11-Year-Old Boy Assaulted; Classmates Charged

[casey]

Not much more to report but here's the Naperville Sun story.
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1414763,6_NA4_Alleged-assault-could-topic-meeting.article

Alleged sex assault could be topic at meeting
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February 5, 2009

By BILL BIRD / [e-mail]
Members of the Indian Prairie School District 204 Board of Education could be confronted during their regularly-scheduled Monday meeting by the parents of a middle school student from Naperville who was allegedly sexually assaulted off-campus last year by two classmates.

Other parents concerned for the well-being and safety of their children will also reportedly attend the board meeting. It is set for 5 p.m. Monday at the Crouse Education Center at 780 Shoreline Drive in Aurora, according to the district's Web site.

The Naperville Sun reported Jan. 25 on the alleged attack on an 11-year-old boy who attends Gregory Middle School, at 2621 Springdale Circle on Naperville's far south side. He was allegedly assaulted Nov. 11 in a private residence by two boys ages 11 and 12.

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow's office has filed felony charges of criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse against accused youths, along with misdemeanor charges of battery. The boys will be prosecuted as juveniles.

School officials late last month refused to say whether the alleged attackers have been expelled or suspended, but CBS 2 Chicago, a news partner of the Naperville Sun, reported during its Tuesday night newscast that both youths continue to attend classes.

The station broadcast an interview with a man and a woman identified as the victim's parents. The audibly distraught man said the victim "has to face every day the people that violently sexually assaulted him" because they remain in school.

The man said he was angry over his "expectation that when your children go to school, that every effort will be made to protect them from sex offenders."

He also expressed outrage over the district's policies. Students can be expelled if they threaten or intimidate district staff members even when away from school grounds, but not if they harm or threaten their fellow students in an off-campus setting, as happened to the victim, the man said.

"The message that's being sent is, do what you wish off school grounds, there'll be no penalties or punishments to you," the woman on the videotape said.

District 204 Supt. Stephen Daeschner, in a statement released Wednesday to The Sun, said the alleged attack is "a legal issue that happened outside of our school, and the court has not decided an outcome."

"While we wait for the legal proceedings to move forward, we are doing all we can with this sensitive situation, to ensure a safe and effective learning environment for all students," Daeschner said. "While the district can't provide specifics on student discipline matters, I assure you the school has taken action to prioritize student safety."


I can't help but think that this is only now getting more global attention because of the newscast that aired Tuesday night. Personally, I'm glad to see attention being brought about. Our SB/SD needs to do something here.

[casey]

Maybe we can learn something here.
www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1408495,CST-NWS-teach02.article

Cops: Middle school teacher sexually assaulted student
PROSPECT HEIGHTS | Allegedly traded beer, cigarettes for sex


February 2, 2009

BY FRANCINE KNOWLES Staff Reporter/ [e-mail]
MacArthur Middle School students in Prospect Heights are being asked to come forward if they know of additional allegations involving teacher Ronald Vos, who was charged with sexual assault against a student this weekend.

Prospect Heights police were informed in September by the state's Department of Children and Family Services that an allegation of sexual abuse occurred at the school some time in September 2005. Based on an interview with the student, Vos, 53, allegedly sexually assaulted the juvenile while at school and on three more occasions outside the school between September 2005 and February or March 2007, police said.

A subsequent investigation of computer records indicated Vos and the juvenile agreed to trade sex for beer and cigarettes, police said.

Vos was arrested outside his Buffalo Grove home Saturday and was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

In a letter posted on the district's Web site, school officials alerted parents that Vos had been charged and asked students to come forward if they had more information.

Vos is a computer education teacher at the school, the letter said.

Vos has been suspended, according to the letter.

Scary but the similarities are the same - only difference is this was a teacher involved and not another student. Gee, they didn't just move the teacher to a different room because they haven't been proven guilty yet? Gee they didn't wait for "legal proceedings" to take place? Gee what about the teacher's rights? IMO, the SD in Prospect Heights seems to have a better grasp on what's the right thing to do.

[Arch]

Someone will point out (so I will do it now) that one of the times in PH was *at* school.... However, as I pointed out multiple times... the fear and intimidation of being in the same school as your (alleged) offenders and not knowing when you will run into them in the halls, lunch, locker visits and bathrooms happens while *AT* school too for our student.... This is not a case of "Boys will be boys".

[Arch]

Let's look at the potential safety issue from a different perspective:

Who thinks it's a good idea for a school PTA to invite Drew Peterson in to talk to the kids? There are only allegations and no convictions, right? Should be a fine and safe decision, right?

[blankcheck]

This makes me sick. Again, what about a restraining order? Considering these kids
have been charged with a felony.

[sardines]

Feb 5, 2009 10:11:00 GMT -6 blankcheck said:

This makes me sick. Again, what about a restraining order? Considering these kids
have been charged with a felony.

I agree!!! This happened on November 11th ...almost three months ago and this child has had to attend school with these monsters ever since?
"Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow's office has filed felony charges of criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse against accused youths, along with misdemeanor charges of battery. The boys will be prosecuted as juveniles."
I would suggest that Mr. Glasgow file an expedited hearing request based on the sensitive circumstances. Why wasn't he interviewed as well? The media has a way of moving these things along....

[sashimi]

I recall reading on this board that in the last few weeks, (unrelated to this incident) a mother attended a Board meeting to talk about her child being bullied at school and one of the Board members/District officials LAUGHED when the mother detailed the specifics of the bullying.
I understand that this mother was imploring the District to impliment some more stringent standards to proect against bullying.

