Shortly after seating a faculty member on its board of trustees, Parkland College in Champaign has formally asked a court if that move is legal.
Parkland College’s attorney filed a petition in Champaign County Circuit Court. It seeks a declaratory judgment on whether state law allows Parkland English professor Rochelle Harden to be a trustee at the college where she teaches.
Parkland’s attorney told Harden in emails released by the News-Gazette that state law bars her from a trustee’s seat. In a public statement, Parkland officials said they’re not trying to throw Harden off the board, but want a legally binding determination on the question.
Harden argues that state law is on her side, as long as she doesn’t vote on questions directly affecting her employment.