DACC board to meet again over investigation of president after mayor’s complaint

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — The president of Danville Area Community College was the main topic of discussion at Thursday night’s Board of Trustees meeting.

This comes after Danville Mayor Rickie Williams Jr. filed a complaint against DACC President Stephen Nacco , claiming Nacco used abusive language in text communication exchanges.

The situation came to light about three weeks ago. Thursday night, the college Board of Trustees met in a closed-door session at Vermilion Hall.

Mayor Williams called Nacco’s behavior over text, email, and face-to-face “aggressively disrespectful, dishonest, and threatening,” and asked the board through a letter to take action. Williams also accused Nacco of calling him “boy” during an in-person exchange. The mayor explained in his letter to the Board of Trustees that “boy” has historically been used as a racial slur.

Thursday night, the board heard public comment and had nearly two hours of deliberation. Following the meeting, no information was given regarding the future of DACC President Dr. Stephen Nacco, but officials say a decision was reached. City Alderman Ed Butler spoke in defense of Nacco during public comment.

“They’re doing Dr. Nacco an injustice by investigating him because of a difference of opinion between two men, just because the other man is ticked off. You know, Dr. Nacco, I think that he’s the complete leader of Danville, you know, the only leader here in Danville. It doesn’t make sense,” says Ed Butler, Danville City Alderman and NAACP President.

Butler said the DACC board will meet with Dr. Nacco to inform him first of the final decision in the coming days. The board could decide to fire Nacco or keep him as president.

Dr. Nacco and Mayor Rickie Williams Jr. were both in attendance outside the meeting.

The next DACC Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday.

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