Argo Official Clarifies Message Amid Inquiry

SUMMIT, IL – In light of an attorney general's inquiry, Argo Community High School's former board president last week clarified his statement about the superintendent's leave.

In April's message, then-board President Dan Kozal said the board decided to place Superintendent William Toulios on "paid administrative reassignment" because of spending questions.

But in an email to Patch last week, Kozal said he, not the board, decided to put the superintendent on leave.

"When the statement was issued, the Board itself had not yet met to make any decision about Dr. Toulios," Kozal said. "In hindsight, the statement I issued on April 16th could have been clearer that I acted singularly as Board President."

Last month, Patch filed a complaint with the attorney general that, based on Kozal's statement, it appeared that the board had made a decision outside an open, advertised meeting. That is contrary to the state's open meetings law, which requires the board to take action in public.

The attorney general decided to look into the matter.

In response, the district's lawyer, James Petrungaro of the Chicago-based Franczek law firm, said Kozal made the decision, not the board. Suggestions to the contrary, he said, were "unfounded." (A week after the decision, the board voted to put the superintendent on leave.)

Kozal remains on the board, but the board voted for Jennifer Grenier as the new president after April's board election.

Under the board's policies, the president holds no power to affect the employment status of the superintendent or any other employee. Petrungaro, however, said that's not an issue for the attorney general to consider.

Toulios' credit card spending has been under scrutiny last year. One mysterious expense was labeled "sextpanthe."