Henry Williams, superintendent of the Riverview Gardens School District may be responsible for single-handedly ripping the district to pieces. From both financial, administrative and student performance aspects, the district has suffered tremendously under his reign.
In the midst of financial peril, Williams directed at least $85,000 in extra payments to his retirement and insurance accounts.
According to district bills and employee interviews, Williams requested payments to his own accounts, allowed the district to pay interest on personal loans and converted vacation days into retirement account cash.
Board members and local employment lawyers say his contract did not provide for such deposits.
Three years ago, the district had $12 million in reserves. This year, the finance chief said it might have $1 million left at the end of the year. The district will just barely have enough to meet summer payroll, he said, and may have to borrow.
Current and former employees said Williams intimidated them into making the payments. He came to them personally, gave vague reasons and told them he needed the money deposited quickly. They said they didn’t dare argue because he had a history of berating employees in the office, or, worse, firing them.
Board President Gilda Hester said she recently learned of the payments to Williams. The district, she said, is working to resolve the problem.
Other board members were said to be saddened and angry.
The administrative operations and academic performance also crumbled during Williams’ tenure.
Teachers resigned. Fired employees sued, alleging retaliation. Parents screamed at board meetings. Academics and finances crumbled.
Five years ago, Riverview passed nine of 12 categories on its state annual performance report. Last year it passed three.
Williams’ ethics were questioned, too. He allowed the district to pay his daughter and the company she worked for, his girlfriend and the company she represented, as well as the company of his girlfriend’s nephew. After a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed payments to Williams’ girlfriend, the board suspended him. But he was back in office a week later.
On Thursday, the board will hold a public meeting to announce the results of a state audit. Residents expect the report to be scathing.