Fire LTHS Superintendent: Official

LA GRANGE, IL – Willow Springs' village president on Monday called for the Lyons Township High School board to fire the superintendent if he does not resign.

Speaking to the board, President Melissa Neddermeyer objected to the school's handling of the sale of 71 acres in Willow Springs.

The land is zoned for residential and small retailers, but the school targeted industrial developers. The village said it would keep out industrial uses.

"Serious mistakes have been made in the handling of this property sale," Neddermeyer said. "We have learned that despite his own statements to the contrary, Superintendent (Brian) Waterman has been in communication with industrial developers since at least March of 2022."

She was referring to Patch's reporting last week about Waterman's messages with a Bridge Industrial representative for the eight months before the school announced it was interested in selling the property. The messages indicated Waterman may have held at least one face-to-face meeting with the representative.

Neddermeyer accused the school board of illegally discussing the property sale behind closed doors without proper notifications to the public under the state's open meetings law.

This came to light after Patch reported last week that until December, the school board never listed real estate as one of the reasons for going into closed session, as required by law.

Neddermeyer noted a school board policy that requires the superintendent to be of "good character, unquestionable morals and shall work effectively with the community."

"The failed leadership here has resulted in deception, broken public trust and total disregard for our community," said Neddermeyer, a Lyons Township High School graduate. "For these reasons, I do not feel that Superintendent Waterman should continue in his current role. I officially request that Superintendent Waterman resign from his position as superintendent."

If he does not resign, she said, the board should place him on leave pending his firing for cause.

When Neddermeyer ended, the audience applauded her.

Other speakers also denounced the school's effort to sell to an industrial developer. No one defended school officials.

Waterman and the board did not directly respond to the criticism.

In a statement after public comments, board President Kari Dillon said she understood the "passions" around the issue.

"We welcome the opportunity to work with potential buyers from a variety of uses for the site," she said. "And should we receive bids that meet our requirements, we will notify the community at the appropriate time."

The minimum price was set at $55 million. During a bid opening last month, only Bridge Industrial met that requirement. San Francisco-based Prologis bid $46.5 million.

The board rejected the bids, but said it would continue negotiations.

The school said it would use the proceeds for projects to improve the school's two campuses.