Complaint Against Lyons Township High Alleges Open Meetings Violation

LA GRANGE, IL – The Lyons Township High School board is facing a new allegation that it violated the state's open meetings law in selling a part of the school's land in Willow Springs.

Last month, the attorney general's office received a complaint that the board improperly discussed the land in a closed-door meeting.

In 2023 and 2024, the board was found to have repeatedly violated the Open Meetings Act in secretly discussing selling the entire 73 acres to an industrial developer.

The latest complaint noted a memo in the board's Oct. 6 meeting agenda. It said the board had extended an offer to Pleasantdale School District 107 for a portion of the property.

Under the act, the board can only discuss the limited purpose of setting the price of real property behind closed doors. In this case, the board never agreed in public session to extend an offer to Pleasantdale.

Yet, in an Oct. 20 meeting, the board voted to sell about an acre to Pleasantdale for $320,000.

In a letter to the high school Wednesday, Benjamin Silver, a supervising attorney for the attorney general, informed the board he would investigate the allegation.

Silver was the same one at the attorney general's office who issued a rare binding opinion in 2023 against the board. The office ordered the school to release two closed-session recordings.

A year later, the office requested that the board release eight other recordings, which the school agreed to do.

In Wednesday's letter, Silver asked the school to respond to the allegation within seven business days.

Over the last few months, the school board has held a few closed meetings about the Willow Springs land, which is next to houses and Pleasantdale Elementary School.

As for the previous open meeting violations, the school board blamed its former law firm, which the board replaced.

Tim Albores, the school board's president, couldn't be reached for immediate comment Thursday on the latest complaint.

Recently, though, Patch asked Albores about whether board members feel free to point out possible violations of the Open Meetings Act.

Albores, who was not on the board during the previous violations, responded through the school's spokeswoman, Mary Lin Muscolino.

"Our board maintains a strong and respectful working relationship. One that allows us, including our legal representation, to question thoughts and actions without hesitation," Albores said. "Board members have been trained on the Open Meetings Act, ensuring that all legal requirements are met."

"Historically, whenever we’ve entered into closed session, an attorney from our new law firm has been present to ensure we remain within the parameters of the Open Meetings Act," he said.