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Post by slp on Feb 27, 2009 7:40:36 GMT -6
THIS GUYS GOT TO GO! Dist. 204 chief: Blame me if we mishandled assault allegations www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=275361Justin Kmitch Daily Herald 2/27/2009 Superintendent Stephen Daeschner says he accepts any blame for the way Indian Prairie Unit District 204 has handled allegations of a sexual assault involving three middle school students. Several school board members expressed disappointment in recent days that they didn't learn of the alleged Nov. 11 attack until late January or early February when they read newspaper accounts or heard about it from neighbors. The parents of the alleged victim notified the staff at Gregory Middle School in Naperville almost immediately after the incident and staff members quickly notified district administrators. Daeschner, however, didn't share the information with school board members until the father of the alleged victim went public with complaints about the district's handling of the matter. "That disappointment has certainly been an undertone in my conversations (with some board members) and that's understandable," Daeschner said Thursday. "I still believe the school staff acted appropriately and made the right decisions to handle the situation. I sit here and have to second-guess those decisions (to not alert board members immediately) a lot. So go ahead and lay it all in my lap. I'll take it." Two boys - a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old, both from Naperville - have been charged with felony counts of criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault against another boy stemming from a November incident at a home on the city's south side. The 11-year-old also faces a misdemeanor count of battery for a separate incident involving the same alleged victim - this time in the halls of Gregory. The 12-year-old transferred out of District 204 this week to Lincoln Junior High School in neighboring Naperville Unit District 203. According to Will County civil court records, the two boys are accused of tying up their 11-year-old classmate and sexually assaulting him in the unsupervised home of the accused 12-year-old student. Daeschner said school staff immediately separated the boys at Gregory by moving lockers and ensuring they were not in the same classrooms. Those actions, he said, have kept the school safe without disrupting the educational environment. "Nothing jumps out at me to make me think we might have made a different decision," Daeschner said. "There's not a lot of things we would change as far as how we handled the situation, but I hate that the community is so vicious in terms of understanding why we do what we do." The victim's parents have repeatedly demanded the remaining alleged offender be transferred to one of the district's five other middle schools. Officials have said the accused boys could not be moved to an alternative school program because the alleged assault took place off school grounds and the youths were in no danger of being expelled from District 204. The school district's attorney, Jack Canna, has warned board members they have little, if any, authority to discipline students for off-campus actions. Daeschner said he thinks residents would have a different opinion of the board's action - or inaction - if they were privy to documentation and closed-door discussions regarding the juveniles. "I think it rounds out the situation to know what we know and it does make it difficult when one side can talk about their perception, wrong or right," he said. "When one chooses to voice some of that stuff, it discredits others. Fortunately I'm not in the discrediting business." |
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Post by steckdad on Feb 27, 2009 8:31:00 GMT -6
Macy..if 203 is so great..why is the kid being allowed to step foot in lincoln MS??? Maybe you missed my point. I was calling out the differences in the manner in which Dr. Leis and Dr. Daeschner have communicated to the parents in their respective districts regarding this situation. My post had NOTHING to do with 203 being " so great" that they allowed (your words) " the kid" into Lincoln. Reread my post. And what's up with " the kid" reference? I never referred to anyone as " the kid". ETA: It's time for change. And, seriously, what happened to Mr. PR guy? I would think he'd be pretty busy lately considering what's going on? Did he get fired? I understand the part about communication. not sure why you are so caught up with the verbiage though? those were my words as I typed them. Feel free to answer the question if you like though. I could really care less about a PR guy. I am sure he has a job description and that is up to the SD to decide when and where to use him. would it really make a difference to you if the PR guy sent an email to the parents? would you feel any better about the situation? |
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Post by doctorwho on Feb 27, 2009 8:38:48 GMT -6
