Argo Superintendent Put On Leave Over Spending

SUMMIT, IL – The Argo Community High School board announced late Wednesday that it had placed Superintendent William Toulios on "paid administrative reassignment," effective immediately.

Principal Brandon Cotter will serve as the acting superintendent, according to a board statement.

"Dr. Toulios will have a significantly reduced presence at the School District and will perform only those duties directed by the Board of Education through the Board President," the board said.

It was unclear when the board made its decision, indicating it may have violated the state's open meeting law. Under the law, board actions must be taken at open, advertised meetings. And the board can only vote on matters listed on its meeting agenda.

The board last met a week ago, when residents criticized Toulios. However, no action was taken.

For months, Toulios has been under fire for his spending on the school's credit card. In its statement, the board acknowledged growing calls for an independent investigation of the expenditures.

The board said it intends to promptly hire an independent accounting firm to review the extent of any unauthorized expenditures.

In January, Patch reported on Toulios' credit card spending.

Some items on Toulios' 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.

In its statement, the board acknowledged that Freedom of Information Act requests last April brought the spending to light.

At least some of those requests appeared to be connected to former teacher Heather Siegel-Hickman, president of the teachers union.

Last May, she struck a severance agreement with the board, receiving $266,000. In return, she was required to seek the withdrawal of the records requests for information on Toulios' credit card spending. They were from anonymous accounts.

At last week's board meeting, Pam Young, Principal Cotter's secretary and a resident, publicly admitted to filing some of the records requests for the expenditures. She denounced the spending as "ridiculous." She remains employed.

On Thursday morning, Patch emailed board members, asking when they decided to put the superintendent on leave from his position. They did not immediately respond.

In 2023, the board for Hinsdale High School District 86 decided to suspend the superintendent. But it took the action behind closed doors and did not let the public know until the next day.

Patch filed a complaint with the attorney general's office. A year later, the office found the board violated the state's Open Meetings Act.