LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
During an open session on Sept. 11, 2023, Paris Union School District 95 board president Kevin Knoepfel issued a statement regarding the district’s corrective action plan and the current investigation into the misappropriation of federal grant money. The investigation came to light earlier this summer after FBI agents were spotted searching the home of District 95’s Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Larson.
“The Paris Union School District 95 administration is aware that many in our community have questions about the investigation into the alleged misuse of funds by the superintendent,” Knoepfel began. “To date, the U.S. District Attorney’s Office has not provided the school district with any information related to the case. It is our understanding that the investigation remains active.”
Paris 95 received a subpoena from the U.S. District Attorney’s Office back in June. A copy of the subpoena provided to The Prairie Press was mostly redacted.
While the board and community at large are currently in the dark regarding the investigation, Knoepfel provided an update regarding a pay-back plan from the Illinois State Board of Education.
“The Illinois State Board just reached out today regarding a potential pay-back plan in the amount of $1,589,611,” said Knoepfel.
The payment plan has not been finalized and is subject to change.
Paris 95 has already completed a separate corrective action plan, which was submitted to the ISBE in July. That plan was designed to remedy the findings in the FSM Final Monitoring Report, which the district received on June 14.
According to Knoepfel, the corrective action plan was formally accepted by the ISBE.
Knoepfel promised the board would keep the community in the loop on further developments.
“We will keep our community updated as we receive information pertaining to this matter,” he said.