Even as Argo District 217 faces public scrutiny over financial mismanagement issues, the school board met last week and made major changes to the leadership of the board.
After newly elected board members Nick Caprio, Michael Vasquez and Luz Rangel Raymond were sworn in at a special April 23 board meeting, members held their regular reorganization vote.
Longtime board president Dan Kozal was replaced by longtime board member Dr. Jennifer Grenier on a surprising 5-2 vote. Kozal and Caprio both voted against the change.
Next, longtime vice president Caprio was also voted out by the same 5-2 vote as opposition board members chose Cathy Jozwiak as the new vice president.
Both men were roundly criticized at the April 9 monthly board meeting for defending the board’s handling of questionable purchases on a school district credit card by former Supt. William Toulios.
Records show that more than $1,000 was spent on adult websites, as well as charges linked to sexting services and telehealth companies that specialize in sexual health treatments.
Toulios claims the questionable charges were either fraudulent or mistakenly made by a family member.
Initially, Kozal and the board defended Toulios, saying the matter had been sufficiently addressed after limited reimbursements were made. However, after detailed records came to light – including inconsistencies in Toulios’ explanations – the board reversed its position and Toulios was placed on paid administrative reassignment pending an independent forensic investigation.
At last week’s meeting, the board announced plans to hire an independent accounting firm to review all of Toulios’ credit card charges and report back to the public with findings.
The installation of Grenier as the new board president was met with cautious optimism from community members who hope the leadership change will bring greater transparency and stronger fiscal oversight.
Argo High School District 217 serves about 1,800 students and is one of the largest line items on property tax bills for local residents in Summit, Bridgeview, Justice, Bedford Park, Willow Springs and a small part of Hickory Hills.
The ongoing controversy has attracted the attention of WGN News, which aired a report last week.
The crowd at last week’s meeting was so large that the meeting was changed to a bigger space.
Grenier and Kozal did not respond to emails asking for comment.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21.
Good!!! Dan Kozal isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. I went to high school with him. And let’s remember he is a chiropractor which is a pseudoscience based in conjecture and not in facts