Maybe you missed my point. I was calling out the differences in the manner in which Dr. Leis and Dr. Daeschner have communicated to the parents in their respective districts regarding this situation. My post had NOTHING to do with 203 being " so great" that they allowed (your words) " the kid" into Lincoln. Reread my post. And what's up with " the kid" reference? I never referred to anyone as " the kid". ETA: It's time for change. And, seriously, what happened to Mr. PR guy? I would think he'd be pretty busy lately considering what's going on? Did he get fired? I understand the part about communication. not sure why you are so caught up with the verbiage though? those were my words as I typed them. Feel free to answer the question if you like though. I could really care less about a PR guy. I am sure he has a job description and that is up to the SD to decide when and where to use him. would it really make a difference to you if the PR guy sent an email to the parents? would you feel any better about the situation? Well considering he is well paid -( for full or part time ?) - one would think part of his job dscription is to improve the image/communication between the SB-SD and the public/press. If anything it is getting worse- although I admit he may have an impossible job-- he can only do what they allow him to. In which case let's save $75K--maybe we can use it to open the new school 15 minutes earlier  |
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Post by doctorwho on Feb 27, 2009 8:44:06 GMT -6
THIS GUYS GOT TO GO! Dist. 204 chief: Blame me if we mishandled assault allegations www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=275361Justin Kmitch Daily Herald 2/27/2009 Superintendent Stephen Daeschner says he accepts any blame for the way Indian Prairie Unit District 204 has handled allegations of a sexual assault involving three middle school students. Several school board members expressed disappointment in recent days that they didn't learn of the alleged Nov. 11 attack until late January or early February when they read newspaper accounts or heard about it from neighbors. The parents of the alleged victim notified the staff at Gregory Middle School in Naperville almost immediately after the incident and staff members quickly notified district administrators. Daeschner, however, didn't share the information with school board members until the father of the alleged victim went public with complaints about the district's handling of the matter. "That disappointment has certainly been an undertone in my conversations (with some board members) and that's understandable," Daeschner said Thursday. "I still believe the school staff acted appropriately and made the right decisions to handle the situation. I sit here and have to second-guess those decisions (to not alert board members immediately) a lot. So go ahead and lay it all in my lap. I'll take it." Two boys - a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old, both from Naperville - have been charged with felony counts of criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault against another boy stemming from a November incident at a home on the city's south side. The 11-year-old also faces a misdemeanor count of battery for a separate incident involving the same alleged victim - this time in the halls of Gregory. The 12-year-old transferred out of District 204 this week to Lincoln Junior High School in neighboring Naperville Unit District 203. According to Will County civil court records, the two boys are accused of tying up their 11-year-old classmate and sexually assaulting him in the unsupervised home of the accused 12-year-old student. Daeschner said school staff immediately separated the boys at Gregory by moving lockers and ensuring they were not in the same classrooms. Those actions, he said, have kept the school safe without disrupting the educational environment. "Nothing jumps out at me to make me think we might have made a different decision," Daeschner said. "There's not a lot of things we would change as far as how we handled the situation, but I hate that the community is so vicious in terms of understanding why we do what we do." The victim's parents have repeatedly demanded the remaining alleged offender be transferred to one of the district's five other middle schools. Officials have said the accused boys could not be moved to an alternative school program because the alleged assault took place off school grounds and the youths were in no danger of being expelled from District 204. The school district's attorney, Jack Canna, has warned board members they have little, if any, authority to discipline students for off-campus actions. Daeschner said he thinks residents would have a different opinion of the board's action - or inaction - if they were privy to documentation and closed-door discussions regarding the juveniles. "I think it rounds out the situation to know what we know and it does make it difficult when one side can talk about their perception, wrong or right," he said. "When one chooses to voice some of that stuff, it discredits others. Fortunately I'm not in the discrediting business." "Daeschner, however, didn't share the information with school board members until the father of the alleged victim went public with complaints about the district's handling of the matter. "That disappointment has certainly been an undertone in my conversations (with some board members) and that's understandable," Daeschner said Thursday. "I still believe the school staff acted appropriately and made the right decisions to handle the situation. I sit here and have to second-guess those decisions (to not alert board members immediately) a lot. So go ahead and lay it all in my lap. I'll take it."People involved are... the issue is they don't believe it would be any different next time. To believe at the time this was not important enough to share with the SB one has to question what would have been if not this ? What else does the SB supposedly not know ? |
