At their special meeting Monday, the 220 Board of Education voted on approving the, “Written Decision Regarding Uniform Grievance Procedure Complaint Concerning a Board Member,” and the, “Public Release of the June 10, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and Findings.” Here’s how that went:
“Ficke-Bradford: The next motion, I’d like to invite Aris Talianas, the Board attorney, to come to the table in case the Board has any questions.
And I just want to do a little preamble on this one just to make sure it’s very clear.
After the receipt of a Complaint regarding alleged violations of Board Policy, an outside investigator was appointed to investigate the Complaint and the investigator issued a written report pursuant to the Board’s Uniform Grievance Procedure. The outside investigator’s report includes recommended findings that Board Member Ding violated Board Policy 2:80 relating to the Board Member Code of Conduct concerning the appearance of impropriety and the use of social media. According to the Board’s Uniform Grievance Procedure, the Board is required to issue a written decision following the issuance of the investigator’s report reaching its own conclusions, the Board’s own conclusions. Therefore, I am requesting a motion to approve the Board’s decision on the Complaint filed against Board Member Ding consistent with the following, and Board Members, you have a copy of this in front of you. I’m going to read through the bullets:
- Accepting the investigator’s findings that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that Ding violated Board Policy 2:80 when she decided not to recuse herself from the vote on the first complaint that was created, that created the appearance of impropriety.
- Accepting the investigator’s findings that there is significant evidence to prove that Ding violated Board Policy 2:80 when she allowed certain social media posts to remain on her active campaign website.
- Accepting the investigator’s findings that there is not evidence to conclude that Ding violated Board Policy or law based on her receipt of campaign contributions from labor and or education groups, including those affiliated with the Barrington Education Association. However, the Board expects Ding to consider recusing herself from Board deliberations and action on substantive decisions related to Barrington Education Association and Barrington School Employee’s Organization collective bargaining agreements.
- The Board directs Ding to remove from her campaign website any references to District achievements and expects Ding to decline to vote on any matter coming before the Board, which is likely to create the appearance of impropriety.
- The Board considers it is appropriate that Ding reimburse the District for the cost of investigating and adjudicating this second Complaint alleging violations of Board Policy, especially given that the Complaint largely involves Ding’s failure to follow the direction and training from the first complaint. In lieu of reimbursement, the Board requests Ding write a letter of apology and seek IASB or District approved ethics counseling on their own time and at their own expense.
Do I have such a motion?
Collister-Lazari: So moved.
Srivastava: Second.
Ficke Bradford: All right. Any questions or comments from the Board?
All right, let’s do roll call.
Steve Wang? Yes.
Sandra Bradford? Yes.
Harathi Srivastava? Yes.
Diana Clopton? Yes.
Leah Collister Lazari? Yes.
Ficke Bradford: All right, motion passes. The next motion. Do we have a motion to approve the public release of the June 10, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and finding?
Collister Lazari: So moved.
Clopton: Second.
Ficke Bradford: All right, so just to be very clear, this is the official report that we just took the former action on. So we… It’s marked as confidential. So the Board must take an action to waive that confidentiality. So that is what we are doing with this action. Any questions from the Board?
All right, let’s do a roll call, please.
Harathi Srivastava? Yes.
Sandra Bradford? Yes.
Steve Wang? Yes.
Leah Collister Lazari? Yes.
Diana Clapton? Yes.”
To view to the YouTube video queued to the start of the discussion, click here.
A copy of the June 10, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and Finding can be viewed and downloaded here.
Related: “CUSD 220 Board of Education public comments we applaud,” “Special District 220 Board of Education meeting Monday,” “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency”
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