The superintendent of a western Illinois school district was acquitted Friday of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from a dispute over the compilation of student medical records.
14th Circuit Judge Norma Kauzlarich granted a defense motion to acquit Tim Farquer before his bench trial ended in Mercer County Circuit Court.
Kauzlarich ruled Mercer County State’s Attorney Grace Waldrup failed to present adequate evidence to support a conviction.
In a statement shared with TSPR, one of Farquer’s defense attorneys, Lindsey Lusk, said her client is grateful the court concluded what he has maintained since charges were filed last year – that he did not commit any crime.
“These charges should never have been brought,” Lusk said. “That was clear both on the face of the laws and based on the completely deficient and biased investigation into the allegations.”
Farquer, 54, was hired to lead the Mercer County School District in 2024 after serving as superintendent of Williamsfield Community Unit School District in Knox County for 11 years.
He and two district IT employees were arrested in September 2025 following an Aledo Police Department investigation into how the district handled student medical records during a hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak.
Farquer initially was charged with official misconduct, computer tampering, and unauthorized access to medical records. Prosecutors later added charges, bringing the total to four felonies and four misdemeanors.
The case centered on whether Farquer had the authority to direct a school nurse to compile information about infected students and whether those records were legally shared with other nurses and a union representative.
Farquer's attorneys argued the Illinois School Student Records Act designates superintendents as custodians of student records, giving them authority to collect and maintain medical records and to disclose them without parental consent when necessary for student safety or educational purposes.
Farquer’s defense team included multiple attorneys. In her statement, attorney Lusk said it’s a shame that Farquer and his family had to be put through this experience.
“But we are grateful that the justice system worked. Mr. Farquer looks forward to putting this experience behind him and getting back to work,” Lusk said.
Farquer has been on paid administrative leave from the school district since September of last year. Through Lusk, he declined to be interviewed for this story.
Two interim superintendents led the district last school year. On July 1, Stacey Day began leading the district as deputy superintendent.
The cases against the two IT employees are pending in Mercer County Circuit Court.
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