Over the past year, the district’s expenses increased by over $8 million under Board President Sara Bitter. This represents a staggering 8.7% increase year on year. A sustainable threshold has historically been around a 3% increase year on year. This dramatic rate of spending increase will require an operating levy sooner than should have been necessary.

Legal expenses escalated to over $588,000 in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Under Board President Sara Bitter’s leadership, Superintendent Chad Lewis has been under investigation 524 of 586 days being a key factor to high legal expenses. He has been cleared in all investigations.

A lawsuit was filed claiming the Sycamore BOE violated the Open Meetings Act. This is still an active lawsuit. Board President Sara Bitter and Superintendent Chad Lewis were questioned, under oath, regarding this lawsuit and the incident and discipline involving Ms Scrase.

At the September 18, 2024 Board of Education meeting, teacher Danielle Scrase violated multiple district policies (bullying text to a colleague. racially disparaging comment about an administrator, attending meeting intoxicated, and others). Under current Board leadership, Danielle Scrase is still a teacher at Sycamore.