Dist. 54 superintendent charged with DUI

Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 Superintendent Andy DuRoss was charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol after his arrest in Naperville earlier this month while driving home from a restaurant.

DuRoss, who was at work Tuesday, said he immediately shared information about his Feb. 1 arrest with District 54's board of education.

“I made a mistake,” DuRoss said. “I took full responsibility. It's not who I am or representative of my character as a person or an educator. And I have 12 years in this district that prove that.”

Board President Bill Harper confirmed that DuRoss had shared the information and that the board had a long discussion about it in closed session. While the board is awaiting the outcome of court proceedings and doesn't condone drinking and driving, Harper reiterated its confidence in DuRoss and his long-running contributions to the district.

“This one incident isn't going to define Andy,” he said. “The district is in fine shape. He hasn't missed a beat.”

Harper said the board will remain on top of the situation and continue to monitor any new developments.

“We have not finalized this in any way,” he said. “No final decision has been made.”

DuRoss, 46, is in his first year as superintendent. He previously spent six years as assistant superintendent for human resources and was principal of Frost Junior High in Schaumburg for three years.

DuRoss, a Naperville resident, said the circumstances leading to his arrest began while he was out to dinner with his wife and another couple in their hometown.

According to Naperville police Sgt. Bill Davis, there was a call for an intoxicated subject at Sullivan's Steakhouse in the city's downtown at 12:53 a.m. that Saturday.

When the officer arrived, there was an argument in progress between DuRoss and restaurant staff over a missing purse, Davis said.

According to records, the officer advised DuRoss to take a cab home rather than drive. But at 1:01 a.m., the same officer observed DuRoss driving near the intersection of Main and Jefferson streets. A traffic stop was made at Washington and Jefferson streets.

Court records show that DuRoss had a blood-alcohol concentration measured at 0.117 percent. Anything over .08 is considered intoxicated under state law.

DuRoss posted $3,000 bond to go free and has a court date of March 4 at the DuPage County courthouse in Wheaton.