By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A former DeKalb County School Board member told The Center Square in 2023 she had concerns about Superintendent Dr. Devon Horton, who is accused of taking kickbacks while he was a superintendent in Illinois.

Horton was indicted by a grand jury in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois along with three other men, Antonio Ross, Samuel Ross and Alfonzo Lewis. He is accused of taking kickbacks from contracts awarded to companies owned by the three men while he was superintendent of the Evanston/Skokie School District 65.

The indictment said Horton did not disclose the relationship with the men and their companies on a Statement of Economic Interest form submitted to District 65 in 2022 or 2023. Horton is also facing two counts of tax evasion for failing to report the income made from the kickbacks.

The grand jury also accused Horton of using his school system procurement card to make thousands in personal purchases.

The DeKalb County Board of Education placed Horton on paid administrative leave. Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, chief of student services, is acting superintendent, the board said in a statement.

“While we cannot comment on confidential personnel matters, we are concerned by these allegations,” said board chairwoman Deirdre Pierce.

Horton was hired by DeKalb County, Georgia’s third-largest school district, in 2023.

Former DeKalb County School Board member Joyce Morley told The Center Square in October 2023 that she questioned Horton’s spending and who he hired to work for the district. She has voted against his personnel recommendations and says she was critical of his “disruptive” approach to education.

“I’m going to ask for an internal investigation,” Morley said in an interview with The Center Square. “I want to see everything he’s spent, everyone he’s hired.”

Morley did not seek another term on the board in 2024.

District 65 school officials said in a statement that they were aware of the indictment.

“We are deeply troubled and angered by these allegations,” the statement from Sergio Hernandez and Dr. Nichole Pinkard said. “Now that the federal government has formally indicted, the district is reviewing the specific details of the indictment with the District’s legal counsel. A more detailed statement will be forthcoming after we have had an opportunity to review the details of the indictment.”

Horton’s attorney, Terence Campbell, told The Center Square in an emailed statement that Horton served DeKalb County schools with honesty and integrity over the past few years.

“Under his leadership in DeKalb County, graduation rates have gone up, student attendance has risen, student performance has improved, and hundreds of teacher vacancies have been filled with high-quality educators,” Campbell said. “The allegations in Chicago relate to conduct that is several years old and have nothing whatsoever to do with his very successful work on behalf of the students, families, and teachers in DeKalb County.”

Campbell said Horton also bettered District 65.

“In his prior position as superintendent of Evanston District 65 schools, Dr. Horton tackled head-on a number of tough and sometimes controversial issues often under difficult circumstances, including having threats of violence made against him and his family during his tenure in Evanston,” Campbell said. “Dr. Horton is eager to address his case in court so he can return his focus to bettering the lives and education of children, which has been his passion throughout his professional career.”

Horton is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.