Elmhurst D205 Official Who Left Amid Controversy Gets New Job

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst school system's former top finance official, who resigned earlier this year amid a controversy over a subordinate's spending, quickly got another job.

Chris Whelton, who was Elmhurst District 205's assistant superintendent of finance, is now the chief business official for Franklin Park-based Mannheim School District 83. The elementary school system's enrollment is about 2,400, lower than Elmhurst's 8,000.

The Mannheim district's website has no information about Whelton's salary, but it lists the pay for the superintendent, the district's top official, at $176,300. Whelton left Elmhurst with a salary of more than $200,000 after nearly 14 years.

On March 13, the Mannheim school board voted unanimously for Whelton's appointment. That was two weeks after he left District 205.

Last December, Todd Schmidt, District 205's facilities director, resigned after being arrested in Rockford, where he was accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from his mother.

After that, Patch reported that Schmidt used his district-issued credit card for $50,000 in personal spending, including booze, cigars, restaurant meals, groceries, and sorority and country club payments.

Schmidt, who reimbursed the district monthly, was essentially getting short-term loans from the district.

Whelton was his direct supervisor.