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Parents press Naperville board on alleged grooming and reporting failures at public comment
Summary
Several parents and external advocates told the board that the district did not follow mandated-reporting or investigation protocols in cases involving a Highlands Elementary teacher, urging trustees to reject a superintendent contract extension and to hold leadership accountable.
Multiple public commenters used the board's public-comment period to raise child-safety concerns and allege procedural failures in prior investigations. A representative of a group identified as "Dads of 203" told the board the district had failed to follow its own reporting and documentation protocols and that families had experienced inadequate responses. The commenter asked the board to "review how these reports were handled and hold accountable anyone who fails to follow proper protocol outlined in district policy and state and federal regulations." (Dads of 203)
Michelle Peterson, speaking for the nonprofit America's Future, described patterns associated with grooming and quoted Illinois criminal law while urging trustees not to extend the superintendent's contract. Peterson said, "Protecting children must always come 1st," and offered the district information and training resources. Several other parents and residents echoed calls for transparency into investigations and for clearer communication about timelines and outcomes. The board repeatedly noted that personnel-related investigations were handled in closed session and cited privacy and legal protections as limitations on what could be discussed in open session.
