As investigation into Dist. 62 finances continues, assistant supt. resigns to take job elsewhere

A top Des Plaines School District 62 administrator has resigned after eight years to take a position elsewhere in the state.

Mark Bertolozzi, who was the district’s assistant superintendent for business services and its chief financial business officer, stepped down effective July 1, the school board said in a prepared statement sent to employees, district families and the media. He’d had that job since 2018.

The District 62 board formally accepted Bertolozzi’s resignation at a special meeting Monday night.

Bertolozzi has joined the staff of Freeport School District 145 in northwest Illinois as its executive director of business and finance, that district announced earlier this month. He couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.

Bertolozzi’s resignation comes about two months after unauthorized financial activity was discovered in a District 62 account.

The activity originated outside the district, officials have said. A loss estimate hasn’t been released.

The matter was reported to Des Plaines police, who launched an investigation that’s ongoing.

In its statement Tuesday, the school board said Bertolozzi’s resignation “is not related to any improprieties involving students or staff.” When asked if it concerned the investigation into the unauthorized financial activity, spokesperson Jennifer Tempest Bova said, “We cannot comment further on the financial investigation at this time as it is still an active investigation.”

Illuminate Inc., a consulting company specializing in school finances, will oversee the district’s daily fiscal matters while officials evaluate their “long-term leadership needs,” according to the board’s statement. The school board approved a contract with the firm in June, documents indicate.