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Parents describe extensive cyberbullying and ask Plainfield SD 202 to place perpetrators in rehabilitative program; board says it will follow up
Summary
Two Plainfield parents told the Board of Education at its April 23 meeting that their children were the targets of coordinated cyberbullying that used district technology and social platforms and urged the board to order the perpetrators into the district—s rehabilitative program at Plainfield Academy.
Two Plainfield parents told the Board of Education at its April 23 meeting that their children were the targets of coordinated cyberbullying that used district technology and social platforms and urged the board to order the perpetrators into the district—s rehabilitative program at Plainfield Academy.
“My children are students at Liberty Elementary and JFK Middle School, and each were recently victimized using direct, district resources,” said Mark Burke during public comment, describing what he called a “culture of bullying” and asking that serious level-3 offenders be placed in the Turnabout Program at Plainfield Academy. “The depraved cyberattacks were voluminous and vile, totaling over 50 videos across multiple platforms.”
The Burkes asked the board to use the district—s rehabilitative placement options rather than brief suspensions. “If these perpetrators are allowed to continue in their standard academic track, our son will be in the same cohort with these perpetrators for the next seven years,” said Annalise Burke, who said her daughter received “no less than 28 pages of manipulated images” sent through district accounts and apps.
Why this matters: the parents said the material included explicit content, identity-based slurs and references to the family that they described as criminal cyberstalking and hate speech. They emphasized use of district devices and district accounts in creating and distributing the content and urged stronger disciplinary and rehabilitative measures to protect targeted students and prevent repeat offenses.
Board response and next steps: a district official told the speakers the matter was being examined and that administrators would provide an appropriate response as promptly as possible. Dr. Glenn Wood said the board would continue to monitor the situation and that the board itself could not directly intervene in day-to-day discipline, but that he would share updates as the investigation progressed.
At a later point in the meeting, board member Dr. Ruhland asked that the district elevate student safety and specifically the priority of bullying and cyberbullying prevention, calling for stronger processes and victim supports to be considered in strategic planning.
No formal policy change or disciplinary order was recorded on April 23; the public comments were recorded as board-level concerns and the district said administrators would follow up with the families.
Ending: District staff and the parents will continue exchanging information, and the board asked administrators to report back on actions and any recommended policy changes or supports that would address the issues raised.