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Post by jftb on Feb 27, 2009 9:10:00 GMT -6
If I were a parent at Gregory, I would have appreciated an email regarding an "alleged attack" outside of the school involving students. What harm would have come of that? District 203 did a wonderful job (in the media) and through the school email listserve for Lincoln of communicating information to parents that might be concerned. It took district 203 "a few days" to come up a reasonable response. Dr. Daeschner won't even have a meeting with the victim's family. Dr. Leis publishes his phone number and email address for anyone that is concerned. Sorry, my opinion is Dr. DoNothing needs to go. Where is Mr. PR guy when we really need him??? ______________________________ "While we are morally and legally responsible for protecting the privacy rights of all our students and families, we are simultaneously aware that this has become an unusually high-profile situation with strong emotional impact for many," stated Leis. "Although we can't discuss the details of this particular situation for reasons of confidentiality, we want you, the parents of Lincoln students, to be aware of two things."First, we take great lengths to ensure that all students attending our schools are, by residence, legally entitled to be there," continued Leis. "That is the case in this situation." A District 203 official later confirmed that the student now resides with a parent who lives in the Lincoln attendance area. "Second," added Leis, "because we were alerted to this possibility several days ago, we have had time to plan."Leis said the district has worked with the staffs at both schools, as well as the student, his parent, and numerous other resources, including attorneys and local law enforcement officials, to develop a "comprehensive plan to monitor and address instructional and safety issues related to this situation."Leis concluded his statement by asking resident to "be careful not to succumb to unfounded rumors," and direct questions or concerns directly to him at 630-420-6311 or aleis@naperville203.org."I may not be able to give you all the answers you are hoping for (due to reasons of confidentiality), but either I or a senior staff member will do our best to respond to you as quickly as possible," Leis said. Macy..if 203 is so great..why is the kid being allowed to step foot in lincoln MS??? The child's alleged offenses (of which he took pictures and sent them to friends) took place before his attendance in district 203. They can't deny him the right to education any more than 204 can. All the parents were asking for in this situation was to move the alleged offender while waiting for trial. This is not a ridiculous request; it's common sense. No one ever said the child shouldn't be able to attend school, just could it please be a different school. The only thing offered to the victim's family was for the attackers to change teams or for the victim to transfer. BTW, a board member was overheard at Monday's board meeting saying "If only the family had come to us privately, we might have been able to help them." What?  More smoke and mirrors, more secretive nonsense. Because the family wouldn't sit down and shut up, take whatever was offered to them, they shouldn't get the same treatment they would have gotten otherwise? Seriously. I can't stand it. |
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Post by steckdad on Feb 27, 2009 9:38:28 GMT -6
Macy..if 203 is so great..why is the kid being allowed to step foot in lincoln MS??? The child's alleged offenses (of which he took pictures and sent them to friends) took place before his attendance in district 203. They can't deny him the right to education any more than 204 can. All the parents were asking for in this situation was to move the alleged offender while waiting for trial. This is not a ridiculous request; it's common sense. No one ever said the child shouldn't be able to attend school, just could it please be a different school. The only thing offered to the victim's family was for the attackers to change teams or for the victim to transfer. BTW, a board member was overheard at Monday's board meeting saying "If only the family had come to us privately, we might have been able to help them." What? More smoke and mirrors, more secretive nonsense. Because the family wouldn't sit down and shut up, take whatever was offered to them, they shouldn't get the same treatment they would have gotten otherwise? Seriously. I can't stand it. is the alleged attacker any less of a threat to kids at lincoln vs. the alleged victim? |
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Post by doctorwho on Feb 27, 2009 9:45:59 GMT -6
