Former Barrington High School Fine Arts Department Chairwoman Julie Salk was arrested on theft charges Tuesday.

Barrington Police charged Salk with one count of theft over $500. Police say she stole $5,022 in theater and raffle ticket revenue from a "Hello Dolly!" production in March 2012. In the 2010-2011 school year, the Illinois State Board of Education reported Salk's salary as $142,024.27.

Her initial court date will be held later today, at 1:30 p.m. at the Babcox Justice Center in Waukegan.

Salk retired from District 220 in June after being placed on administrative leave. She was the subject of internal review with the district for two months prior to her retirement.

Police and school officials remained mum on the subject until her arrest Nov. 13. District 220 Superintendent Tom Leonard issued a letter to parents late Tuesday evening. 

“The gravity of these charges reflects the seriousness of the alleged activity. The time this investigation required was a result of our thoroughness and legal obligation to confidentiality,” the letter read.

Leonard states that high school staff, police officials and the Fine Arts Booster Club all assisted in the investigation that has been ongoing for seven months.

“Although the school district has been the recipient of positive annual financial audits, circumstances such as these are a reminder that policies and procedures involving the transaction of school district funds can never be secure enough. As a result, new protocols for handling money within our schools have been implemented and tested since last summer,” Leonard’s letter read.