'Months Of Violative Conduct:' District 203 Board Member Censured

NAPERVILLE, IL — After months of what the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 calls "violative conduct," board member Melissa Kelley Black has been censured. At Tuesday's board meeting, Kelley Black was the sole board member to vote against the resolution to censure.

In the resolution, Kelley Black is accused of sharing confidential information, ignoring financial responsibilities and making "false and disparaging" comments about the board of education. Kelley Black, who was elected in 2023, underwent six self-evaluations and been issued two remedial directive letters before the censure, according to the resolution.

Per the resolution, "The Board has reiterated to Member Kelley Black of the seriousness of her breaches and the harm caused to the District, specifically the impact on student academic achievement, but Member Kelley Black continues to breach the Board Policies, the Board Agreements, the IASB Code of Conduct, and principles of ethics."

Kelley Black is accused of using social media to disclose personal student information, "disparage" the board and make public statements about the board of education's staffing needs in the midst of contract negotiation. Black is further accused of using her position as a District 203 board member "in her capacity as a parent."

Self-evaluations of Kelley Black were held on the following dates, according to the resolution:

• June 15, 2023
• Nov. 1, 2023
• Dec. 4, 2023
• April 1, 2024
• June 3, 2024
• Dec. 16, 2024

A representative from the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) was present at each of the above meetings.

Per the censure, Kelley Black is "directed to cease and desist from engaging in the behavior described in Section 2 herein and any other behavior that adversely impacts the District; and further directed to adhere to all applicable Board Policies, the Board Oath of Office, the Board Agreements, the IASB Code of Conduct, and principles of ethics."

At Tuesday's meeting, many board members expressed dismay over the censure.

Board member Donna Wandke said, "In my many years on the board... over a decade...we have not had to get to a point where we've had a censure resolution, so it is difficult."

Kelley Black challenged the censure resolution and asked the board to stay its vote, contending that the censure prevented her from sharing information in her defense, she said.

"I wholeheartedly disagree with the allegations and the opinions expressed, however there is no way for me to defend myself or even share the exhibits that were used to make these decisions or even share the input of the representatives that worked with us during those self-evaluations."

She added, "If I am not given the adequate opportunity to defend myself and the vote goes forward, I will view this as a personal defamation of my character."

"This is a very weighty and difficult matter," said board member Joe Kozminski. He added, "the behaviors are still there that we've been addressing...and not really changing."

"The evidence I've seen is quite solid," Kozminski said.

Board member Charles Cush said, "What is most disappointing to me is the number of attempts to avoid getting to this point that were unsuccessful because of the apparent unwillingness on the part of an individual to keep to the commitment to abide by the guidelines that we collectively agreed to in our board agreements."

Kelley Black continued to challenge the censure resolution and urged the board to present "evidence."

Board member Amanda McMillen responded,"The evidence is Facebook posts and emails and stuff like that," noting that if something was "posted in a public forum, it's available as evidence."

Click the link to watch the District 203 board meeting.