Suit: Naperville Teacher Hurt Because Violent Student Not Expelled: Could it Happen in D 158?

Remember several months ago when Bongo published a post about the high school student who made violent and threatening comments that he wanted to harm his Huntley High School teachers? The comments were made on the individual's MySpace page, and another student alerted school authorities of the threats.

The student was ultimately expelled, but Larry Snow and Aileen Seedorf did not vote in favor of expelling the student.

This story (click the link to read it), which ran in the Daily Herald this week, sent a chill up Bongo's spine.

The scary part is, that story could have been written about D 158 had the other four board members not insisted that the student be removed from the building.

It's just one more thing for human voters to keep in mind as the school board elections approach next year. Do we want board members who are soft on student discipline?

For those who missed Bongo's original post on the issue, here it is:

Huntley High School Student Expelled for making threatening comments on MySpace

In the wake of Columbine and other school violence tragedies, school districts can never be too careful when it comes to keeping their students safe during the school day.

A few months ago, a troubled student made threats of gun violence on his MySpace page. The threat of violence was aimed at teachers at Huntley High School. School authorities and police were notified of the incident and the student was promptly removed from the school.

At the expulsion hearing for the student, the board voted 4-2 to expel the student for a set period of time. The two board members who did not vote in favor of expelling this student were Larry Snow and Aileen Seedorf.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Aileen Seedorf has reminded us all again, and again, and again, and again, and again, that the District 158 Tip Line for anonymous notification of possible violence was her idea. Evidently, what Ms. Seedorf does not realize, is that once implemented, when a valid tip comes into the hot line, the tip should be acted upon and the perpetrator of the possible violence punished. After all, isn’t the safety of all students supposed to be priority #1?

The discussion relating to this incident took place in closed session, so details are not available. But isn’t it interesting that Snow and Seedorf, who do not have students in District 158 schools, did not think the incident warranted long term removal of the student from the building? But then again, those two board members have always felt they could say or write whatever they want with absolutely no regard for the effect their words and actions have on others.