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MISHAWAKA, Ind. — A representative of a radical parent group in the Penn Harris Madison School Corporation went on an indiscernible tirade at the latest school board meeting, lambasting members of the board for being overly transparent. Ashley “Silcox” Leader, the head of the group known as “Strengthen Our Schools” (SOS), was surrounded by other members of the group as she made nonsensical arguments against the release of publicly available legal documents that contained her name, along with the names of politicians, journalists and other PHM parents. The documents were in response to board member and SOS ally Matt Chaffee threatening to sue the school district in which he serves. As is standard, attorneys for PHM responded to Chaffee by demanding he retain communications with several people as it could contain potential evidence for any future legal proceedings. (It’s important to note, one of the parent names in the letter is the founder of REAL News Michiana, Clifton French. Neither French or RNM are concerned about the release of the legal documents.)
“One of you board members have released a very private letter.” Leader initially stated about the PUBLIC documents. “That I believe should not have been released to the public… there are parent names listed on this letter.”
“Whoever released this letter was looking to do damage. They were looking to do damage to our kids who go here by inadvertently attacking their parents.” Leader, who does not currently have any children in the school corporation, stated.
Leader then again attempted to claim the documents were private because they were put together by lawyers who were paid with tax dollars. The documents are public SPECIFICALLY because they were paid for using tax dollars. It is obvious Leader is nervous about her communication with Chaffee being released in any court proceedings.
“You were hoping to do damage to Matt Chaffee, a board member… You can take this time to apologize for what you sent to a public resource… on private legal letter from your attorneys that you used taxpayer money to pay for.” Leader continued, while surrounded by others who were named in the letter, including St. Joseph County County Councilman-elect Anthony “Andy” Rutten.
Immediately following Leader’s comments, another parent who is also listed in the legal documents took to the podium to state that he has no issue with the release of the publicly available letter.
“I have four children in the school district… My name is on there too. I don’t care… I don’t see it as an attack. I see it as something that should be public in my opinion.” Parent Ben “MAGA” Dallas said.
BACKGROUND
Earlier this month, REAL News Michiana obtained email communication from disgraced Penn Harris Madison School Board Member, Matt Chaffee, threatening a lawsuit against the PHM School Corporation and the Board on which he serves. This comes nearly a year after an RNM investigation into Chaffee showing his proclivity to pay prostitutes for sex. That investigation led to the majority of board members publicly calling for Chaffee’s resignation.
“Please preserve any and all records since December 7, 2023 pertaining to all Chaffee matter(s). This would include but is not limited to: phone call records, text messages, emails, handwritten notes, Facebook Messenger messages, WhatsApp communications.” Chaffee wrote in an email to the school board on November 13th. “The basis for this request is in regard to incoming claim(s) that Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation will be involved in, in some capacity.”
It turns out, Chaffee’s bizarre email could cost him his elected position as a member of the board as it appears to directly violate his oath of office which states in part, “I will not become interested directly or indirectly in any contract with, or claim against, said Corporation.”
In response, attorneys for PHM sent Chaffee a letter requesting he retain records and communications with more than a dozen people. That retention request is obviously intended to garner more evidence against Chaffee for crimes he has committed in and out of his elected position, including his involvement in prostitution, use of drugs/alcohol and his prior alleged involvement in an illegal gambling operation. Attorneys for PHM specifically requested he retain communication with several members of the Strengthen Our Schools group, politicians and journalists who may have information regarding his alleged criminal behavior.
Matt Chaffee’s father, Doug Chaffee, unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the PHM School Board himself. Doug Chaffee was soundly defeated in November following several RNM investigations outlining his own questionable behavior. It turns out, Doug Chaffee had been fired from his position as the Principal of Penn High School for having sex with his secretary. Doug Chaffee had also recently attacked a young woman outside of his son’s home, leading her to get a Protective Order against him.
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