The child's alleged offenses (of which he took pictures and sent them to friends) took place before his attendance in district 203. They can't deny him the right to education any more than 204 can. All the parents were asking for in this situation was to move the alleged offender while waiting for trial. This is not a ridiculous request; it's common sense. No one ever said the child shouldn't be able to attend school, just could it please be a different school. The only thing offered to the victim's family was for the attackers to change teams or for the victim to transfer. BTW, a board member was overheard at Monday's board meeting saying "If only the family had come to us privately, we might have been able to help them." What? More smoke and mirrors, more secretive nonsense. Because the family wouldn't sit down and shut up, take whatever was offered to them, they shouldn't get the same treatment they would have gotten otherwise? Seriously. I can't stand it. is the alleged attacker any less of a threat to kids at lincoln vs. the alleged victim? has your investigation proven this was not a personal issue between the kids ? If so then you'd be right - if no then I'm guessing the kid who 'told' is at must more risk from the alleged perpetrator - no ? |
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Post by snerdley on Feb 27, 2009 10:18:33 GMT -6
THIS GUYS GOT TO GO! Dist. 204 chief: Blame me if we mishandled assault allegations www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=275361Justin Kmitch Daily Herald 2/27/2009 Superintendent Stephen Daeschner says he accepts any blame for the way Indian Prairie Unit District 204 has handled allegations of a sexual assault involving three middle school students. Several school board members expressed disappointment in recent days that they didn't learn of the alleged Nov. 11 attack until late January or early February when they read newspaper accounts or heard about it from neighbors. The parents of the alleged victim notified the staff at Gregory Middle School in Naperville almost immediately after the incident and staff members quickly notified district administrators. Daeschner, however, didn't share the information with school board members until the father of the alleged victim went public with complaints about the district's handling of the matter. "That disappointment has certainly been an undertone in my conversations (with some board members) and that's understandable," Daeschner said Thursday. "I still believe the school staff acted appropriately and made the right decisions to handle the situation. I sit here and have to second-guess those decisions (to not alert board members immediately) a lot. So go ahead and lay it all in my lap. I'll take it." Two boys - a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old, both from Naperville - have been charged with felony counts of criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault against another boy stemming from a November incident at a home on the city's south side. The 11-year-old also faces a misdemeanor count of battery for a separate incident involving the same alleged victim - this time in the halls of Gregory. The 12-year-old transferred out of District 204 this week to Lincoln Junior High School in neighboring Naperville Unit District 203. According to Will County civil court records, the two boys are accused of tying up their 11-year-old classmate and sexually assaulting him in the unsupervised home of the accused 12-year-old student. Daeschner said school staff immediately separated the boys at Gregory by moving lockers and ensuring they were not in the same classrooms. Those actions, he said, have kept the school safe without disrupting the educational environment. "Nothing jumps out at me to make me think we might have made a different decision," Daeschner said. "There's not a lot of things we would change as far as how we handled the situation, but I hate that the community is so vicious in terms of understanding why we do what we do." The victim's parents have repeatedly demanded the remaining alleged offender be transferred to one of the district's five other middle schools. Officials have said the accused boys could not be moved to an alternative school program because the alleged assault took place off school grounds and the youths were in no danger of being expelled from District 204. The school district's attorney, Jack Canna, has warned board members they have little, if any, authority to discipline students for off-campus actions. Daeschner said he thinks residents would have a different opinion of the board's action - or inaction - if they were privy to documentation and closed-door discussions regarding the juveniles. "I think it rounds out the situation to know what we know and it does make it difficult when one side can talk about their perception, wrong or right," he said. "When one chooses to voice some of that stuff, it discredits others. Fortunately I'm not in the discrediting business." Is this designed to take the heat off the SB members as we approach the election? DD takes the blame, so the incumbents can get re-elected? |
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Post by anteater on Feb 27, 2009 10:25:42 GMT -6
