LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska school superintendent has pleaded guilty to stealing $314,000 from a federal program.

Former Santee Community Schools superintendent Paul Sellon entered his plea on Tuesday. He was accused of stealing the funds between 2010 and 2013, while he worked for the Santee-based school district on the Santee Sioux Reservation.

According to a plea agreement, Sellon contracted with Mastery Learning and Achievement, paying $683,000 in funds from an annual school improvement grant. As a pre-condition to being hired in Santee, authorities say Sellon told the company it needed to pay him some of the grant money it received for its service.

Company officials told investigators they believed the company wouldn’t get the contract unless they paid Sellon as he directed.

Sellon’s sentencing is scheduled for February.