Schools
Arbor Park District 145 Fills Seat Vacated by Sopko
The board appointed a new member to the empty seat Wednesday night.
A District 145 Board of Education seat left empty by the resignation of Michelle Sopko has now been filled. Rhonda Ceska was named to the role vacated by Sopko, who along with her husband is accused of embezzling $352,000 from the Palos Height Fire Protection District.
Ceska, 46, took the oath during the board's meeting Wednesday night. She will serve what's left of Sopko's term—14 months—and said she is uncertain if she will run for the seat in April 2015, Sun-Times Media reports.
Sopko resigned in January, following charges that she and her husband, Charles, a deputy chief with the Oak Forest Fire Department allegedly embezzled $352,938 from the Palos Heights Fire Protection District and funneled that money into a shared bank account. They're out on bail on house arrest, after pleading not guilty.
The couple's next court date is set for April 3.
Subscribe to our email newsletter.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
