Local News

Questions About Lab School Mistakenly Given Grant

CHICAGO (CBS) ― In a $1 million mistake, state money meant to help rebuild Pilgrim Baptist Church ended up at a school that only rented space there.

CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports on the questionable background of the people in charge of the school.

The search for the owners of the Loop Lab School begins at the home of Elmira Mays, the 75-year-old former secretary who, according to documents, incorporated the business in 1983.

CBS 2 couldn't find Mays, but did run across her nephew, who refused to answer any questions about the school.

CBS 2 toured the school's new facility, a commercial condo in the Loop the owners bought with the $1 million grant they never should have gotten.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich had promised the money to Pilgrim Baptist to help the church rebuild after it was destroyed by a fire. Loop Lab was renting a room from the church, so it too was destroyed, and somebody in the governor's office mistakenly gave the million dollars to the school.

The Better Government Association is questioning whether the governor had any idea who he was really giving the money to.

"I'm not sure really how much CMS or any other agency that gives out state money really does a background check," said Jay Stewart of the BGA. "Clearly the ball was dropped on this one.

CBS 2's background check on Loop Lab turned up some interesting facts, beginning with the grant. Mays, who signed the papers, checked that school was "not delinquent in its payment of moneys owned to any federal, state or local unit of government".

The grant was dated November 27, 2006. Three days later, on November 30, 2006, the IRS charged the school with failing to pay $29,000 in back taxes.

The school also has nine civil cases against it totally more than $67,000. On top of that, in 2004, a teacher at the school was accused of sexual harassment, and a year before, in 2003, the director, Dr. Chandra Gill, had a felony record for hitting a police officer.

Coincidently, in January 2007, shortly after the school had been approved for the $1 million grant, Gill was pardoned by the governor.

The governor ignored questions Wednesday about the timing of the pardon.

An attorney says Gill deserved it.

"For an individual that received a college degree where she graduated at the top of her class, a master's degree in education, a doctoral degree…" attorney William Quinlan said.

"If there's something improper in regard to that school and they made some misrepresentations we'll act accordingly," Blagojevich said.

The state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity approved the million-dollar grant. That agency is now investigating the school.

A spokesperson for the governor's office says the number one priority is to determine if and when the school will open.

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