Flowers steps down from suburban school post

Embattled Charles Flowers has agreed to resign from his suburban post as superintendent of the Cook County Regional Office of Education, under pressure from Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

According to the attorney general's office, Flowers, 51, of Maywood, agreed to step down immediately.

"The agreement requires the state Board of Education to suspend his administrative certificates for a period of four years," the attorney general's office added.

He must also surrender all teaching and administrative certificates if he is convicted of or pleads guilty to corruption charges involving his term in office.

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez filed a civil suit against Flowers last year for his office's failure to repay a $190,000 loan authorized by the county board, and criminal charges followed in January accusing him of stealing $10,000 and losing $376,000 in public funds, much of it diverted to friends, relatives and colleagues.

"Public servants are entrusted to work honestly and in the best interests of the public," Madigan said. "This agreement removes Dr. Flowers from office and takes away from him the authority to make any decisions that impact the children and families within suburban Cook County schools."