A former suburban Chicago school superintendent accused of using district money for personal projects has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Former Lincoln-Way Community High School District superintendent Lawrence Wyllie faces five counts of wire fraud and one count of embezzlement.

Wyllie is accused of using at least $50,000 of school money to build and operate a dog obedience school.

He also and paid himself at least $30,000 in retirement and vacation benefits not in his contract.

Prosecutors say in addition to fraud and embezzlement, the 79-year-old Wyllie misrepresented Lincoln-Way’s financial health and caused the district to assume at least $7 million in debt.