New District 65 CFO has history of misconduct, documents show

(Editor’s Note: Hope Perry reported this story for Evanston RoundTable, a neighboring independent newsroom. It was shared with The Record as part of an ongoing collaborative effort.)

Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Chief Financial Officer Eric Miller, according to public documents, was disciplined for “conduct which was found to be threatening and intimidating” in his previous role with Glenview School District 34, a finding District 65 knew about before hiring him, according to a district spokesperson.

Documents obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request show Miller signed a “Last Chance Agreement” in 2025 that documented a suspension, a pay freeze and the conditions for his continued employment after the finding.

His resignation six months later was voluntary, said D65 spokesperson Melissa Messinger, while District 34 spokesperson Rebecca Latham said in an email that “the documentation we previously provided addresses your questions regarding Miller’s resignation from the District.”

Miller did not respond to a request for comment from the RoundTable. 

In a statement to the RoundTable, Messinger said that the district conduced reference checks as part of Miller’s hiring process and was aware of the misconduct allegations during Miller’s time at District 34.

“The information contained in the documentation regarding the incident is consistent with Mr. Miller’s account and aligned with what we learned through our reference checks,” Messinger said, adding that Miller expressed remorse for the behavior.

Miller’s hiring in District 65 was approved by the School Board on June 22, and he officially began his tenure July 1. Former CFO Tamara Mitchell announced in February that she would step down at the conclusion of the 2026 fiscal year.

‘Threatening and intimidating’ conduct

Miller served as assistant superintendent for business services at District 34 from July 2015 to March 2026.

Announcing his hiring, District 65 wrote that while with D34 Miller oversaw $165 million in capital improvements and created long-term sustainability and transparency-focused financial and facilities planning processes.

Also during his tenure, documents show, District 34 Superintendent Dane Delli wrote in a letter to Miller on April 9, 2025, that an investigation by the district’s attorney found that Miller had engaged in “threatening and intimidating” conduct among colleagues. 

According to the letter, in separate events in January and February of that year, Miller “bullied, harassed and created a hostile workplace environment.” That conduct reportedly was related to financial matters between Miller’s department and the district’s Student Services department. Witnesses reportedly corroborated the behavior that was reported to the district.

Delli went on to write that Miller “did not deny” that he “acted as charged.” Instead, Delli wrote, he attempted to avoid explaining his behavior and justified the conversations by claiming “that others in the organization are ‘incompetent’ to understand and to assist in financial accounting of District revenue.”

Miller ultimately “admitted that [he had] ‘a limit’ and blamed [his] limitations and [his] actions on staff in other departments, who [he views] as unable to understand the complexities of District finance.”

A few weeks later, Miller signed a “Last Chance Agreement” with District 34 admitting he “engaged in unprofessional and inappropriate conduct.” As part of that agreement, Miller was suspended without pay for five days and his salary, beginning with the start of fiscal year 2025, was frozen until Jan. 1, 2026.

The document Miller signed stipulated that if he did not comply with the terms of the “Last Chance Agreement” it would “constitute a voluntary termination and resignation of his employment by the superintendent without a hearing or further action by the Board of Education.”

Journey to District 65

Just months later, on Oct. 20, 2025, the District 34 School Board approved Miller’s resignation. Between the time his resignation was approved and the date his resignation became effective, March 11, 2026, Miller reportedly remained on paid leave with his salary paid with available and accumulated paid leave days.

During the District 65 hiring process, Messinger said Miller was “forthcoming about this matter” and D65 officials “reviewed the circumstances surrounding the incident.” She further stated that Miller “expressed genuine remorse for his actions, shared that the incident occurred during a difficult time personally, and reflected on it as a valuable opportunity for growth.”

In a statement to the RoundTable, Interim Superintendent Eric Witherspoon said, “Based on my understanding, the School Board and administration did their diligence in the hiring process.”

He added that he has had several conversations with Miller and said he is “confident in his financial expertise, and more importantly, his ability to lead with integrity and professionalism. I hold high standards for all leaders and our team will ensure the necessary supports are in place to set Mr. Miller and all district leaders up for success.”

District 65 Board President Nichole Pinkard and Vice President Chris Van Nostrand did not respond to a request for comment. 

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