Penn-Harris-Madison School Board Trustee Matt Chaffee has announced his resignation, ending a tenure he described as both an honor and a struggle marked by controversy and legal battles.

Chaffee, who was elected in November 2022 at age 27—becoming the youngest board member in PHM history—confirmed his decision in a public statement this week. He thanked his supporters and said serving the district had been “one of the great honors” of his life.

In his statement, Chaffee claimed he and his family have been the targets of “countless lies” over the past several years. He said those allegations will be addressed through a lawsuit filed on April 16, 2025, which he described as detailing “false, misleading, and malicious” actions taken against him.

Chaffee alleged that a series of attacks originated from a blogger and were “perpetuated” by local attorney Michael Misch of Anderson, Agostino & Keller, with involvement from former St. Joseph County Republican Party Chairman Tyler Gillean. He further accused PHM Board President Chris Riley and other school officials of participating in what he called a “malicious attack” after he refused to be part of “planned corruption.”

The outgoing trustee also criticized local media outlets—including WSBT, WNDU, The South Bend Tribune, WVPE, and ABC57—saying they helped amplify the controversy and later “turned their backs” on reporting the truth.

Chaffee’s lawsuit, which he said is publicly accessible, outlines his claims regarding the events leading to his resignation.