Police Investigating Bill and Carol Naughtiness

FYI: I am NOT the person or persons who have gone to the police or DA. Several people have written me and encouraged me to do so, but, I feel that it is the BOE's job to do the heavy lifting on this one and meet the public's expectations that people be held accountable. Several local attorneys who follow the blog and are paying attention have contacted me with the specific state statute references that have been violated (all felonies) by Carol and Bill. But, I am sure the Police and the DA can figure this out the specifics. If they don't, then other people can call them on it.

Up until a week ago when the LT story first appeared, it seemed that NO ONE either in Administration or on the BOE was interested in anything but sweeping this under the rug and praying it would all disappear. I am hoping that as all the documents requested from Closed Sessions and e-mail correspondence about this issue are released, it will be clear what the thinking was by individuals in Administration and on the BOE. I certainly have saved all of my e-mails sent to the BOE and ECASD Administrators over the months and will be happy to share them although I never received a response.

Maria

Updated: 4/24/2008 11:37:02 PM

Police investigating memo
Officials promise to cooperate
By Dan Holtz
Leader-Telegram staff
Eau Claire school officials will cooperate and make records available during a police investigation into an attempt by former Superintendent Bill Klaus to receive early retirement stipend payments before he was eligible, interim Superintendent James Leary said Thursday.

School officials will do "whatever we can do to help," Leary said.

Eau Claire police, and ultimately Eau Claire County District Attorney Rich White, are investigating the matter.

"We're looking into it at the request of the DA's office," Eau Claire Deputy Police Chief Eric Larsen said.

"We don't know that there's anything criminal going on, but we're taking a look at it and then will forward any information on" to White, Larsen said.

White won't make a decision on possible criminal charges until he views any police reports generated from the incident.

"Either (the police) or I can then assess whether anything can be done," White said.

White's office has fielded complaints about the incident.

"It's pretty clear there are strong feelings about what was taking place," White said. "One way or another something's going to get to the Police Department and to me."

In typical investigations, if police feel criminal charges aren't warranted, police reports may not be forwarded to the district attorney's office, White said.

But because of the high-profile nature of this case, reports probably will be forwarded to White even if police think criminal charges aren't warranted, he said.

"It would be unlikely that I wouldn't have input," White said.

Both White and Larsen said there is no timetable on the Klaus investigation.

A Leader-Telegram story on Saturday spelled out how former school board President Carol Olson, at Klaus' request, signed a document in late June or early July and backdated it to Feb. 5, 2007, the date the school board had approved changes to Klaus' contract allowing him to become Northstar Middle School principal.

The document stipulated that monthly stipend payments to Klaus begin Aug. 1, but other board members have said they never agreed to that provision. Olson said she thought the document she signed accurately reflected what the board discussed in a closed session regarding the early stipend.

Olson was no longer a board member when she signed the document, and other board members said they were unaware until October that Klaus' contract had been amended without their knowledge. The board met in closed session in October and spelled out that Klaus was not eligible for the stipend until age 55 and upon his retirement. Klaus is 53 and said he did not intend to retire upon receiving his stipend payments.

Klaus didn't receive any of the $225,000 the school district will pay him as part of his retirement benefits package, school officials said.

Holtz can be reached at 833-9207, 800-236-7077 or dan.holtz@ecpc.com.