District 65 Implements Financial Controls After Horton Conviction
New measures include a whistle-blower policy and stricter credit card rules to prevent future mismanagement.
By Noor Graham ·
Evanston Township High School District 65 is instituting a new set of financial controls to prevent the types of oversights that allowed former superintendent Devon Horton to commit fraud.
Chief Financial Officer Eric Miller presented the measures to the board of education on Tuesday. The package includes additional limits on district credit card usage and mandatory secondary approvals for all purchase requests. Miller stated that no office will be exempt from these purchasing regulations. He noted that the district previously lacked an established and published whistle-blower process.
Horton served as superintendent from 2020 to 2023. He recently pled guilty to wire fraud, embezzlement of school district funds, and tax evasion. The charges stem from a kickback scheme involving bogus contractors. The former superintendent also used a district credit card for personal expenses during his tenure.
Miller identified a clear gap in district policies that contributed to the scandal. The board hired Crowe Advisory, LLC, to analyze financial shortcomings after Horton was indicted. The firm reported last month that weaknesses in financial controls enabled Horton to commit the crimes. The report was presented to the school board for review.
The district aims to finalize a written whistle-blower policy by spring, or sooner. The document will outline a reporting and escalation process that includes a channel independent of the superintendent. This structure is designed to protect staff members who report questionable activities by higher-ranking colleagues.
Board member Maria Opdycke described the new safeguards as a method for rebuilding trust with the community. She emphasized the importance of implementing these changes immediately. Opdycke stated that the district is actively working to ensure accountability.
The board will continue to monitor the implementation of these rules. Miller will report on the progress of the whistle-blower policy in upcoming meetings. The district will also review the effectiveness of the new credit card controls.
