Whistleblower faces firing from District 150
Having to work a day job today kept me from talking to the many people who returned phone calls about this story. But since WEEK has about half of the story (stating the Peoria School District 150 board is meeting in private to discuss the termination of a whistleblower), I’m going to go ahead and print as much as I can without running afoul of a libel judgment:
Julie McArdle is the current principle at Charles Lindbergh Middle School in Peoria. She recently replaced Mary Davis who now works at central administration with Ken Hinton as what the Journal Star described as “an academic officer for the district’s middle and high schools.”
McArdle noticed incoming credit card card receipts bearing the name of another District employee. Money also came up missing in the school’s activity fund. McAardle suspected theft and started making inquiries, but got no answers.
My source added the following detail. The unauthorized spending involved at least a thousand dollars and included car repair payments and payments to “American Girl” in Chicago, a high-end doll store. Also, some of the suspect credit card bills were being paid with funds from the student activity fund.
Eventually, McArdle was told by Hinton to resign or be fired. Confident of the job she has done as principal at Lindbergh, she told Hinton go ahead and fire her.
She then gathered up as much documentation as she could find and went to a lawyer, Peoria criminal defense/civil rights attorney Richard Steagall, who told her that this was a classic case of trying to fire a whistleblower, an apparent violation of Federal law. Steagall then called Superintendent Ken Hinton and told him that if he didn’t take this information to the police and press charges, he would take his client to the police and do it.
Ken Hinton filed a report alleging theft by this employee Peoria Police Department on Friday, my source tells me. He told the officer at the station that an independent audit of the activity fund would be done, and the credit card statements checked out.
At one point, a mention of McArdle’s pending termination was on the District 150 Web site (possibly as an agenda item), my source said. The Web site to be down during the weekend.
I was able to confirm late Friday night — from a different source — that Hinton had been recently discussing firing a high-level administrator and that it would probably appear in the media on Monday, although it was discussed in terms of budget reductions. My source did not know the name of the administrator, and no mention was made of theft allegations.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
McCArdle also discovered that several of the Lindbergh students had the same address and were not siblings. Allegedly, they were using the address of the LIBRARIAN of the school! They were doing this so they could get into Lindbergh even though they lived outside of district boundaries. McCardle put a stop to it. That probably pissed off those parents, who joined a posse to do her in.
McCardle also uncovered a “ghost” employee, a student teacher who should NOT have been on the payroll. She brought it to the attention of central admin who asked her to overlook it. She refused.
Wow! You’re doing good work Billy. It pains me to think a person who has integrity would be punished instead of lauded.
Julie McArdle is the the epitome of a professional. Sadly, some people believe that by virtue of “birth right” or “name”, they should have preferential treatment. Mrs. McArdle treats everyone the same, with dignity and respect
Let’s see the docs. The truth shall set you free.
Ya know, when somebody ‘lawyers up’, usually that’s a sign of some sort of wrong-doing.
It no wonder d150 is constantly in financial trouble. Sounds like Central Admin is playing Chicago politics.
I am so glad that this was found out. I feel bad for the administrator that got caught but I am so happy that McArdle came forth. I know for a fact that Hinton has done this in the past along with the HR director Broderick and Hannah(cover-up). When they want someone to get by with wrong doings they go after the person reporting it. Maybe this will put an end to the cover-ups, I sure hope so!
It makes me wonder if the student teacher that was getting paid was related to Hinton or someone else on Wisconsin. Gosh, I student taught at Dist. 150, do you think I can get back pay?
Maybe we can get a class action suit together for everyone that has student taught for Dist 150.
Cameron: Maybe this principal “lawered up” because District 150 would not listen to her and she heard the rumors about retaliation for bringing this up. Did you think about that?
Things are only going to get worse for District 150. Guess who is bet buds with Mary Davis? The new prez of the Teachers Union, Bobby Darling and his wife Chris who works at Lindbergh. In fact, Davis and Darling sit together at board meetings and they were sitting together last night as the Board voted to terminate McCardle. With upcoming bargaining right around the corner, and this cozy love fest going on, you can virtually guarantee who is going to come out on the short end of this stick – children. They always do in District 150. Abuse of power and corruption rules at Peoria Public Schools.
How cozy. How Peoria.
Why is it the “Whistle Blower” who is trying to right a wrong doing always is the one who gets fired?
Each state has a ruling on workplace bullying and the consequences. An employment attorney should be hired immediately for this wrongful firing.
The UNION is powerless apparently!
I could be wrong, but I don’t think the Union represents administrators like principals.
Ms CommonSense… Principals are not in a union. They are considered administration. Firing a whistle blower, no matter what else happened, is going to cost us money.
Vote was 4-1. Who voted no and where were the other 2 board members for such a controversial vote??
