Professor
04-17-2007, 04:16 PM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070416lynwood-parentsapr16,1,7796798.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Parents call for firings in school sex DVD
By Jo Napolitano (jnapolitano@tribune.com)
April 16, 2007, 8:21 PM CDT
As pupils returned from spring break, about 35 parents protested Monday outside Sandridge Elementary School, near Lynwood, calling for the firing of the principal and two other employees caught in a sex scandal that unfolded last week.
All three resigned by Friday, but parents said the school district should move to take away their teaching credentials.
Principal Leroy Coleman and a female teacher were recorded having sexual relations in his office. A second woman, a teacher's aide, was filmed on another occasion. The audio and video recordings were sent to parents and the news media late last week in the form of DVDs.
Coleman apologized Monday in a statement, expressing remorse for the pain suffered by his wife of 30 years.
"I take complete responsibility for my inappropriate actions with a consenting adult," he said. "What I would like to make clear in all of this is that in no way did my indiscretion impact the children of District 172."
He said he did not know who filmed him or why.
"Without denigrating my wrongdoing and my acceptance of responsibility, the persons who invaded my privacy need to be held accountable," Coleman said. "The invasive video that occurred on District 172 property was done without my knowledge and does not say who I am. It does say that I am human and have weaknesses. It does not show that I am a compassionate, hard-working person, who was a successful administrator."
John Palcu, first deputy chief of the Cook County sheriff's police , said two district employees who were questioned about the surreptitious tapings have retained attorneys.
"I don't believe we'll ever find the camera," he said outside the school. "I think it was set up and then taken down after the mission was accomplished."
Palcu said the case is still under investigation and that he will take his findings to the state's attorney's office to determine what charges could be brought against the person who installed the camera. He suspects the device was attached to a heating vent in the principal's office.
Palcu also said his office is examining fingerprints found on the DVDs, although he was skeptical about the results, since they were handled by so many people.
District 172 attorney John Izzo said the school board is likely to pursue the revocation of the principal's license and possibly those of the other two employees. He said the district has no authority to fire the principal or the two women after they have already resigned.
"There is nothing for the employer to do," he said.
But parent Sue Dykstra and others insisted that the school should not have accepted the resignation letters.
"What if someone would have walked in on them?" she said. "They should never have been allowed to resign. They should not be allowed to teach at other schools."
Bob Ingraffia, regional school superintendent for suburban Cook County, said he is waiting to hear from the school board on how it wishes to pursue the case.
His office could hold a hearing to suspend their certificates for up to one year. Anything more—such as a license revocation—would involve the state board.
Kim Grivakis, a parent in the district, said she is tired of hearing charges that the release of the DVD was related to Tuesday's school board election. Three incumbents will face off with challengers, and a fourth spot is open because the current member did not wish to run again.
"This isn't political," Grivakis said.
A large campaign sign touting the school board challengers was propped up in front of her, though.
April Boam of Chicago Heights said she is frustrated by what she sees as the school's hypocrisy.
Her daughter was kicked out of school after a boy kissed her on the cheek and again after she dyed her hair, minor offenses considering the principal's conduct, Boam said.
Regarding the kissing incident, Boam said the principal told her daughter there was to be "no romance here."
Bob Churchill, another parent, said there needs to be a public meeting of parents and school board members.
"They're not willing to listen to us," he said. "If they don't meet with us before the election, they should be voted out."
The district already had a meeting scheduled for Friday to discuss student discipline issues but is expected to address the three resignations as well.
Parents call for firings in school sex DVD
By Jo Napolitano (jnapolitano@tribune.com)
April 16, 2007, 8:21 PM CDT
As pupils returned from spring break, about 35 parents protested Monday outside Sandridge Elementary School, near Lynwood, calling for the firing of the principal and two other employees caught in a sex scandal that unfolded last week.
All three resigned by Friday, but parents said the school district should move to take away their teaching credentials.
Principal Leroy Coleman and a female teacher were recorded having sexual relations in his office. A second woman, a teacher's aide, was filmed on another occasion. The audio and video recordings were sent to parents and the news media late last week in the form of DVDs.
Coleman apologized Monday in a statement, expressing remorse for the pain suffered by his wife of 30 years.
"I take complete responsibility for my inappropriate actions with a consenting adult," he said. "What I would like to make clear in all of this is that in no way did my indiscretion impact the children of District 172."
He said he did not know who filmed him or why.
"Without denigrating my wrongdoing and my acceptance of responsibility, the persons who invaded my privacy need to be held accountable," Coleman said. "The invasive video that occurred on District 172 property was done without my knowledge and does not say who I am. It does say that I am human and have weaknesses. It does not show that I am a compassionate, hard-working person, who was a successful administrator."
John Palcu, first deputy chief of the Cook County sheriff's police , said two district employees who were questioned about the surreptitious tapings have retained attorneys.
"I don't believe we'll ever find the camera," he said outside the school. "I think it was set up and then taken down after the mission was accomplished."
Palcu said the case is still under investigation and that he will take his findings to the state's attorney's office to determine what charges could be brought against the person who installed the camera. He suspects the device was attached to a heating vent in the principal's office.
Palcu also said his office is examining fingerprints found on the DVDs, although he was skeptical about the results, since they were handled by so many people.
District 172 attorney John Izzo said the school board is likely to pursue the revocation of the principal's license and possibly those of the other two employees. He said the district has no authority to fire the principal or the two women after they have already resigned.
"There is nothing for the employer to do," he said.
But parent Sue Dykstra and others insisted that the school should not have accepted the resignation letters.
"What if someone would have walked in on them?" she said. "They should never have been allowed to resign. They should not be allowed to teach at other schools."
Bob Ingraffia, regional school superintendent for suburban Cook County, said he is waiting to hear from the school board on how it wishes to pursue the case.
His office could hold a hearing to suspend their certificates for up to one year. Anything more—such as a license revocation—would involve the state board.
Kim Grivakis, a parent in the district, said she is tired of hearing charges that the release of the DVD was related to Tuesday's school board election. Three incumbents will face off with challengers, and a fourth spot is open because the current member did not wish to run again.
"This isn't political," Grivakis said.
A large campaign sign touting the school board challengers was propped up in front of her, though.
April Boam of Chicago Heights said she is frustrated by what she sees as the school's hypocrisy.
Her daughter was kicked out of school after a boy kissed her on the cheek and again after she dyed her hair, minor offenses considering the principal's conduct, Boam said.
Regarding the kissing incident, Boam said the principal told her daughter there was to be "no romance here."
Bob Churchill, another parent, said there needs to be a public meeting of parents and school board members.
"They're not willing to listen to us," he said. "If they don't meet with us before the election, they should be voted out."
The district already had a meeting scheduled for Friday to discuss student discipline issues but is expected to address the three resignations as well.