Ball Chatham CUSD 5 board member resigns; board adopts fund transfer, cardiac plan and several routine items

At its Feb. 26, 2025 meeting, the Ball Chatham Community Unit School District 5 board saw the resignation of board member Steve Bryant after he changed residences, Superintendent Dr. Becca Layman said.

“Steve Bryant resigned at our meeting this evening for the sole fact that he has moved and is no longer a resident of the Woodside Township and now resides in Ball Township,” Dr. Becca Layman said. She added that Ball Township is capped at three board members under local election procedures.

The resignation was one of several routine items reported and acted on during the meeting. The board adopted regular financial and personnel items — including fall coach renewals — and approved a resolution to abate the working cash fund and transfer proceeds from a recent bond into the operations and maintenance fund for use as the bond authorized. The district also adopted a cardiac emergency plan, approved out-of-state travel for Glenwood Middle School’s show choir and band, and adopted a contract with a community engagement firm to support the district’s strategic plan work.

The cardiac plan was described by Layman as a document required by law as of Jan. 1 that lists AED locations, designates cardiac response teams for each building and includes basic CPR and Heimlich maneuver information. The board also held readings of press policies: a first reading of one set of press policies and a second reading of another set; Layman listed those readings but did not provide additional detail in her recap.

Other items on the agenda included a vote to dispose of wrestling mats at the high school and an acknowledgement of an IHSA sectional softball coach of the year. Layman said the board reviewed future meeting dates and heard a visitor comment: a speaker identified as Miss Malinski spoke on behalf of TFUNK parents and expressed concerns about a recent investigation.

Votes at a glance - Resignation of board member Steve Bryant — announced; resignation attributed to change of residence (Woodside Township to Ball Township). Acceptance procedure or formal vote not specified in the meeting recap. - Adoption of regular financial items (including fall coach renewals) — adopted, per superintendent recap. - Personnel items (including fall coach renewals) — adopted, per superintendent recap. - Vote to dispose wrestling mats — a vote was held; result not specified in the recap. - Resolution to abate working cash and transfer bond proceeds to operations and maintenance fund — adopted, per superintendent recap. - Adoption of district cardiac plan — adopted, per superintendent recap. - Approval of out-of-state travel for Glenwood Middle School show choir and band to Six Flags in May — approved, per superintendent recap. - Contract with a community engagement firm for strategic-plan work — adopted, per superintendent recap. - First reading of a set of press policies — first reading held; adoption not specified. - Second reading of another set of press policies — second reading held; adoption not specified.

The superintendent’s recap did not include roll-call vote tallies or the names of motion makers and seconders for the listed items. The meeting summary provided to the public did not provide additional detail about the recent investigation referenced by the visitor who spoke on behalf of TFUNK parents.

The board did not provide further information about timelines for filling the board vacancy created by Bryant’s move, nor did the recap specify whether state or district rules require a special election or an appointment to fill the seat.