Cook County Superintendent's office raided
From Sunshine Review
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July 2, 2009 Cook County State Attorney's office investigators raided the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education, using a search warrant to scour Supt. Charles Flowers' desk.
[edit] Investigators with warrant
About six boxes of papers and a computer left the office this morning in an effort to further investigate the superintendent whom a state audit confirms misused public funds while in his position. Investigators also raided Flowers' Maywood home on Wednesday morning, leaving with boxes, neighbors report.[1]
[edit] Nepotism and spending
Flowers added his two sisters and nephews to the regional office payroll in 2007, at the beginning of his taking superintendent office. CBS2, Chicago reports that there "are unconfirmed reports that two of Flowers' second-in-commands[, Deputy Supt. Harry Reynolds and Assistant Supt. Cynthia Broughton,] left the office a day before the raid." [1]
The audit that was released in June, confirming Flowers' misuse of funds, shows that many purchases on the office credit card were of a personal nature, including thousands of dollars spent on food and restaurants, a trip to a hair salon, limo charges, airline tickets for family members to Mississippi and rental cars, and an almost $7,000 in cash advances in Illinois and Mississippi. Though auditors could find no evidence to support his claim, Flowers said this money was used to buy a car and furniture for the office.
Flowers approved $15,000 in cash advances for his sister, who worked as his executive assistant, as well as for another employee. Two assistant superintendents collected $80,000-plus paychecks along with $12,000 and $9,400 in grant money for "consulting services" performed during normal working hours, according to the audit.
Flowers claims that the $7,000 in travel expenses for his family, put on the government credit card, was returned. He also says the questionable office record-keeping is the fault of a former business manager.
The office is now almost $1 million in debt. Flowers was elected into office in 2006 following a career as a special education teacher and administrator. [1]
[edit] Position of Superintendent
On July 2, 2009 the Cook County Board approved a resolution with a vote of 17-0 to urge the Illinois General Assembly to abolish the Suburban Cook County Regional Superintendent's office and the elected position that oversees it.
[edit] External links
- Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education website
- Cook County State Attorney's office website
- "County Board votes to abolish Flowers' position"
[edit] References
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