Ex-Gavin school board president to repay stolen $10,500

The former president of the Gavin school board agreed Monday to pay the Lake County Fair Association $10,500 to make up for money she stole while employed there.

Barbara Mende, 37, will pay at least $200 a month until the debt is satisfied, according to the agreement approved by Circuit Judge George Bridges.

Mende, who was convicted of unlawful bid stringing in May in connection with her work with the Gavin Elementary District 37 school board, pleaded guilty to felony theft in September.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Marykay Foy said Mende was employed in the fair association payroll department from 2005 until late 2007.

During that time, Foy said, Mende paid herself for overtime she did not work, failed to collect health insurance payments from herself and did not collect a $895 wage garnishment ordered against her by a Cook County court.

Investigators estimated the total Mende took was in excess of $11,000, but her attorney Wesley Pribla of Woodstock said he was prepared to dispute that amount.

The agreement reached Monday between Foy and Pribla, which was approved by fair association attorney Rudolph Magna, pre-empted a hearing that had been set to establish what amount Mende would have to pay.

She was convicted of bid stringing for arranging to split into two segments a $13,000 bill for moving school equipment from Lake Zurich back to Gavin Central after repairs were completed in the Ingleside school.

The 2006 arrangement with 5-Alarm Movers of Park Ridge allowed Mende and her board allies to award the contract without asking for competitive bids.

She claimed at the trial she was following the example of a previous school board that had also billed moving expenses in two segments.

Mende was found not guilty of a more serious charge of official misconduct at the end of her trial.

On Sept. 24, she pleaded guilty to felony theft, and Bridges sentenced her to two years on probation for both crimes and ordered her to perform 150 hours of community service.

The convictions ended Mende's political career, which began in 2006 with her election to the school board. Bridges has barred her from holding a leadership position in any organization while on probation.