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Board questions partial payment to vendor for unfinished Bolingbrook High science lab work
Summary
A board member pressed district staff about a $43,667 partial payment to Harry J. Clopold and Associates for Bolingbrook High School’s science‑lab repairs that staff said remains incomplete after about a year; administration said the payment covered completed materials and labor and that the vendor is expected to finish remaining work.
A Valley View CUSD 365U board member on July 13 pressed administration over a partial payment to a vendor for work on the Bolingbrook High School science laboratory that, according to the board member, remains unfinished after roughly 12 months.
During discussion of the June scheduled bills (agenda item 6.2), a board member identified the invoice and asked, "Has that project been finished? Does anybody know?" When administration replied the project had not yet been completed, the board member asked repeatedly why the district would pay the vendor while work remains unfinished: "It's been 12 months. Why do we pay them?"
District staff member Lopez responded that the $43,667 entry is a partial payment for materials and labor completed to date. "That is a partial payment for them ... They did provide service and, some of the work already, so that's gotta be paid," Lopez said, and added that a remaining payment (quoted in the meeting as roughly $40,000) is still owed and the plan is for the vendor to return and finish the project.
Board members pressed about how the district ensures contractors return to finish long‑running projects when partial payments are made. Lopez said he and his manager are handling the project and that the district follows typical payment and invoicing procedures for partial payments submitted by vendors. The board approved the scheduled June bills, which included the payment in question; administration was asked to follow up with the board on project completion and outstanding payments.
What the record shows: the transcript identifies the vendor line as "Harry J. Clopold and Associates" for $43,667. The district stated this was the first payment to the vendor and that additional payments remain. The board requested follow‑up reporting; a specific enforcement or holdback mechanism was not read into the public record at the meeting.
Next steps: Business Services was asked to provide an update on project completion and remaining invoices at a future board meeting.
