Cliff Buchan
News EditorAgenzia, a marketing and sports consulting business founded by marketer Pat Forciea, has terminated its contract for communications services with ISD 831.
Lynn Steenblock, superintendent, said the school district was recently notified by the company that it would end its service to the school district effective May 30. The company has provided communication services to the district for the past two years and was working under an annual contract that paid $54,000.
Steenblock said the decision comes at a time when the district was already commencing with a plan to study its communications program. He said the district was preparing to exercise its option to terminate its agreement with Agenzia on June 30, the end of the fiscal year.
The May 30 termination date was requested by acting Agenzia head Cathy Forciea, Pat Forcieaís wife.
ISD 831 School Board members Bill Bresin and Rob Rapheal, who serve on the boardís communications committee, said the committee will review the matter at its meeting next Monday. The boardís committee meetings begin at 6 p.m. at the District Office Building, 6100 N. 210th St.
Linda Madsen, facilitator of teaching and learning and communications committee chair, said Agenzia through Cathy Forciea would no longer be able to provide services to the school district.
ìShe was vague about the specifics,î Madsen said.
The company will produce the schoolís communication piece, the Alliance, in May. Lee Reed, who works for Agenzia, has been the districtís communication person.
The decision to halt its contract with the district comes in the wake of a series of problems for Pat Forciea, the political consultant who helped make his name in Paul Wellstoneís successful run for the U.S. Senate in 1990.
In March, Forciea was accused of stealing $10,000 or more from a University of Minnesota sports promotion fund.
Forciea, 45, has not been charged in the probe and has denied any criminal wrongdoing.
He worked as an associate menís athletic director at the University of Minnesota from 1994-1999 before he built and launched Agenzia. His firm has also been involved in other business ventures, including ownership of professional sports teams.
Published reports this month also indicated Pat Forciea had entered a treatment facility for personal problems that were not identified nor made public by the Forciea family.
The firm has also been employed by citizen groups in ISD 831 during recent operational levy campaigns, including the successful levy effort in 2001 and the 2003 levy effort that was defeated by voters in the school district.
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