Dr. Horton late on Repayment Agreement, D65 Board Seeking Immediate Collection

Dr. Horton still owes $10,318.00 on his repayment agreement, missed payments in March and October 2025

First, a quick update out of Dekalb County, Georgia. On Wednesday, the Dekalb County School Board accepted Dr. Horton’s resignation and initiated a forensic audit. You can read more on the Evanston RoundTable or the Decaturish. Shout out to Tracy Brisson, who wrote here a mere 4 days ago that the DCSD should launch a forensic audit immediately. It appears they took her advice.

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When former Superintendent Dr. Horton left District 65 in 2023, he failed to provide 180 days notice to the Board. This triggered a clause in his contract, resulting in him owing $25,000 in liquidated damages. During his exit, he negotiated a Repayment Agreement with the School Board. You can read my prior stories on the subject.

• Dr. Horton Repayment Agreement (Aug 4, 2023)

• Dr. Horton Defaults on Repayment Agreement (Feb 29, 2024)

• Horton Gets a Good Deal (March 8, 2024)

In 2024, I reported that he was behind on his payments. The consequence of this was he 1) owed the entire balance in full and 2) owed significant late fees. The Evanston RoundTable calculated he owed near $18,000 in late fees. In March 2024, the board sent him a letter waiving most fees and permitting him to continue making monthly payments.

On March 8, 2024 I sent the board an email (I also said this in public comment at a meeting that month);

I believe you are making a mistake in not holding Dr. Horton in default on the repayment agreement immediately, which is what I believe repayment contract obligates you to do. These funds belong to the Evanston taxpayers and the children of District 65, to whom you are a fiduciary.

The Board president at that time (Sergio Hernandez) replied to me the same day;

Hello Mr. Hayden,

Thanks for reaching out to the board.

As of March 6, Dr. Horton has made all required payments to District 65 and there is no outstanding balance due at this time.

Take care,

This week, we learned the Board was aware of an investigation into Dr. Horton in 2023, so the failure to enforce the agreement at that time seems like an even more puzzling decision.

In February 2025, I submitted a FOIA and found that he was up to date.

Dr. Horton Behind on Payments in 2025

According to the District, he is behind on payments this year, even before the indictment. He missed a March 2025 payment and he has yet to make an October 2025 payment. He currently owes $10,318. You can read the letter the Board sent him and the full comment the District gave me today;

Thank you for your continuing attention to this matter. As you know, Dr. Horton’s employment agreement included a provision obligating him to pay $25,000 to the
District if he terminated his employment agreement early and provided the Board with less than 180 days’ notice of his termination. The purpose of the provision is to provide the District with liquidated damages related to the costs it may incur related to the search for a new Superintendent. Dr. Horton provided less than 180 days’ notice to the Board of his termination of the agreement in 2023 triggering his $25,000 payment obligation. The former Board agreed to a payment plan with Dr. Horton regarding his $25,000 payment for monthly payments of $700 over the course of three years.

By March 2024, Dr. Horton had failed to make one $700 payment and had previously made several late payments. During that time, as you will recall, the District’s business services office was in a period of transition without a permanent CFO. Prior to March 2024, the District had provided no notice to Dr. Horton regarding his late payments.

On March 4, 2024, Board leadership provided Dr. Horton with written notice informing him that his late payments were unacceptable and the District would impose a total default unless he made the late payment and paid a penalty.

In reviewing his payments as of October 16, 2025, Dr. Horton has paid $19,900 to the District. He, however, failed to make a March 2025 payment and has not yet paid his October 2025 payment. It also appears from District records that he underpaid his March 2024 penalty by $604.

The District’s Board leadership is committed to requiring Dr. Horton to meet his contractual obligations. Board leadership sent the enclosed demand letter today to Dr. Horton holding him in default of the repayment agreement and demanding full payment of all amounts due including interest by October 24, 2025. If Dr. Horton does not comply with the demands contained in the letter, the District will pursue its legal rights.

The letter is signed by the new board president, Pat Anderson and Nichole Pinkard and seeks immediate repayment. The letter concludes;

If you do not pay the District $10,318.00 in accordance with the Repayment Agreement by October 24, 2025, the Board will pursue its legal rights including any additional interest amounts to which the Board is entitled. Note that under Section 5.b of the Repayment Agreement, you will be responsible for all collection costs the Board incurs including reasonable attorney fees.

This letter is not intended to address the grave concerns the Board has related to your alleged misconduct contained in the recent federal indictment. The Board reserves all legal rights it has related to those allegations.