Inside Track For Argo Board Member?

SUMMIT, IL – Lauren Vasquez was on the Argo Community High School board last August when she got a job opportunity. It was at the school.

Through a public records request, Patch obtained documents about Vasquez's situation.

On Aug. 5, Athletic Director Ryan Skendzel issued an "employment order" for hiring Vasquez as the athletic secretary, a position that now pays $57,000 a year. Skendzel addressed the order to Superintendent William Toulios, who answers to the school board.

Four days later, on a Friday, she announced in a letter to her colleagues that she was stepping down from her position immediately "due to personal matters." She did not detail the matters.

"I take comfort knowing the district is in good hands with those currently serving on the Board and Argo's administrative team," she said.

The following Monday, she started her new job, according to records.

A month later, her board post stayed in the family. The board appointed her husband, Michael Vasquez, to fill the vacancy.

In the spring, the board placed Toulios on administrative leave over persistent questions about his credit card spending. That was after Patch reported on mysterious expenses such as one labeled "sextpanthe."

Principal Brandon Cotter stepped into the role of interim superintendent. Patch asked Cotter about the circumstances of Vasquez's hiring.

Cotter said that while Toulios recommended Vasquez's hiring, the board approved it at its Aug. 19 meeting, making it retroactive to Aug. 12. (That is a common procedure among school districts.)

"Ms. Vasquez had previously resigned from the Board on August 9 and she did not vote on her own employment," Cotter said in an email. "While the School Code and Board Policy prohibit school board members from being employed at the School District (with some exceptions), there was no conflict or other violation here because Ms. Vasquez had resigned from the school board before the Board approved her hire and before she began working."

Asked about the situation, Alisa Kaplan, executive director of the Chicago-based Reform for Illinois, said the potential for some conflict of interest exists – for instance, if a board member acts favorably toward an employee the board oversees to get a job.

"But this type of situation is not uncommon because of the expertise and interest that board members bring to the business the board is involved in," Kaplan said. "Boards waive similar conflicts all the time. Given that the board member resigned before she was hired, I don't see a big ethical issue here, at least not in the absence of information indicating otherwise."

Vasquez did not return an emailed message for comment.

Check other Patch stories about issues in Argo Community High School:

• 'Sextpanthe' On Argo High Leader's Credit Card
• Ex-Argo Union Leader Gets $266K Settlement
• Argo High School Worker Tells Off Bosses About Spending
• Argo Superintendent Put On Leave Over Spending
• Argo Superintendent May Sue School Board: Lawyer
• Argo Official Clarifies Message Amid Inquiry
• $105K-A-Year Argo Official Works Remotely, Part Time