Evanston/Skokie School District 65 board responds to federal indictment of former superintendent; president steps down, Pat Anderson elected

At a special meeting Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education addressed a federal indictment announced last week charging former superintendent Devin Horton and laid out district actions to strengthen financial controls. Board members also elected Pat Anderson to serve as board president after the incumbent announced he was stepping down.

The board said the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois filed criminal charges alleging that Horton received unauthorized kickbacks from consultants and used a district-issued credit card for personal benefit. The board said those allegations arose from a two-year federal investigation and that the U.S. Attorney intends to seek financial restitution for the district as part of criminal penalties.

“No current or former board members, district administrators, or employees are criminally implicated in this matter, nor were they ever subjects of the investigation,” the board said during the meeting. The statement added that district leadership had complied with federal confidentiality requests during the investigation and that, if the allegations are proven, the conduct would represent a ‘‘profound betrayal of the trust placed in the former superintendent by the school board and community.’’

Board members described steps already taken since learning of the investigation, including an independent review of the district’s financial systems and changes to contract-approval and purchasing-card procedures. “The board at that time also charged the current administration to review our own financial systems with an independent advisor and strengthen our safeguards for contract approvals and purchasing card usage,” a board statement said.

Dr. Turner, the district superintendent, and Chief Financial Officer Tamara Mitchell were singled out by at least one board member for implementing “a wide array of processes … to ensure accountability and transparency.” The board also said District 65 will continue to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Education and said it may pursue civil actions in addition to any criminal restitution the U.S. Attorney seeks.

The board heard public comment sharply critical of the prior leadership. Several speakers asked for resignations of board members who served while the alleged irregularities occurred. Samantha Schwimmer, a community speaker during public comment, addressed the board directly: “You were instrumental in the rise and protection of Devin Horton,” she said, arguing that the indictment reflected a broader pattern of “a culture of dysfunction, arrogance, and unaccountability.”

At the start of the meeting the board approved the meeting agenda by roll call. Later the board conducted an officer appointment. A motion to elect Pat Anderson as board president passed by roll call; board members voted in the affirmative on the motion during the meeting.

Pat Anderson, who was elected by the board to serve the remainder of the president’s term, said in brief remarks she would center her work on community, equity and integrity and called for collaboration with city partners. The board also publicly thanked staff, families and community members who “remain so deeply dedicated in their support of our students and our schools.”

The district posted a detailed statement and an FAQ related to the indictment on district65.net and said it will continue to provide updates as it is legally able.

What happens next: the board said it will maintain cooperation with federal authorities, continue internal financial reviews and will consider further civil steps if criminal restitution does not fully make the district whole. The board also signaled a renewed focus on stronger procurement and purchasing-card safeguards and said that enhanced procedures discussed publicly at recent board meetings were already in place.

Votes at a glance: At the meeting the board approved the meeting agenda by roll call. The board later elected Pat Anderson as board president to serve the remainder of the term; the motion passed by roll-call vote during the meeting.

(End)