District 15 school board president Gerald Chapman did not act improperly in editing meeting minutes, according to a report by the school district's attorney Michael Loizzi Jr.

"While it is clear that Dr. Chapman, in his role as Board President, did propose to make, and did make,  edits to the draft minutes, we find that to characterize his involvement in the process of preparing the draft minutes as 'tampering' is  not supported by facts," the report states.

The school board discussed the report at its Wednesday, Jan. 12 meeting.

The issue of minutes in Community Consolidated District 15 has been a controversial topic for several months. Board member Sue Quinn has raised concerns that a motion she made in March was spun in meeting minutes. The motion had to do with board plans to issue $27 million in bonds; Quinn's motion was for the district to issue far less in bonds with a number of stipulations.

On Nov. 30 the school board voted to have Loizzi look into the matter. Quinn was opposed to the investigation, this was a matter of board policy, not legal wrongdoing. Chapman voted in favor of Loizzi investigating.

At Wednesday's meeting Quinn said that Loizzi's report affirmed Chapman changed the motion, but came up with reasons why it was OK.

Among the differences in the motion and the minutes was that Quinn wanted to issue capital bonds, not working cash bonds. The uses of capital bonds are limited in how the money can be used – school repairs, building improvements, etc. Also, Quinn referenced the state's debt limit, but did not have a specific amount in her motion, Chapman requested that a specific number be added.

"I know that changing a board member's motion is wrong," Quinn said. "And the only thing that's shocking to me, therefore, is that Dr. Chapman routinely alters the minutes."

Quinn made a motion at the Wednesday meeting to bar the school board president from reviewing or revising minutes before they come before the full board. The motion failed by a vote of 4 to 2.

School board member Peggy Babcock pointed out that the full board gets to vote and approve the minutes and any concerns by any board member can be addressed. Babcock also pointed out that Quinn voted to approve the minutes in question.

"We voted unanimously on those minutes," Babcock. "And you would know your motion better than anyone."

Babcock also addressed concerns that Quinn had with Loizzi's report and the fact that Loizzi has not yet billed the district for his time. Quinn said the cost of the investigation was one reason she did not vote in favor of it.

"I think we are chasing our tails," Babcock said. "We throw out accusations very easily. We get the report back...and now we don't trust our attorney."

Babcock said the board votes on drafts of minutes and that every board member has a chance to comment on them and suggest corrections before voting.