Washington - The president of the Chicago school board apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday. Michael Scott had been missing since Sunday, and police used his cell phone to find his body on the banks of the Chicago River, the newspaper reported online quoting police sources.
The Cook County's medical examiner's office was investigating and had not officially ruled on how he died.
Scott had been president of the board that oversees Chicago's school system from 2001 to 2006, and again since February.
US Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the former chief of Chicago public schools, said in a statement that he was "shocked and saddened by the sudden death" of his friend and colleague.
"Michael cared passionately about public education and made many courageous decisions as president of the board," he said.