This would have been after the Board and District would have been aware of the sexual assault commiteed by a group of students on another 204 student. I guess we can all understand why a Board member/District official would find this so funny???

There was a reference to the tape of the meeting in the post (but I never checked it). Does anyone know who it was that laughed at this meeting (and if this is accurate)?

[doctorwho]

Feb 5, 2009 13:14:16 GMT -6 sardines said:

Feb 5, 2009 10:11:00 GMT -6 blankcheck said:

This makes me sick. Again, what about a restraining order? Considering these kids
have been charged with a felony.

I agree!!! This happened on November 11th ...almost three months ago and this child has had to attend school with these monsters ever since?
"Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow's office has filed felony charges of criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse against accused youths, along with misdemeanor charges of battery. The boys will be prosecuted as juveniles."
I would suggest that Mr. Glasgow file an expedited hearing request based on the sensitive circumstances. Why wasn't he interviewed as well? The media has a way of moving these things along....

I agree the media can surely light a fire under someone - ( even though it's sad it takes that to move something with so many worrisome issues attached along) --
I am guessing there will be media at the SB meeting Monday - which will heighten this again.


Also agree they should have talked to the Will County States Attorney - or someone on the legal side of this issue also - not that they can comment much on the case likely- but at least to let people know where it is in the annals of our legal systems

[Arch]

Bullying is more prevalent than people want to admit or recognize in our schools. I've also learned that it unfortunately depends on who you speak to at a school as to whether or not you get the horse-crap line of "Boys will be boys" / "They didn't really mean it".... or if you get someone who actually cares and has a 0 tolerance approach to it and will get to the bottom of it immediately.

It is not a laughing matter. It's even less of a laughing matter when it comes from an adult at the school towards the kids.

[macy]

Feb 5, 2009 13:28:34 GMT -6 sashimi said:

I recall reading on this board that in the last few weeks, (unrelated to this incident) a mother attended a Board meeting to talk about her child being bullied at school and one of the Board members/District officials LAUGHED when the mother detailed the specifics of the bullying.
I understand that this mother was imploring the District to impliment some more stringent standards to proect against bullying.

This would have been after the Board and District would have been aware of the sexual assault commiteed by a group of students on another 204 student. I guess we can all understand why a Board member/District official would find this so funny???

There was a reference to the tape of the meeting in the post (but I never checked it). Does anyone know who it was that laughed at this meeting (and if this is accurate)?

I read the same post regarding bullying:

ipsd204.proboards76.com/index.cgi?board=sb&action=display&thread=2179
January 12th meeting:

board.ipsd.org/Pages/Meetings.aspx

[d204mom]

Just picked up on that fact that the regularly scheduled board meetings moved from 7 pm to 5 pm in September.

Who can make a 5 pm meeting?

[researching]

Feb 5, 2009 15:23:27 GMT -6 macy said:

Feb 5, 2009 13:28:34 GMT -6 sashimi said:

I recall reading on this board that in the last few weeks, (unrelated to this incident) a mother attended a Board meeting to talk about her child being bullied at school and one of the Board members/District officials LAUGHED when the mother detailed the specifics of the bullying.
I understand that this mother was imploring the District to impliment some more stringent standards to proect against bullying.

This would have been after the Board and District would have been aware of the sexual assault commiteed by a group of students on another 204 student. I guess we can all understand why a Board member/District official would find this so funny???

There was a reference to the tape of the meeting in the post (but I never checked it). Does anyone know who it was that laughed at this meeting (and if this is accurate)?

I read the same post regarding bullying:

ipsd204.proboards76.com/index.cgi?board=sb&action=display&thread=2179
January 12th meeting:

board.ipsd.org/Pages/Meetings.aspx

I remember this.

However, when I click on the meeting video, it plays in high speed and even when I try to slow it down they still speak in "Minnie Mouse" voices. I can't understand a word of it.

[doctorwho]

Feb 5, 2009 15:44:09 GMT -6 d204mom said:

Just picked up on that fact that the regularly scheduled board meetings moved from 7 pm to 5 pm in September.

Who can make a 5 pm meeting?

btw - it's playing fine for me


I can because I work from home -- but yeah - it limits who can and can't doesn't it. coincidence- ?

[macy]

I just got through the 1/12 meeting. I could not make out anyone laughing on the video link (maybe someone who attended this meeting can comment on that) but it is worth watching as the parent speaking out regarding bullying has some very valid concerns and suggestions that seem to have been completely ignored/shut down by the board.

It appears from what Metzger said that the board could not comment because bullying wasn't on the agenda.

From what I remember public comment was moved to the end of school board meetings at the beginning of Dr. Daeschner's term. If the item commented on isn't on the agenda, the board can not comment, right?

In this case, I don't think you can blame the board for not commenting. You can wonder why Dr. Daeschner (or the board) moved public comment till the end.

This was/is a serious concern to all parents. It seems a shame that it was not commented on during this meeting. Many of us would have liked to have heard a response to this parent's concern.

[researching]

Feb 5, 2009 15:55:34 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

Feb 5, 2009 15:44:09 GMT -6 d204mom said:

Just picked up on that fact that the regularly scheduled board meetings moved from 7 pm to 5 pm in September.

Who can make a 5 pm meeting?

btw - it's playing fine for me


I can because I work from home -- but yeah - it limits who can and can't doesn't it. coincidence- ?

Ugh! I am having so much trouble with video playback lately!