Dist. 158 revisits meeting spat

One day after a series of revelations about a Nov. 13 closed session, the Huntley Unit District 158 school board Thursday debated and discussed the fallout from the meeting.

On Wednesday, local media learned that a board member filed a police report about an incident during the closed session; another board member filed a complaint against board colleagues with the state's attorney; and the board president called two board members "terrorists."

Claims about the closed session, in which the board decided to appoint former board President Mike Skala to the board, are difficult to verify because a digital audio device recorded only the first few minutes of the meeting, district officials say.

The board agreed Thursday to release the audio at its Dec. 20 meeting. The two to three minutes contain little to nothing of substance, according to board President Shawn Green.

The board was undecided over whether to release the meeting minutes -- a summary of what transpired in closed session but not a word-for-word transcript.

The board planned to reach consensus on the content of the minutes and vote on whether to release them at its Dec. 20 meeting.

Also Thursday, Superintendent John Burkey updated the board on efforts to prevent a repeat of the Nov. 13 meeting, where the audio device and three video recorders used to tape open session failed.

In addition to replacing the audio device with an iPod and a cassette backup, as well as adding a hard drive backup recorder for open session, Burkey said staff would implement a checklist to make sure every meeting is recorded.

"I feel confident that with us following the checklist, there will not be future errors," Burkey said.

Green planned to clarify comments he made on Wednesday, calling board members Aileen Seedorf and Larry Snow "terrorists" and comparing their actions to terrorist attacks.

"In no way have I ever stated or implied Mr. Snow or Mrs. Seedorf have committed a physical act of harm upon any administrator or board member," Green said in a statement.

Seedorf has filed a police report accusing board Vice President Tony Quagliano of threatening her in closed session, a charge Quagliano has denied.

Snow has filed a complaint with the McHenry County state's attorney alleging criminal misconduct by Skala and other board members, according to board members.

Green's comment on Wednesday came in response to learning of Snow and Seedorf's actions.