Merle — See my comments on the PJStar website about the many weaknesses of this story – which even had 2 bylines!
I, too, want to know who was present and how they voted. Does anyone out there know?
The vote HAD to have been taken during open session. I was home, not at the meeting. In defense, I have been known to forget to mention the name of “nay” voters. but then, I don’t have a copy desk backing me up. I just have my readers.
Martha voted no and Gorenz and Spangler were absent.
I’m so happy to know Spangler thought it important enough to actually come to a board meeting to vote on closing Kingman but skips the meeting about firing a principal. Thanks, Spangler!
I am disappointed that Aaron Shock’s sister would stand and applaud after the firing of Julie. We have walked in MANY parades in support of Aaron for his congressional seat. Obviously we won’t be doing that EVER again! I wonder what her reaction will be when Mary Davis is found GUILTY?
That is sickening! Did that really happen?
Who is Aaron Schock’s sister? Is she a mother from the school? I’m clueless.. sorry.
Update: The attorney Steagall released credit card docs to Channel 31 supporting McCardles claims.
Julie has the utmost integrity. Sorry if this offends anyone but we were raised to, a)follow rules, b)do not tell lies, and c)be respectful.
Remember, Mary Davis brought this on, not Julie McArdle
http://centralillinoisproud.com/content/video/?watch=1&cid=56431
FYI: Student teachers are not paid. They are college students finishing up their degree program.
Did I miss something about paying student teachers ? Where in the world did that come from?
and even though this firing was most likely less than “legit” , they should just put her on “leave” starting now.
what is going to be accomplished by having her back at school for the last 5 weeks or so.
the district decided that they don’t want her, so send her on her way now .
If you are not a staff member, student or parent of Lindbergh Middle School, you really have no right to comment on the “real” reason the principal was fired. This is all gossip!
A Person, seems to me I pay taxes to District 150 and gosh, you must have forgotten, Lindbergh is not private, it’s a public school. As taxpayers we have every right to know what is going on in our school system. It affects everyone of us. When people start talking about moving out of the city it even affects our home prices. So, if District 150 doesn’t get their act together soon we are all in trouble.
“Steagall tells news 25 that McArdle corrected wrongs at Lindbergh Middle School, including a student teacher who was being paid, and, Steagall says, McArdle alerted District 150 officials to illegal credit card purchases made at Lindbergh during the tenure of the previous pincipal, Mary Davis, now a District 150 assistant superintendent.”
http://www.week.com/news/local/43819772.html
The link didn’t show up, but that comment is from week’s website
Was Davis McArdle’s direct supervisor? Was Davis responsible for the production of the Personnel records that the board considered prior to terminating McArdle’s contract? There is absolutely no way that this board action is justifiable if the answer of the two questions is “YES.” This doesn’t pass the smell test at a distance of 1000 miles with the wind blowing in the opposite direction. It was incredibly stupid of them to fire someone who was in the position to produce credible documentation of serial corruption. It is clear that central administration were unprepared to deal with an individual of McArdle’s backbone and integrity. Everyone had better lawyer up, and fast!
I have been the PTO president at Lindbergh Middle School for two years. I am Aaron Schock’s sister (which I do not know what this has to do with anything). I was at the board meeting Monday night to learn about what was going on at my child’s school. I did not stand nor clap when Mrs. McArdle was dismissed from her contract. I do not appreciate lies being spread about me.
Tania – Can you please clear up this confusion. How is it that only the Davis supporters were aware of this meeting? How did you find out about it? It couldn’t have been posted on the district website because that was down for days prior to the meeting. Did Mary Davis tell you about it personally? Can you honestly say you had no idea what the meeting was about? Are you currently behind a signature drive to continue to smear Ms. McCardle? Thanks for any clarification you can provide.
Is the name McArdle or McCardle?
I don’t mind clearing up any confusion, however if I sign my name it would be nice if you did too. I heard about the meeting from another parent. There were also people at the board meeting that support Mrs. McArdle. Why does it matter who was at the board meeting and how they found out about the meeting? They are open to the public. I honestly did not know what was going to happen at the meeting. I know of no signature drive to smear Mrs. McArdle.
Anon: It is McArdle.
and santa claus is real sweety…..
Oh Tania, please!!! You DID stand up and clap with the other groupies out to get Mrs. McArdle. I was there and I SAW you. The PTO board as there because you all were scared that if Mary Davis went down…you all were next. As a parent, I have attended the PTO meetings and have seen how you treat her. People like you would NOT accept a new principal because some of you would not be getting your way any longer. Well, looks like your “fearless leader” needs to start fearing her future. It won’t be over until the fat lady sings and believe me…I haven’t even started!!!
I refuse to comment on lies.
OK, folks. I’m shutting down the comments on this post. To many people calling each other liars.