Former Lincoln
Lawrence Wyllie
Former Lincoln-Way Superintendent Lawrence Wyllie  pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday to fraud and embezzlement charges  and  his  attorney said they plan to fight the case to trial.
 Wyllie  arrived minutes before  his  arraignment in a blue suit with a cross lapel pin.  His  attorneys largely spoke for  him   and  he  ignored reporters asking questions afterward. Before they stepped into the elevator  one of  Wyllie 's attorneys  Dan Webb  said they would be going to trial.
Federal prosecutors allege  Wyllie   79  hid the "true financial health" of Lincoln-Way High School District 210 by misusing millions in bond money and fraudulently spent school district funds on personal projects  including Superdog  a dog training school he ordered built.
 Wyllie  also pocketed more than $30 000 in unused vacation days and a retirement bonus  he  wasn't entitled to  prosecutors charged.
 Wyllie 's attorneys released a statement earlier this month maintaining  Wyllie 's innocence and lauding  him  as "a model educator in Illinois for 55 years."
 Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune Lawrence Wyllie  arrives for  his  arraignment on federal fraud charges at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago on Wednesday  Sept. 27  2017.  Lawrence Wyllie  arrives for  his  arraignment on federal fraud charges at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago on Wednesday  Sept. 27  2017. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Under Wyllie's leadership from 1989 to 2013  Lincoln-Way grew from one school with two campuses to two separate four-year schools  and the district experienced overcrowding. In response   Wyllie  pushed hard for a $225 million referendum measure in 2006 to build two new schools and accommodate growth.
A community group campaigned vigorously against the proposal  arguing that the district should build one school and wait to see whether a fourth was necessary before moving forward. But voters backed  Wyllie   and the district went on to issue $52 million in bonds in 2006  $123 million in 2007 and $29 million in 2009.
As Lincoln-Way's finances atrophied   Wyllie  fraudulently used bond funds to conceal the district's true financial condition  prosecutors said.
By then   Wyllie  had retired and largely disappeared from public view.
Last year  amid intensifying scrutiny from the Daily Southtown  federal investigators and community members   Wyllie  resigned from the boards of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and the University of St. Francis.  He  also sold  his  Frankfort home and moved to Naperville.
Lincoln-Way administration also quietly removed plaques honoring  Wyllie  at each of the district's schools.
[TGT] pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday to fraud and embezzlement charges  and   [TGT]   attorney said they plan to fight the case to trial.
  [TGT] arrived minutes before   [TGT]   arraignment in a blue suit with a cross lapel pin.   [TGT]   attorneys largely spoke for   [TGT]    and   [TGT]   ignored reporters asking questions afterward. Before they stepped into the elevator  one of  Wyllie 's attorneys  Dan Webb  said they would be going to trial.
Federal prosecutors allege   [TGT] hid the "true financial health" of Lincoln-Way High School District 210 by misusing millions in bond money and fraudulently spent school district funds on personal projects  including Superdog  a dog training school he ordered built.
  [TGT] also pocketed more than $30 000 in unused vacation days and a retirement bonus   [TGT]   wasn't entitled to  prosecutors charged.
  [TGT]  's attorneys released a statement earlier this month maintaining  Wyllie 's innocence and lauding  him  as "a model educator in Illinois for 55 years. [TGT] 
arrives for   [TGT]   arraignment on federal fraud charges at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago on Wednesday  Sept. 27  2017.   [TGT] arrives for   [TGT]   arraignment on federal fraud charges at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago on Wednesday  Sept. 27  2017. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Under Wyllie's leadership from 1989 to 2013  Lincoln-Way grew from one school with two campuses to two separate four-year schools  and the district experienced overcrowding. In response    [TGT] pushed hard for a $225 million referendum measure in 2006 to build two new schools and accommodate growth.
A community group campaigned vigorously against the proposal  arguing that the district should build one school and wait to see whether a fourth was necessary before moving forward. But voters backed  Wyllie   and the district went on to issue $52 million in bonds in 2006  $123 million in 2007 and $29 million in 2009.
As Lincoln-Way's finances atrophied   Wyllie  fraudulently used bond funds to conceal the district's true financial condition  prosecutors said.
By then   Wyllie  had retired and largely disappeared from public view.
Last year  amid intensifying scrutiny from the Daily Southtown  federal investigators and community members   Wyllie  resigned from the boards of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and the University of St. Francis.  He  also sold  his  Frankfort home and moved to Naperville.
Lincoln-Way administration also quietly removed plaques honoring  Wyllie  at each of the district's schools.