Eavesdropping complaint against District 203 school board member closed
A Naperville Unit District 203 school board member will not face any criminal charges following an investigation of an eavesdropping complaint.
Naperville police last week confirmed they had closed their investigation into allegations that Melissa Kelley Black improperly recorded a May 14 citizens finance advisory committee meeting.
“It was determined that there was not enough evidence to charge for the eavesdropping case,” Naperville police Cmdr. Rick Krakow said in an email. “The case is closed.”
Naperville police did not provide additional details. Kelley Black did not return messages seeking comment.
An attorney for District 203 reached out to the DuPage County State’s Attorney after Kelley Black indicated she had recorded the May 14 meeting during comments she made at a regular school board meeting on June 2. The state’s attorney’s office referred the matter to the Naperville Police Department to investigate.
Kelley Black referenced recording the citizens finance advisory committee in response to questions about the validity of statements she made at the June 2 meeting.
“I have the meeting recorded so ….” Kelley Black said.
Superintendent Dan Bridges then asked Kelley Black if she had informed members of the finance panel that she was recording or asked for permission to do so. Kelley Black responded that her phone was right in front of her throughout the meeting.
In a letter to the DuPage County State’s Attorney, an attorney for District 203 said the advisory panel reports to the superintendent, not the school board, and as such is not subject to the Illinois Open Meetings Act, and that Kelley Black improperly recorded a private meeting.
In its investigation, Naperville police sought direction from the Illinois attorney general’s office regarding if the citizens finance advisory committee meeting was subject to the Illinois Open Meetings Act, Krakow said in August.
Krakow did not disclose what, if any, guidance police received from the Illinois attorney general’s office on the matter.
Naperville 203 School Board President Charles Cush stood by the district’s action in reporting the alleged eavesdropping to authorities.
“We are here because member Kelley Black made a statement publicly … that she made a recording of a meeting,” Cush said. “And believing that was illegal, we, as any responsible individual should do, reported it.”
Kelley Black, first elected to the board in 2023, has faced scrutiny from fellow board members during her tenure. In January, she was censured by fellow board members for behavior they described as “unprofessional” and “detrimental.”
After making her statement that she recorded the citizens advisory committee, Kelley Black was stripped of any committee and adopt-a-school assignments.