A Springfield businessman is accusing District 186 and the school board of violating its own policies and giving taxpayer-funded advertising to school board president Adam Lopez, through the holiday basketball tournament that bears his name.
Frank Vala of Valco Awards presented his complaint to the board Monday night, saying the district shells out thousands of dollars in facility usage and overtime pay for the Adam Lopez Thanksgiving tournament without a contract, and only makes back a fraction of the expenses through gate receipts. Vala was given three minutes to make his statement, and when his time expired, Lopez abruptly adjourned the meeting and left without talking to reporters.
Afterwards, Superintendent Jennifer Gill acknowledged the lack of a contract and said there are differing interpretations of policy surrounding such events. But she says the board will be working to modify its policies on facility usage to clear up those gray areas in the future. But Gill refused to comment on Vala’s claim that Lopez has gotten free advertising for his business at taxpayer expense… and should step down from his post.