Trump asks Supreme Court to block hush money sentencing
President-elect Trump is asking the Supreme Court to halt Friday’s sentencing in his New York hush money case, according to a new court filing.Why it
California wildfires driven by rare combination of climate change factors
At least three destructive, fast-moving wildfires were burning in the Los Angeles metro area early Wednesday. Tens of thousands of people evacuated, some having run
Naperville D203 board member censured for ‘detrimental’ actions, including disclosing student and closed session information
Naperville District 203 School Board member Melissa Kelley Black was censured by the School Board Tuesday for “unprofessional” and damaging actions, including disclosing private student information, spreading false information and releasing collective bargaining details.
“Member Kelley Black has repeatedly acted in such a way that is detrimental to District 203, its students and its staff, specifically as it relates to the unification of the board leadership and ultimately to student achievement,” the board’s 10-page censure resolution said.
“Board member Kelley Black’s conduct violates the board’s principles and ethics by which members are to conduct themselves,” the resolution said. “Member Kelley Black has made it clear to the board that she will disregard her fiduciary duties, the board policies, the board agreements, the (Illinois Association of School Boards) Code of Conduct, and principles of ethics to achieve her desired outcomes and personal interests, regardless of whether it is at the expense of the district.”
Among the charges for which she was cited was releasing student information on social media, publicly releasing information about collective bargaining agreements, spreading false statements, disparaging the board and administration, and improperly using her board membership as a parent with regard to her child, a D203 student.
Kelley Black, elected to the board in April 2023, denied the accusations, saying after the meeting that she was “shocked when I read the allegations.”
“They are so far off the mark,” she said. “Although I’m not perfect, I have not done anything that warrants these allegations.”
Board members said they have been working internally to resolve issues with Kelley Black for about a year and a half. Over that period of time, the board has conducted six separate self-evaluations, engaged the DuPage County Regional Office of Education for guidance and issued two separate private remedial directive letters.
Several board members said they were saddened that they were left with no option other than to censure one of their own members. The reprimand asks that she stop all behavior that adversely impacts the district and adhere to board policies.
“This resolution is another step within a progression of steps that a board must follow to correct the conduct of one of its own in order for the board to fulfill its fiduciary duties to this school district,” board President Kristine Gericke said.
“We take up this motion with a heavy heart and regret the necessity of having to do so. However, we do so to fulfill our core objective of acting in the best interest of our students.”
The resolution states that the district’s first self evaluation with Kelley Black was conducted June 15, 2023, after she allegedly made “false and disparaging comments about the board on public and private forums and channels.”
The second occurred Nov. 1, 2023, stemming from her alleged social media disclosure of student information discussed in closed session. The Illinois Association of School Boards allows boards to meet privately in closed session to talk about such topics as student disciplinary cases, the placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.
Kelley Black is also accused of releasing confidential and privileged information on social media prior to collective bargaining negotiations, which “harmed the district’s bargaining position in ongoing negotiations.” Additionally, she reportedly made public statements regarding the district’s personnel and staffing needs, further harming negotiations, the resolution said.
The details she reportedly made public were discussed in closed session. State law allows school boards to meet privately to discuss collective negotiating issues between a public body and its employees.
The resolution further claims that members of the district staff said they were under the impression that Kelley Black was improperly levying her board member status as a parent with regard to her child, a district student.
Kelley Black said she finds the resolution an attack on her character.
“If I am unjustly and unfairly being treated and my reputation and integrity is damaged, I feel forced to defend myself,” she said.
However, she cannot do so because it would require that she release private and privileged information, she said.
“If I’m guilty of anything, it’s just having a different perspective and a different opinion (than the other board members),” Kelley Black said.
Board members said efforts to resolve issues with her have been unsuccessful.
“We’ve addressed this multiple times, six times, in closed session and the behavior is still there and not really changing,” board member Joe Kozminski said. “The evidence I’ve seen in quite solid.”
Board member Charles Cush said the board spent significant hours trying to remedy Kelley Black’s behavior in other ways. He encouraged district residents to read the censure resolution, which is posted on the district’s website .
“We are supposed to set an example for the students we are responsible for educating and part of that example is how to demonstrate grace, which despite what anyone might say has been extended in this situation as evidenced by the number of board self evaluations that have been scheduled to try to resolve this matter,” Cush said. “The other area that we are responsible to try to model is accountability.”
Cush said the board has to hold its members accountable even in difficult situations.
“From my perspective, the community did not elect us to do what is easy,” Cush said. “They elected us to do what is right and to represent their interests to the best of our ability.”
Board member Amanda McMillen said she voted to support the censure resolution to protect the district.
“Even though this is something that is incredibly uncomfortable, I truly believe this is the right thing to do to be able to hold accountability and ensure that we can work as a functioning team of eight — seven board members and a superintendent — in a respectful, mature and efficient way that helps continue to drive the innovation and the excellence of this district,” McMillen said.
School boards must commit to self-monitoring, Gericke said.
“Behavior counts always,” she said. “Accountability matters always. What message do we send to our students if we do not act professionally and ethically?
“Our oath, board agreements and code of conduct are our classroom rules. Without them, we would be ineffective and that does not allow us to achieve our desired student outcomes. When we don’t abide by our own rules, I firmly believe we lose credibility as individuals and as a body.”
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
Jimmy Carter continues to lie in state at Capitol Rotunda ahead of his state funeral
WASHINGTON — President Jimmy Carter will lie in state for a second day Wednesday after his remains arrived in Washington a day earlier as part of state funeral rites.
The Georgia Democrat and 39th president died Dec. 29 at the age of 100.
Carter served as president from 1977-81, winning office as an outsider in the wake of the Vietnam War and Watergate. He endured a rocky four years of economic unrest and international crises that ended with his defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. But he also lived long enough to see historians reassess his presidency more charitably than voters did in 1980.
He was remembered Tuesday at the Capitol for his deep religious faith, long public service and decades of humanitarian work beyond what he accomplished in politics.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Mike Johnson were among those who offered bipartisan tributes to Carter in the Capitol Rotunda, where his flag-draped casket remains atop the Lincoln catafalque for members of the public to pay their respects.
Carter will remain at the Capitol until Thursday morning, when he is transported to Washington National Cathedral for a state funeral. President Joe Biden, a longtime Carter ally, will deliver a eulogy. Other living former presidents, including President-elect Donald Trump, are expected to attend.
After the funeral, the Boeing 747 that is Air Force One when a sitting president is aboard will carry Carter and his family back to Georgia. An invitation-only funeral will be held at Maranatha Baptist Church in tiny Plains, Georgia, where Carter taught Sunday School for decades after leaving office.
Carter will be buried next to his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, in a plot near the home they built before his first state Senate campaign in 1962 and where they lived out their lives with the exception of four years in the Georgia Governor’s Mansion and four years in the White House.
Trump asks Supreme Court to halt Friday sentencing in hush money case
The petition is the latest effort by President-elect Donald Trump to avoid sentencing for his 34-count felony conviction related to a 2016 hush-money payment.