Eduardo Ramos, the chief financial officer of Austin Independent School District, was arrested on charges of insurance fraud last week, as confirmed by the Austin ISD Police Department. According to KXAN, Ramos, 51, was taken into custody on July 31 after the Round Rock Police Department issued an arrest warrant. His arrest has prompted the school district to place him on administrative leave.

Despite the serious nature of the charges, it has been reported that they are unrelated to Ramos's duties at the school district. Superintendent Matías Segura acted swiftly, placing Ramos on leave the same day as his arrest, with an online statement informing the public of the decision published on August 2, as KVUE reported. Previously scheduled to resign on August 16, Ramos's early departure has brought about a shift in the district's financial leadership on the cusp of the new school year.

In the wake of the arrest, Katrina Montgomery has been named as Interim Chief Financial Officer. Montgomery, who has been with Austin ISD for three years as Assistant Superintendent of Finance, will now oversee the district's finances, which include budgeting, purchases, and managing state and federal grants. The district faces a budget deficit as it approaches the new academic year, a challenge that Ramos had navigated in the past by balancing the operating budget for the first time in years.

Austin ISD maintains that it follows strict operating procedures, which include an external third-party audit of its financial activities. However, in light of recent events, the school board is currently assessing whether any additional reviews are needed to ensure financial integrity. According to his district biography, Ramos worked in school finance for 27 years, culminating in his tenure at Austin ISD during which, the district successfully balanced its operating budget for consecutive years, 2021-22, and 2022-23.

Details surrounding the insurance fraud charge against Ramos remain sparse. Attorney information was not listed in court records at last check on Monday afternoon, and efforts to reach Ramos for a statement on the accusations have yet to yield a response. The investigation into the allegations and any further impact on the Austin ISD remains a developing story.