Acting Argo Leader Gets Pay Raise For Extra Duties

SUMMIT, IL – Argo Community High School's acting superintendent has received a pay bump while the school continues to investigate the superintendent's credit card spending.

Late last month, the board voted to increase the pay of the acting superintendent, Brandon Cotter, by about $200 a day while he performs superintendent duties. The hike amounts to about $4,000 a month, in addition to his $190,000 salary.

In an email to Patch last week, board President Jennifer Grenier said Cotter's service as both principal and superintendent was "excellent."

"The Board felt it was appropriate and in the public’s best interests to compensate Dr. Cotter for his increased role and responsibility," Grenier said. "It would not have been fair to expect him to continue performing two positions for nearly half a year while only receiving compensation as a principal."

The increase, she said, was more economical than hiring an interim superintendent, who would get as much as $1,500 a day. The increase is retroactive to July 1, even though Cotter assumed the role when Superintendent William Toulios was placed on leave in mid-April.

Greiner said the investigation continues, but is expected to end in the coming weeks.

"Because this involves a personnel matter, there are limits to what can be shared publicly at this time," Grenier said.

Cotter's raise was approved under an item on the board's agenda titled, "Approval for Amendment to Administrator Contract." Patch asked Grenier why the board did not include a more specific title for the agenda item, giving the public a greater idea about what was on the table.

Grenier said the agenda item complied with legal requirements and that when the Board voted on the matter, more details were given.

Toulios is still listed as superintendent on the school's website, while the state's Illinois Report Card site lists Cotter as the superintendent.

More than a month ago, Patch obtained attorney invoices that showed the school has spent nearly $100,000 in legal bills in the Toulios matter. Toulios makes $222,000 a year.

Toulios was placed on leave three months after Patch's original story on questionable credit card spending.

Some items on Toulios' credit card bills were through apps that hide the nature of expenses. One of those apps is called Epoch. In late 2023, a listed $20 expense inadvertently included more information than likely was intended – "Sextpanthe." It was unclear what that was for.

Other items were for a hockey team ($175) and a high school ($275). The high school is in the area of Toulios' house in the south suburbs.

Another $625 went to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in west suburban Justice, with no indication of what the money was for.

Last fall, Toulios privately admitted to the board that some expenditures violated policy, saying a family member used the card. He volunteered to take one day of unpaid leave, to which the board agreed.