Police Called To Sts. Dennis and Joseph In Lockport As Teachers Asked To Leave

LOCKPORT, IL — The consolidation of St. Dennis and St. Joseph Catholic Schools in Lockport has not been an easy transition, according to several community members, and things came to a head last week as police were called to the campus to escort out several teachers whose contracts were not renewed.

Lockport Police told Patch that police presence was requested by school administrators on June 4 as they informed three teachers their contracts were not being renewed.

The diocese, however, told the Herald-News that the teachers had learned that their contracts were ending months earlier, and that "no teachers were let go or terminated" Tuesday.

In late 2022, the Diocese of Joliet announced that 2023-24 would serve as a transition year for the newly-combined schools, which would still use both campuses in Lockport.

The newly-named Saints Dennis and Joseph Catholic Academy serves students preschool through third grade at its south campus, and fourth through eighth grade at its north campus.

As the school year began, problems began to arise, according to a concerned community member, who asked not to be identified, and the tensions were particularly bad for those who were affiliated with St. Dennis.

Tensions culminated with the end of the school year as police were asked to come to the school.

Community members have also submitted a petition with over 50 signatures to the Diocese calling for the removal of Newton and two others.

Deputy Chief Ron Huff said the officers simply stood by as the teachers gathered their belongings and left the building after being told that they couldn't remain on school grounds. All the staff members left the building without intervention from the officers, Huff said.

An email sent to parents from Newton stated that the school's safety protocols were violated after "unapproved individuals were given access to the school without prior notice." The email states that the people involved in allowing this access were directed to leave the property.

"Unfortunately, the situation escalated," Newton's email reads, leading to the involvement of police.

The concerned community member told Patch that the situation isn't that simple, and that the unauthorized people were former students.

Former St. Dennis teacher Chris Lareau told the Herald-News that the "unauthorized visitors" were former St. Dennis students and underage siblings of students, that she's the one who let them in — and though she did not ask permission, "this is something that has been done by other teachers multiple times throughout the year."

The community member told Patch the petition calling for Newton and others' removals was submitted to the Diocese last week.

The petition calls for the removal of Newton, Director of Marketing Michelle Ray, school advisory board member Danielle Pugh, "and remaining school board members tied to the former St. Joseph Catholic School."

The petition calls for their removal "due to unprofessional conduct, creating a toxic environment for those that disagree with them, and general lack of care for the students, staff and families that attend SDJCA."

Patch has reached out to the Diocese of Joliet via email for comment on the situation, but the Diocese had yet to respond as of Monday.