District 131 president calls on member Johnson, who faces federal fraud charges, to consider resigning
Discussion about East Aurora School District 131 board member Annette Johnson, who is facing federal fraud charges, continued at the district’s school board meeting on Monday, Nov. 2.
At the meeting, the district’s school board President Juan Sifuentes suggested Johnson consider resigning amid the controversy, while community members offered a mixed bag of opinions on the situation.
Annette Johnson has served on East Aurora’s school board for almost two decades. She previously served as the board’s president but was ousted last year by current board president Sifuentes.
Last week, court documents were filed alleging that, while she was serving as the school board’s president, Johnson accepted a payment of about $1.3 million from a reseller to a company she was working for in exchange for using her position on the school board to help get a $2.7 million purchase of air purifiers from the reseller approved. The $2.7 million came from district COVID-19 relief funds.
The alleged scheme occurred between August 2021 and May 2023, according to the criminal complaint.
Johnson allegedly influenced district school board members to approve the purchase, including arranging a meeting between the reseller’s CEO and district officials. The complaint also alleges communication between Johnson and business representatives about the purchase.
In 2021, Johnson was allegedly paid in excess of $7,500 in connection with her work for the companies, including the one that had received the payment from the reselling company, according to court documents. The criminal complaint further alleges that Johnson did not list the companies as a source of income on her statement of economic interest filed with Kane County.
Now, Johnson faces federal fraud-related charges in connection with the alleged scheme. She is set to appear in court on Nov. 9, and her counsel has indicated that she plans to plead not guilty.
Johnson herself has also addressed the situation, saying she maintains her innocence and intends to defend herself against the allegations.
At Monday’s board meeting, Johnson again said she maintains her innocence with regard to the charges.
“I take these allegations seriously,” Johnson reiterated at the meeting, “but I will not allow them to define or erase the years of service and commitment that I have devoted to the community.”
Board president Sifuentes, meanwhile, reiterated that the district intends to continue cooperating with the authorities, and that, because it’s an ongoing legal matter, they will not “speculate or comment beyond what has already been communicated.”
“We recognize that the … recent federal indictment involving a current member of this board has understandably raised questions and concerns throughout our community,” Sifuentes said at the meeting. “We take these matters seriously. At the same time, we must respect the legal process.”
He also addressed the question of Johnson’s place on the board in light of the allegations. Her term is set to expire in 2029, per the district’s website.
“The reality is, as a board of education, we do not have the authority to simply vote to remove an elected board member from their seat,” Sifuentes said.
That said, Sifuentes also expressed that “accountability matters,” and he said he calls upon Johnson “to consider stepping down from her position.”
“This is not about prejudging the outcome of a legal proceeding or disregarding the presumption of innocence,” Sifuentes said. “It’s about recognizing the responsibility that comes with holding public office, the importance of public confidence and the need to protect the integrity of our district.”
He added that it’s “important to recognize how far this district has come” in terms of transparency and trust with the community and with staff, saying that work is “ongoing.”
During the meeting’s public comment period, community members spoke on the situation. Some called on Johnson to resign, while others spoke against asking her to step down unless she’s proven guilty.
Among those who spoke at the meeting was state Sen. Karina Villa, a West Chicago Democrat. In her comments, Villa pointed to her prior experience as a school board member and the significance of the decisions school boards make.
“I say to you all, especially to you, board member Johnson: Think about why you decided to run and if it was for the students,” Villa said. “Is this what we want, this distraction, these arguments back and forth? … Let’s just think about what is best for those students and for those educators who come to school every day.”
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com