College of DuPage trustees have decided to fire its controversial President Robert Breuder Tuesday evening.
The board at the state’s largest community college axed Breuder by a 4-1 vote Tuesday evening, with many board members explaining how they arrived at their decision.
"I believe we as a board have a duty to terminate the executive who has engaged in the violations that are noticed here," board member Deanna Mazzochi said.
"This is not a politically inspired witch hunt," board member Charles Bernstein said. "I will cast my vote because of what I see."
Not all in attendance were against Breuder.
"We have no legal basis for moving forward in this direction," board member Dianne McGuire said.
Breuder, who wasn't at the meeting, has been under fire for nearly two years over claims of excessive spending and his administrative practices. Breuder had planned to leave voluntarily in March, which would have allowed him to walk away with a more than $750, 000 severance package.
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The move to fire Brueder voids his contract and means he will not receive any severance pay. He's been on paid leave since April.
State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) released a statement in response to the decision.
“Given what we've learned, trustees should have pursued this from the beginning," Cullerton said in a statement. "They could have spared this community, this institution, taxpayers and students a lot of embarrassment. But since we don’t have a time machine, I suppose it’s better late than never.”
