Sex Abuse Allegation Splits Burr Ridge Area District

BURR RIDGE, IL – Authorities say they have found no evidence to prove an allegation of criminal sexual abuse against a Pleasantdale School District 107 teacher.

But some residents questioned the district's handling of the allegation in 2019 and when the same one resurfaced in 2024.

At the June 18 school board meeting, members heard from both sides of the matter.

The dueling groups have their own Change.org petitions.

As of Thursday morning, the petition for the teacher had collected 357 signatures. That compares to the 210 from those calling for his removal or reassignment.

The allegation against the teacher was brought up again last year. Willow Springs police investigated and cleared the teacher in the matter, according to a police report.

The report said an adult contended she had made the same report to the school in 2018, but was never contacted again. She said she was told the school would inform Willow Springs police, according to the report.

In May, the district said it received the original report in April 2019 about an incident that was said to have occurred the previous year.

"We responded appropriately and conducted an investigation based on the information available at that time," Superintendent Dave Palzet said.

Last month's board meeting began with a speech from the district's attorney about the case. He conceded his comments would satisfy no one.

"I know that the school district is confronting a difficult situation involving allegations against one of its staff members," attorney Kevin Gordon said.

He then spoke about laws that he said limit the district's ability to disclose information about the case.

During public comments, some residents backed the teacher.

Courtney Borkowski, who identified herself as a school volunteer, said the teacher is selfless and puts the school first.

"He cares deeply for the safety and well-being of our students and staff," she said.

Another resident, Patrick Murray, said he is fine with his 8-year-old returning to school in August. He said he knows the teacher in question and is confident in him.

He said the teacher has come across thousands of students and has drawn one complaint, which the police were unable to substantiate.

Lola Dubak called the teacher a "reliable and respected figure."

"By continuing to punish someone who has been cleared twice is not justice. It's harassment," she said.

On the other side, resident Megan McMillan referred to passages in the police report.

Much of the public version of the 48-page document is redacted. Part of what's left is the police department's effort to get information from the district.

According to the police report, Superintendent Palzet said that based on attorney Gordon's advice, the requested notes about the allegation were considered confidential and would not be turned over to a Willow Springs detective.

The police said Gordon told them that the decision to keep the notes under wraps was based on the Illinois School Student Records Act.

The police report also states that a Cook County prosecutor said his supervisor did not want the detective searching for the documents. His supervisor wanted Pleasandale to be "forced" to produce the requested records through a grand jury subpoena, the report said.

At the board meeting, McMillan said, "To my knowledge, no search warrant or subpoena followed, which suggests the 2024 investigation may have proceeded without key records."

"How are we expected to trust that a thorough investigation occurred, given this information?" McMillan asked. "Why would a school offer anything less than full transparency in a matter involving child safety?"

Another resident, Samantha Washlow, a Cook County public defender, said no privilege exists that stops the district from sending documents to the police department in this case.

"The privilege goes to the victim. If the police are on behalf of the victim, the privilege is waived," Washlow said, looking at Gordon, who was sitting behind her.

Someone could be heard faintly saying, "That's not true."

Washlow countered, "It is 100 percent true."

The attorney general is investigating a resident's complaint about Pleasantdale's denial of records in the teacher's case. The next step is for the district to provide a written response.

In an interview Thursday, Palzet said the teacher's status has not changed.

"He is not on administrative leave, and, as of now, he is coming back as a regular employee," he said.

Under state law, all school employees are considered "mandated reporters." That means they must report allegations of criminal sexual abuse to the Department of Children and Family Services' child abuse hotline.

According to the police report, the department determined the allegation was unfounded, but that does not necessarily mean the abuse did not happen.

"The level of abuse or neglect did not rise to the level dictated by state law and (the department's) Administrative Rule," the report said.