that some board members may not know about Nicholas contribution. However I do think some of the board and administration do know.

@Byron :So if they don't know about the contribution, then where is the conflict of interest?

I do think most of the board and all of administration do know about the contribution and are ignoring the "Conflict of Interest." Evening if some don't they should seek other firms to avoid the C.O.I. appearance and for financial reasons. I can't come up with a reason to not seek competing proposals from firms who are in this business. Remember they must do a feasibility study first before issuing the bonds.