The Community Consolidated School District 15 attorney will look into allegations that board president Gerald Chapman attempted to manipulate meeting mintues.

The school board voted 4-3 at a special meeting Nov. 30 to have attorney Mike Loizzi investigate the issue. Chapman voted in favor of the motion; board member Sue Quinn, who first raised the issue, voted against it.

"Does anyone think that Dr. Chapman has done anything illegal?" Quinn asked. "This is not a legal matter."

The decision to use an attorney to resolve the controversy brought strong criticism from resident Jane VanWolvelear, a frequent attendee of school board meetings. VanWolvelear confronted board member Richard Bokor, who made the motion, after the meeting. Patch has video of part of the discussion that can be viewed below.

"We are trying to get clarification and input from an impartial third party," Bokor said after the meeting.

Board members Tim Millar and Mark Bloom joined Quinn in voting "no."

"We are engaging an attorney and spending money when we are the board, we set policy. It's whatever the board decides to do. It is not a legal issue," Millar said.

Although meeting minutes are generally a mundane matter, in District 15 they have been the source of several extended discussions. The issue has highlighted the divisions – and politics – of the board.

Quinn had alleged that a motion she made months ago was altered in meeting minutes. During the school board's Nov. 10 meeting, Quinn read from several e-mails in which district staff discussed the motion, the wording, and questions Chapman had about it.

All board members, including Quinn, have the opportunity to read over the minutes and comment on them before approval. The board must approve all meeting minutes.

The bickering is part of the aftermath of a failed District 15 referendum that was defeated by voters by a more than 2-to-1 margin. The school board intended to issue $27 million in bonds, but a petition drive by residents forced the matter to a referendum. In the midst of the controversy Quinn had made a motion that the board issue far less in bonds with a number of stipulations.