Also as far as M2..my conclusion is that it doesn't matter what M2's opinion is because he is acting (right or wrong) to protect the district. that is the job he was voted in to do. I agree he could have more compassion, but that is a different issue all together. ALL of the SB members are elected to represent the taxpayers and voters, not necessarily to "protect the district." And M2's opinion clearly matters because he believes that he is the only person with the necessary intelligence to determine the proper course of action in any and all situations. Compassion is an important component of effective decisionmaking, so it makes absolutely no sense to say that is a different issue. The next time he admits a mistake or respects a differing opinion will be the first. |
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Post by steckdad on Feb 27, 2009 10:40:36 GMT -6
is the alleged attacker any less of a threat to kids at lincoln vs. the alleged victim? has your investigation proven this was not a personal issue between the kids ? If so then you'd be right - if no then I'm guessing the kid who 'told' is at must more risk from the alleged perpetrator - no ? funny how you say "my investigation" with the enormous amount of emotional backlash from posters here and at the SB meeting that may or may not be based on anything but emotions. but based on that emotional feedback from folks, I think I read the child is troubled and a potential menace to society. |
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Post by anteater on Feb 27, 2009 10:45:04 GMT -6
THIS GUYS GOT TO GO! Dist. 204 chief: Blame me if we mishandled assault allegations www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=275361Justin Kmitch Daily Herald 2/27/2009 Superintendent Stephen Daeschner says he accepts any blame for the way Indian Prairie Unit District 204 has handled allegations of a sexual assault involving three middle school students. * * * * Daeschner said he thinks residents would have a different opinion of the board's action - or inaction - if they were privy to documentation and closed-door discussions regarding the juveniles. "I think it rounds out the situation to know what we know and it does make it difficult when one side can talk about their perception, wrong or right," he said. "When one chooses to voice some of that stuff, it discredits others. Fortunately I'm not in the discrediting business." What a relief!!! |
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Post by sashimi on Feb 27, 2009 10:50:07 GMT -6
Steckdad, I agree with you that most of us are still basing a lot of what we think should (or should have) been done on rumors and emotions.
I do think that if what I have heard is true...in addition to the brutal sexual assault, that photos were taken and shared in school and the victim was assaulted at school, the attackers should have been removed and put into a different school. One of the comments I have heard from the administration is that if they had done this, they would have received a backlash from the parents of the school that these kids were moved to.
Perhaps as the protectors of our children, the District should have sought court intervention to have the attackers evaluated to see if they in fact do present a risk to fellow students (there was enough probable cause to charge them so I would imagine that the courts could order such an evaluation if the students wanted to remain in the district).
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Post by Arch on Feb 27, 2009 10:52:58 GMT -6
Is this designed to take the heat off the SB members as we approach the election? DD takes the blame, so the incumbents can get re-elected? you can put lipstick.... |
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Post by sashimi on Feb 27, 2009 11:06:05 GMT -6
"Fortunately I'm not in the discrediting business."
God bless. Shawn Collins, The Brachs, The Brodies, the father of this victim, NSFOC and elitists everywhere can certainly take comfort in this...
We should learn from Jefferson County:
Time Doesn’t Heal for JCTA
January 8th, 2008 by rick · 14 Comments
When Stephen Daeschner was forced out as head of the Jefferson County School Board last year, it marked the end of a contentious battle with the teachers association and board members. Ultimately, Daeschner lost the power struggle.
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Post by casey on Feb 27, 2009 11:25:03 GMT -6
"Fortunately I'm not in the discrediting business." God bless. Shawn Collins, The Brachs, The Brodies, the father of this victim, NSFOC and elitists everywhere can certainly take comfort in this... We should learn from Jefferson County: Time Doesn’t Heal for JCTA January 8th, 2008 by rick · 14 Comments When Stephen Daeschner was forced out as head of the Jefferson County School Board last year, it marked the end of a contentious battle with the teachers association and board members. Ultimately, Daeschner lost the power struggle. I think that someone needs to let those in Jefferson County know about Dr.D's latest debacle. I'm sure that they'd find it interesting. I doubt that they'd be surprised to hear that DD's engaging and thoughtful communication continues in IPSD 204.  |
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More smoke and mirrors, more secretive nonsense. Because the family wouldn't sit down and shut up, take whatever was offered to them, they shouldn't get the same treatment they would have gotten otherwise? Seriously. I can't stand it.
