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Parents and HR professionals urge District 128 board to investigate alleged Title IX and reporting failures
Summary
Multiple parents and community members told the Community High School District 128 board they had repeatedly warned administrators about Title IX and reporting problems and urged an independent investigation and accountability after a lawsuit alleging staff mishandling; the board did not vote on an investigation at the meeting.
Parents, former HR leaders and other community members pressed the Community High School District 128 Board of Education on March 16 to investigate alleged failures in the district’s handling of Title IX complaints and mandated‑reporting duties, saying repeated warnings were ignored and calling for accountability.
At the start of public comment, Lisa Pittman of International Cultural Exchange Services requested an exception to the district’s one‑organization exchange policy for a prospective student, Emma Sanchez, but most public commenters focused on safety and compliance. “If the district was struggling to follow proper procedures for something like sports equity, what would happen when a more serious student safety issue arose?” District 128 parent Laura Weber asked, saying prior concerns about Title IX were “dismissed” and that parents’ confidence in the district has been shaken.
Several speakers cited an ongoing lawsuit alleging abusive conduct by a Libertyville High School staff member and alleged failures by administrators and others to report or properly investigate complaints. “We provided this board with emails, documentation, and evidence outlining concerns about Title IX compliance and failure to follow the law. Those communications received little or no response from board members,” resident Susan Van Boening said, urging the board to “start asking harder questions.”
Janet Hyam, who identified herself as an HR leader with more than 30 years’ experience, listed concerns about mandated reporting, conflicts of interest, ADA compliance and what she described as a pattern of allowing staff to retire with pensions rather than be held accountable. “I respectfully request that the board initiate an independent investigation into the human resources leadership,” Hyam said, and asked that Associate Superintendent Bridal Kelly be placed on administrative leave pending the review.
Marnie Navarro, an attorney and parent, said the district had “broken systemically the most fundamental promise” of student safety and alleged that officials failed to report grooming and criminal conduct to DCFS and law enforcement. John Hetzel read board policy language on negligent failure to report and urged board action, saying, “There should be accountability here.”
Board members did not vote on an investigation or personnel action during the meeting. The board moved on to scheduled business after public comment and later entered a closed session; when the meeting reconvened, board members approved an administrator contract discussed in closed session. Several public commenters had urged the board to take specific governance steps, including independent review and administrative leave for identified officials.
What happens next: Speakers repeatedly asked the board to increase scrutiny of administration and to report back on any independent review. The board acknowledged the seriousness of the remarks and later announced it would add follow‑up items to a future agenda and include the governance question in a planned summer discussion of administrative processes.
