Freeburg CCSD 70 board censures member and asks county education office to consider removal

The Freeburg CCSD 70 Board of Education voted during its regular meeting to censure board member David Stein and to send a recommendation to the St. Clair County Regional Office of Education that he be removed from office.

During new business, Mr. May, a board member, told colleagues he had asked for the item to be placed on the agenda and said, "I believe Mr. Stein has acted very inappropriately on numerous occasions," citing instances of aggressive conduct in school buildings, disruptions during meetings, and what trustees described as harassment of staff and parents. Trustees said police had been called on at least one occasion and that Mr. Stein had entered school property without prior clearance.

After discussion, a motion to censure Mr. Stein carried on a roll-call vote. According to the meeting record, Mr. Smith and Mr. Shy voted yes; one member (Mr. Baker) did not vote on the advice of legal counsel; Miss Trout, Mr. May and Miss B voted yes. The board then approved a separate motion to forward a recommendation for removal to the St. Clair County Regional Office of Education; the same pattern of votes was recorded. Mr. Stein was not present during the discussion and did not offer a response on the record.

Board members said they had compiled supporting materials, including recordings, emails and a purported body-camera clip from an earlier incident they said involved students present; they discussed using that material as part of the recommendation. Trustees also said they had records of prior behavior and emails that informed the decision.

The board did not take any immediate personnel actions at the meeting beyond the censure and the recommended referral. The St. Clair County Regional Office of Education will decide how to proceed on the referral; the board will await any response or further action from that office.