Honorary street signs missing again at Warren High
Two street signs honoring a former Warren Township High School administrator and his wife have disappeared once again from the Almond Road upperclassmen campus.
Considered a gift from the Class of 2003, the signs were installed that year following the retirement of popular Associate Principal Ron Shelton and his wife, Kathy, who also worked at Warren District 121. The Sheltons spent a combined 52 years at Warren.
District 121 board President John Anderson said Monday a police report has been filed regarding the latest disappearance of the Shelton Circle signs. He said the board at some point would have to discuss whether to seek replacements if the signs don't surface.
"I don't know what the correct time would be to wait," Anderson said.
An activity fund spending scandal involving Ron Shelton and former Warren Principal Philip Roffman prompted ex-board president Mari Carlson to order removal of the signs in late 2004.
Unaware of Carlson's directive, two Almond Road campus administrators reported the signs stolen to Gurnee police. After Carlson's order became known, public pressure led to the Shelton Circle signs going back up along a campus driveway near the main entrance.
Gurnee business owner Mike Semmerling was part of a group of Shelton supporters who pushed to have the signs reinstalled in January 2005. He said he's aware the signs were recently reported stolen.
"It's just a shame," Semmerling said Monday. "It's a class gift. I'd like to see them go back up."
District 121's elected officials were informed about the disappearance of the Shelton Circle signs at a meeting last week. Board member Richard Conley said a formal policy is needed on the use of signs or other permanent monuments to honor ex-employees at the school district.
"My position is we should not be spending (public money) to replace the honorary signs. They're not necessary," said Conley, who raised public questions about Shelton's activity fund spending as a Citizens for Responsible Government member in 2004.
In late 2005, Roffman received 24 months probation after pleading guilty to misusing public activity fund money on a personal purchase of theater tickets worth $400. An independent investigator hired by Warren found Roffman improperly spent activity fund cash on a telephone-sex service and for an Internet-based swingers club membership in 2002 and 2001, respectively.
Shelton's purchases of Warren High apparel for the school's First Class program were explored, but investigator Daniel Field stated in a report he couldn't determine if they were legitimate.