Illinois school board member Annette Johnson was accused in federal court papers filed October 27 of steering a $2.7 million COVID-funded air purifier purchase to a reseller in exchange for a $1.3 million payment to her employer.
Johnson had led East Aurora School District 131’s board while also working as chief financial officer for the private company that allegedly received the money. Her attorney denied wrongdoing.
She promoted the purchase before the board voted
Johnson allegedly helped connect the reseller with district officials and received talking points to promote the purifiers to her colleagues, WTTW reported after examining the indictment.
At the board’s September 2021 meeting, she spoke in favor of the purchase and voted to approve it, prosecutors alleged…