ABOVE: Vermilion County resident Kyle Finley shares his anger with a fellow DACC Board of Trustees meeting attendee while being guided away from the speakers’ podium by a DACC security employee. Finley was not allowed to speak because the board stated that the 20 minutes for allowed “public comment” had expired. The final speaker had taken up the final portion of time with what many attendees felt was a “designed positive filibuster.” The majority of attendees followed Finley out and left the meeting.
The angst many residents are feeling towards the Danville Area Community College Board of Trustees exploded into anger and chaos at Thursday evening’s meeting when a Vermilion County resident, Kyle Finley, was told he could not speak because the total of 20 minutes allowed for public comment was up. There was much anger within the crowd because the final “public comment” speaker; Economics instructor Emily Crane, spent time talking about positive things the way an “Inside the College” portion of the board meeting might usually go.
Despite voiced accusations afterwards that Crane, and prior to that Biological Sciences professor Dr. Wendy Brown, was filibustering for the administration; President Dr. Randy Fletcher later told CIMG that they were speaking on their own, and Board President Greg Wolfe stated that meeting policy needed to be followed.
(1st Picture) Linda Darby-Dowers tells DACC Board of Trustees to use smart leadership and “take good people with them.” (3rd Picture) DACC Security Personnel tells Cindy Nacco she must leave now or 9-1-1 could be called, and that “it’s your choice.”
After those showing anger about “public comment” being ended were guided out of the room with threats from DACC security personnel that the police or 9-1-1 could be called if they did not leave, conversation continued among the crowd outside the room. Kyle Finley said he wanted to ask the board if they knew everything about Dr. Fletcher from during his previous school president job in Florida.
AUDIO: I have the survey from the staff from Eastern Florida State College. If the board had looked at this survey, from the staff, Mr. Fletcher would never have even been given an interview.
(1st Picture) Education Chair for Danville NAACP and former DACC instructor Deonta Brooks tells the board he is watching them like a hawk, “and if you make a mistake, I’ll be on you like back pockets.” (2nd Picture) Dr. Randy Fletcher gives president’s report. (3rd Picture) DACC Applied Computer Science Professor Kathy Hunter addresses the board.
Former DACC President Dr. Stephen Nacco stated that when Dr. Wendy Brown spoke about DACC’s use of HyFlex classrooms, she left out one very important name.
AUDIO: But the person who brought them to the college, who managed the grants, managed the contracts; put them not only in DACC, but put them all through the other high schools; is Terry Goodwin, the person they fired, who was the head of Adult Education, for no reason. Reverend Terry Goodwin should get all the credit for it. But instead, Dr. Brown wanted to just make it sound like some administrators did it. No, it was Terry Goodwin.
Linda Darby-Dowers stated to the board, and to CIMG afterwards, that it’s important for good leaders to make good people part of their team.
AUDIO: I just believe leaders take people with them. It’s not a dictatorship, it’s listening to what other people’s thoughts are, and what their ideas are. It might be different that yours, but let’s come to some sort of a conclusion, but not to be reprimanded.
DACC Applied Computer Science professor Kathy Hunter stated that the “Fall 2026 Illinois Community College Opening Enrollment Report” released this week shows that DACC has had a double digit, 15% drop in enrollment from the fall of ’25 to fall of ’26. She also told CIMG that “everyone is tired of everyone not being listened to.” On another issue, she asked the board to pull from their consent agenda, which they did not do, a $15,000 bonus for Dr. Fletcher for his work as temporary provost. Hunter says the way she sees it, Fletcher seems to be the one who forced the last provost, Dr. Carl Bridges, out of his position, though he continues to be paid as part of his departure agreement. Hunter says, something’s wrong there.
AUDIO: If Dr. Fletcher was the one who recommended for Dr. Bridges to be removed of his duties, and then Dr. Fletcher is now asking for payment to fulfill those duties once he is gone; then it appears like he is benefitting from that recommendation to have him removed.
Towards the end of the meeting, Board of Trustees members Sandra Finch and Maruti Seth mentioned the possibility of establishing a future community meeting, to allow more public concerns to be heard. Nothing has been set as of yet.
