Evanston/Skokie School District 65 is dealing with the aftermath of the federal indictment of a former superintendent, as its board contemplates closing schools to address a budget deficit.
A special board meeting Tuesday started with Sergio Hernandez announcing that he will step down as board president, though he plans to stay on the board. The former superintendent, Devon Horton, worked under Hernandez for a year and several teachers and community members criticized Hernandez for not providing enough oversight.
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 serves about 6,200 elementary and middle school students in the northern suburbs.
Horton, who served as superintendent from 2020 through 2023, was indicted last Thursday on charges including wire fraud and embezzlement. He is accused of orchestrating a kickback scheme by steering contracts to companies owned by his friends.
Horton also allegedly used a district-provided credit card for personal expenses, including for meals, gift cards and vehicle repairs, according to the indictment.
Hernandez said that if Horton is convicted, it would be a betrayal. He assured the public that no one else on the board has been connected to the alleged scheme, that the district has been cooperating with the investigation and that part of the penalties sought by federal investigators include monetary restitution for the district.
In his comments, Hernandez focused on his accomplishments at the helm of the board.
“Its been an honor and a privilege to serve as the first Latine president in this body,” Hernandez said, touting what he said has been his successes, including expanding programs that serve multilingual students in the district and addressing inequalities.
“Its just been an honor to try to incorporate an equity lens in the work that we continue to do and to seek justice for all students in particular our most marginalized student populations,” he said. Hernandez plans to remain on the board. He was first appointed as a member in 2017.
Several speakers called for Hernandez to resign from the board entirely, saying his leadership contributed to the district’s current financial strife.
The district is grappling with a deficit due to declining enrollment and increasing maintenance and has said it needs to find between $10 and $15 million in cuts for long term stability. The board has been in ongoing discussions about closing schools to save that money. No decisions have been made about which schools or how many will close.
“Sergio, you were instrumental in the rise and protection of Devon Horton, a man who now stands federally indicted on 17 criminal charges,” Said Evanston resident Samantha Schwimmer, adding that the financial turmoil “is the culmination of a culture of dysfunction, arrogance and unaccountability that you helped build and enable.”
Kelly Post, president of the District 65 Educators Council which represents teachers and staff, also called on Hernandez to resign from the board.
Post said the indictment revealed the “systematic lack of oversight and accountability that allowed such misconduct to occur,” Post said. “Rebuilding trust will require more than words, it will require action that directly benefits the children and families who have been the most affected by these failures.”
Other speakers at the meeting spoke out against school closures and asked the board to take more time to engage with the community to find alternatives.
“Rushed school closures don’t always deliver what you think they might,” said one parent. “We need to slow down and find a comprehensive set of solutions.”
The board voted unanimously to elect board member Pat Anderson as new president. Anderson was elected to the board earlier this year. She’s a former employee of the district.
“This is a very humbling and serious moment. I don’t take this lightly,” Anderson said. “District 65 is facing some difficult realities but we are working towards some meaningful solutions.”