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Parents urge immediate action at Fox Ridge Elementary, describing threats and repeated disruptive behavior
Summary
Multiple parents told the St Charles CUSD 303 board that disruptive and violent behavior at Fox Ridge Elementary is affecting learning and teacher retention; they asked for immediate public plans, dedicated behavioral aides and more transparent communication from district leadership.
Several parents used the Nov. 10 public‑comment period at the St Charles CUSD 303 board meeting to press for immediate changes at Fox Ridge Elementary, describing a pattern of disruptive and threatening behavior they say is harming students’ learning and intimidating teachers.
Max Pomert, a Fox Ridge parent, described repeated incidents involving a single student that his family says included verbal and physical assaults on classmates and a teacher. "He approached our son's friend and said, I'm going to kill you," Pomert told the board, and he said other threats were relayed to parents only after the fact. He urged the district to publish an immediate public plan for handling high‑aggression incidents and a clear reentry policy for students who are removed.
Heather Austin and other speakers asked the board to look beyond district summary data and consider day‑to‑day experiences in the building; Austin asked for clarification about an 'exemplary' designation cited by district communications, requesting Dr. Gordon confirm when that rating was awarded. Carrie Ann Harry, representing the Fox Ridge community, told the board that "waiting until harm happens is not safety," and urged the board to listen to staff and parents who say behavior concerns have been repeated and not adequately addressed.
Diane Fisier, another Fox Ridge parent, acknowledged positives at the school for some students but said "the systems in place to address behavioral issues are not working" and asked the board to take urgent action to support teachers and students. Multiple speakers requested funding for dedicated behavioral aides for high‑need classrooms and said substitute teachers are increasingly unwilling to accept assignments at Fox Ridge.
Board members thanked speakers and took no formal action during the meeting; the board did not respond to comments during the public‑comment period, consistent with the meeting’s rules, and moved on to the consent agenda. Several parents said they would continue to press for meetings, greater transparency and a district plan that includes staffing, reentry protocols and parent communications.
