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Parents and community members urge broader accountability, say misconduct was mishandled in District 128
Summary
Dozens of parents, former staff and students told the District 128 board that earlier complaints about staff and coaches were minimized or ignored, demanded independent investigations and firings and noted a recent administrative leave; board members acknowledged the concerns and said staffing and process reviews are underway.
Dozens of parents, educators and community members pressed the Community High School District 128 board on May 18 to do more than place staff on leave after reports of alleged improper conduct.
At public comment, Janet Hayam told the board "culpability does not stop with 1 individual" and urged the district to hold former principals, athletic staff and leaders accountable for failures in oversight and reporting. Several speakers named former or current employees and described what they called a pattern of grooming, ignored complaints and internal investigations that did not lead to meaningful accountability.
The complaints centered on incidents at Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High School. Marnie Navarro, a district graduate and lawyer, said she has spent weeks fielding calls from additional victims and families who "relayed eerily similar accounts of students being groomed and victimized by district 128 teachers and coaches, parents ignored, and a culture of cover up and fear of retaliation." Dan Vosnos told the board that "administrative leave is not accountability" and urged terminations for cause and criminal referrals where appropriate.
Speakers repeatedly pointed to last week’s personnel actions as insufficient. Several public commenters noted that associate superintendent Brian Kelly has been placed on administrative leave and that a former board president resigned; they said those steps fall short of the systemic reforms they want to see. Laura Weber, speaking as a parent, said she and other families had raised concerns about Title IX and leadership two years ago and that "we were provided inaccurate and misleading information" in earlier interactions with administrators.
District leaders did not announce any new personnel actions during the public-comment period. Superintendent Mark (who was invited to speak later in the meeting) and other administrators acknowledged receipt of the concerns and described steps already taken, including placing an administrator on leave and the board’s earlier acceptance of a resignation. Board members repeatedly asked for more detailed documentation and said the board would review reports and next steps in coming weeks.
Several speakers asked the board to ensure confidentiality protections and to create independent safeguards allowing students and families to report concerns without fear of retaliation. Others urged criminal investigations; Dan Vosnos said he has contacted the Lake County state's attorney's office and said state legislators are watching the district’s response and have discussed requiring annual background checks for educators.
Why it matters: public trust and student safety. The public remarks placed pressure on board members to show whether the district will pursue firings, criminal referrals or policy changes beyond placing employees on leave and conducting internal reviews. Speakers asked for clarity about how the district will ensure mandatory reporting, protect whistleblowers and prevent future harm.
What’s next: Board members said they will continue to review the reports and timeline; some pledged to bring more detailed information back to the board in future meetings. The public comment record will be part of the board's deliberations, which continued into a scheduled closed session at the end of the meeting.
Representative quotes
"Culpability does not stop with 1 individual," Janet Hayam told the board. "This is not an isolated incident."
"Administrative leave is not accountability," Dan Vosnos said, urging firings and criminal referrals.
"Only radical transparency and accountability can accomplish the needed cultural shift," Marnie Navarro said.
Details and limitations: Speakers named incidents and people by the versions they offered at the podium; the board did not vote on additional personnel actions during the open meeting. The district acknowledged placing certain administrators on leave and the recent resignation of a board president but did not announce new terminations. Any legal or criminal determinations lie with law enforcement and the state's attorney.
