Argo High Racks Up Bills For Superintendent Inquiry

SUMMIT, IL – Argo Community High School has been billed tens of thousands of dollars for its investigation into the superintendent's credit card spending.

In response to Patch's public records request, the school released invoices totalling $96,637, which works out to $55 a student. The total compares to Superintendent William Toulios' reported pay last year of $216,000, including $19,000 in bonuses.

Nearly all the spending on the investigation was with the Florida-based Akerman law firm, which has an office in Chicago. Ohio-based Meaden & Moore accounting firm got $5,000.

The biggest monthly bill was for $72,000 in early August. Another bill is expected soon.

In mid-April, the school board put Toulios on leave. That was about three months after Patch's story on Toulios' questionable credit card spending.

In an email Tuesday, Jennifer Grenier, the school board's president, told Patch that the inquiry remains ongoing and that she could not speculate on timing.

"Updates will be shared through the appropriate channels once available," she said.

Two weeks ago, the board closed its doors to discuss personnel matters.

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

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.