$2,000 Stolen from Safe in North High Athletic Office

District 99 is probing the Jan. 4 disappearance of $2,000 in cash from a safe in the North High School athletic office after an investigation by Downers Grove Police failed to identify who took the money.

District administrators contacted police immediately after discovering the cash was missing from the safe, which is in an office with a locking door. The safe has a combination lock, said Jill Browning, the district's communications director.

District administrators are looking into how many individuals had access to the office key and safe combination, Browning said. "We are assessing that now."

Administrators also will review the district's current internal controls, according to a press release issued today by District 99. 

“It is extremely rare that this has happened at District 99,” Controller Mark Staehlin said in the release. “In my 17 years here, we’ve only been missing cash two times--both times have occurred within the last five months. Even so, when these incidents occur, it causes us to reflect on how to make sure our practices are stronger in the future, and that’s what we’re working on now.”

The secretary to the South High School activities director in October 2010 after the school discovered approximately $4,000 was missing from receipts of the school's homecoming variety show. She later returned the money.

The Downers Grove Police Department said it would release a report of its investigation into the North High theft Tuesday.

"We did a police investigation," Sgt. David Bormann said. "We've exhausted all leads and closed the investigation."