Dist. 158 issues may get scrutiny

The McHenry County state's attorney's office said Friday there's merit to allegations against a former Huntley Unit District 158 superintendent.

In a letter dated Nov. 20, District 158 alleged then-Superintendent Steve Swanson gave paid days off to administrators without board approval, board members have said.

A memo dated Oct. 26, 2004, from Swanson to year-round administrators informed them that off days they used on their 2004 winter break and 2005 spring break would not be subtracted from their contractual vacation days.

The memo was sent to administrators whose salaries were frozen for the 2004-05 school year.

In a letter sent this week to District 158, First Assistant State's Attorney Tom Carroll said Swanson's actions might be considered official misconduct.

"I have come to the conclusion that an investigation by a law enforcement agency might be appropriate," Carroll wrote.

Carroll said he forwarded the issue to the Huntley police.

District 158 board President Shawn Green said Friday the district fully intends to pursue the matter with the Huntley police.

"It sounds like there's enough merit to have it further investigated, so we'll do it," Green said.

Swanson, now the superintendent of Streator Township High School District 40, declined to comment on the allegations Friday and said he had not been contacted by the district or authorities.

In another letter also sent this week, Carroll addressed other complaints filed by board member Larry Snow.

The first accuses then board President Mike Skala of signing contracts that gave employees additional benefits that were not approved by the board.

Skala previously has denied wrongdoing and could not be reached for comment Friday.

The second Snow complaint accuses Superintendent John Burkey of misconduct for transferring students to different district schools without board approval, Snow said.

Burkey previously has said allowing the superintendent to transfer students within the district has been a longstanding practice in District 158. Burkey could not be reached for comment Friday.

Carroll said there's some merit to Snow's complaints, but they may not rise to the level of a crime.

"I share your concern with whether or not the actions are legal and/or appropriate," Carroll wrote. "However … the alleged disregard of school district policy is not conduct that is necessarily unlawful."

Carroll did not say he forwarded Snow's complaint to police but suggested Snow contact Huntley police or the Illinois attorney general to further pursue the matter.

But Snow said he's already brought the issues to the attention of the attorney general and Huntley police -- to no avail.

"I've talked to the attorney general's office, and they referred me to the state's attorney's office," Snow said Friday. "There is a fundamental problem when you go to the local police department and they direct you to the state's attorney's office, and the state's attorney tells you they don't have the resources or the ability to conduct an investigation."

Snow was referring to a section of Carroll's response where he wrote, "This office does not have the resources or ability to conduct investigations itself."

District 158 also has a complaint pending with the U.S. Postal Service. According to this complaint, the district misled voters when it stated in a November 2004 newsletter that administrators wouldn't receive a bonus or increase in 2004-05.