ABOVE: The wife of DACC president Dr. Stephen Nacco, Cindy Nacco, addresses the DACC Board of Trustees during “public comment,” upon Monday’s continuation of a special meeting to discuss the conflict between Dr. Nacco and Danville’s Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr. After over 2 1/2 hours in closed session, the Board of Trustees placed Dr. Nacco on administrative leave.
On the 78th anniversary of the date of the creation of Danville Area Community College, the school’s president was placed on administrative leave with possible pending termination.
September 16, 1946 was the opening day for the University of Illinois extension site at Danville High School that eventually became Danville Area Community College. A special documentary film on Mary Miller, DACC’s first president from 1946 to 1972; was debuted on Monday. But the entire day changed when the DACC Board of Trustees resumed a special meeting from last week at 4 PM, initiated by the recent conflict between DACC President Dr. Stephen Nacco and Danville Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr.
The conflict had occurred because of a disagreement on whether Danville should participate in a federal program that would bring undocumented immigrants to Danville; and provide them assistance with items such as housing and job training. Dr. Nacco was in favor of this, Mayor Williams was not.
(LEFT) Danville’s Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr (RIGHT) DACC’s President Dr. Stephen Nacco
Dr. Nacco allegedly later confronted Mayor Williams during a private Vermilion Advantage meeting, during which Williams later stated Nacco referred to him by using the word “boy.” Eventually, Mayor Williams placed the entire story from his point of view on his Facebook page, and called for the DACC Board of Trustees to conduct an investigation into the incident and Dr. Nacco’s presidency at the school. After about 2 1/2 hours behind closed doors in executive session; the DACC Board of Trustees reopened the doors, made a motion that Dr. Nacco be placed on administrative leave pending further investigation and possible future termination, passed it, and adjourned the meeting without comment.
Dr. Nacco and Mayor Williams did not comment, but Nacco’s wife Cindy confronted Williams, called him a disgrace, and shouted that she would run for mayor. Dr. Nacco led Cindy away from Williams, and Williams’ father; longtime DACC instructor Rickey Williams, Sr; asked Cindy Nacco to please stop what she was doing because, “this is how all this started.”
At this point, no date has been set for any additional meetings on this topic. We should also mention that Board of Trustees Chairperson David Harby was not in attendance due to medical reasons.
THE FOLLOWING IS JENNIFER BAILEY’S NEWS-GAZETTE STORY
(ABOVE) Danville Area Community College President Stephen Nacco transports items from his office to his car Monday night following the DACC board of trustees’ vote placing him on administrative leave.
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DANVILLE — Danville Area Community College trustees voted Monday night to place President Stephen Nacco on administrative leave and recommend disciplinary action “up to and including termination.”
The action came three-and-a-half weeks after Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. filed a complaint with the college over what he called Nacco’s “deplorable behavior” stemming from a disagreement over whether to welcome undocumented immigrants to the area.
Following Monday’s nearly three-hour meeting, Nacco told The News-Gazette that he has requested a hearing with a mediator. Nacco said he had seven days to do so and acted immediately after the conclusion of Monday’s meeting.
When that session happens will depend on the schedule of a yet-to-be-hired hearing officer, board Vice Chair Greg Wolfe said. Nacco will “remain on paid administrative leave until this is resolved,” Wolfe added.
Nacco had little to say as he carried a box of items from his office to his car Monday night. He said he was no longer considered a current employee with DACC, as his leave took effect immediately.
A formal vote on the president’s future will come at a future meeting, Wolfe said. Per college policy, Provost Carl Bridges will serve as acting president in the meantime.
While Williams declined comment after the board’s second meeting on the topic in five days, Nacco’s wife, Cindy, didn’t hold back, telling the mayor: “You’re a disgrace” and that she planned to run against him for the city’s top job.
Williams’ father, Rickey Sr. and a DACC employee, and the mayor asked Cindy Nacco to stay away from them after the meeting as she was talking to them, with Rickey Sr. saying this is how the whole matter got started.
The trustees’ action came after 33 members of DACC’s faculty union cast votes of no-confidence in Nacco continuing as president, with four more favoring his continued leadership, according to Wolfe. Those numbers don’t represent the entire faculty of about 67. Those who voted are dues-paying members.
Wolfe reiterated Monday that the investigation into the Nacco-Williams dispute was completed by the board attorney and DACC’s human resources director. The board discussed the findings last week and again Monday night.
The board also brought Nacco into parts of Monday’s closed-door meeting, which came just five months after trustees unanimously approved a four-year extension of the president’s contract, which was set to expire in June.
It was in August that Williams, Danville’s second-term mayor, made headlines with a 2,089-word letter sent to college trustees, which he shared on social media.
In an interview with The News-Gazette the next day, Williams said Nacco “treats people terribly, including his own employees. His behavior was going from just being abrasive to completely inappropriate and continues to escalate. And I think his outburst and handling of me was only a minor demonstration of that.”
Nacco responded by expressing confidence in the investigation that began shortly thereafter, saying: “I absolutely stand by a process that will fairly evaluate all the facts.”
At last Thursday’s meeting, the board heard comments in support of Nacco from NAACP Danville Branch President Ed Butler, resident Deonte Brooks and a DACC student whose aunt works at the college. Kathy Hunter, president of the DACC faculty union, said she wants the best for the college.
On Monday, the only public comment prior to the board’s closed session came from Cindy Nacco.
“I’m reluctant to speak, but as I was brought into this whole fiasco, I really thought it was important for me to at least have my say about it,” she said. “You know, we’re human. We all make mistakes. When people make mistakes, people should have the grace to accept their apologies and move forward.”
“The mayor had a hissy fit. I’m sorry to say that, but it’s true. It caused huge damage and I’m not sure he understands the real effect this has on people’s real lives. And I’m sorry for that, because grown men should know better than to put politics into some situation. I think we’re seeing that all over our country right now and I think it’s a shame, and I think it needs to stop,” Cindy Nacco said.
She added that she didn’t want to be dragged into the dispute. “But we had to be quiet for a month, and it has done terrible damage. In many ways, it’s shown me exactly how wonderful this community is and why I love living here, and how wonderful the people are. … We deserve for the rhetoric to be taken down. We deserve for us all to show one another grace.”
FOR FULL ACCESS TO NEWS-GAZETTE STORY PLEASE GO TO https://vermilioncountyfirst.com/2024/09/16/dacc-president-dr-stephen-nacco-placed-on-administrative-leave-with-possible-termination-naccos-wife-confronts-mayor/
