'Vaping, Drugs, Countless Fights': D200 Parents, Students Slam 'Lack Of Accountability'

WHEATON, IL — More than a dozen parents and students took to the podium at Wednesday's District 200 board of education meeting to share their concerns about student safety and transparency within the district after reports of violence in bathrooms at Wheaton Warrenville South High School.

Before the meeting, a group of parents gathered outside the school holding signs with phrases that included, "We are speaking. Listen!" and "Safe Schools, Strong Communities."

Amy Erkenswick, one of the District 200 parents who organized the rally, told Patch she and other parents would like to see "more communication, more transparency" from the district, along with a "consistent [disciplinary and safety] structure across the district."

The rally and outcry for change was prompted by a Feb. 28 fight at Wheaton Warrenville South High School that left a teen boy unconscious. His mother told Patch in early March that he had a "concussion and contusions" after the incident.

Outside the school, the group had also planted 270 purple flags, which they said represented 270 disciplinary actions (suspensions and expulsions) that were reported at Wheaton Warrenville South in 2023.

Related: School 'Downplaying' Fight That Hurt Son: Wheaton Warrenville Mother

At Wednesday's meeting, some speakers addressed safety concerns related to the fight, while others shared their own stories. Some of these stories included claims of violence and harassment at other District 200 schools.

Family Says Teacher, Coach Pushed Children

Joel and Lisa Anderson were joined by their three sons, who attend Wheaton North and Edison Middle School.

Joel said, "Back in December, our two youngest boys were pushed in anger by a teacher and coach at Edison Middle School."

Eighth-grader Tyler Anderson said he and his younger brother were pushed by the teacher during a Dec. 8 basketball practice after they contested a foul call.

Tyler said, "Seconds after speaking up, he blew his whistle and pushed me to the bench in anger and shouted at me, and then he shouted at and pushed my younger brother too. I did not use my hands, body or actions in violence toward this coach and teacher."

Addressing the board of education, Joel Anderson added, "As a board, you have received an email from my wife and I outlining the entire situation and how it has been mishandled by the school."

According to Anderson, "the DCFS was never called by mandated reporters until we alerted them that it is a requirement."

He also claimed that "the district was not made aware of the situation by the school until my wife emailed the day before our kids were to return to school, almost three days later."

Per Anderson, the teacher was placed on administrative leave during the investigation, in which Anderson claims members of the Wheaton Police Department "would not push [their] file through" to press charges because "this happens all the time on courts and soccer fields everywhere," Anderson said.

The family said the teacher has since returned to the classroom.

Lisa Anderson, the boys' mother, asked Superintendent Dr. Jeff Schuler and board members to "reconsider bringing this teacher back into the classroom."

"As parents, administrators and school board members, we must be better for our kids," she said.

Student, Parent Challenge "Lack Of Care, Accountability"

Andrew Padron, a junior at Wheaton Warrenville South, said, "while the recent adjustments to the bathrooms and halls set in place by the administration do make these places safer than before, it seems like that the administration only acknowledges and responds to problems when the public spotlight is on them.:

"The general trend of this administration is to downplay our reality," Padron said.

He added that the district's bathroom safety initiatives are not sufficient to address the problem that "our bathrooms are not a safe and usable space for students."

"The obvious lack of care that the school has for the student facilities is alarming," Padron said, "with stall doors missing, locks destroyed as well as vaping, drugs and countless fights."

Parent Brook Gennaro said the district's "lack of accountability and leadership breeds dangerous complacency."

Daneel Gonzales, a district parent and school aide, mentioned the email Wheaton Warrenville South Principal Lorie Campos shared with parents after the Feb. 28 fight. In the email, Campos mentioned "physical altercations" between students and urged parents "not assume that rumors concerning student injuries are accurate." She said the incidents have been "targeted."

Gonzales said she was unsure whether she should send her son to school, as she was unclear whether the rumor was a reference to physical violence or a "potential school shooting."

Meanwhile, some parents and students have told Patch that there have been unprovoked attacks throughout the district.

Gonzales said she has seen "staff members who get physical."

She added, "It's disappointing...my concerns that I've voiced... I don't know where they go."

Superintendent Schuler, Student Ambassadors Address Student Safety

After the public comment concluded, Superintendent Schuler said "We're proud [of student achievements], but we also recognize that moments exist where we have to address actions of our students, staff and parents that fall outside of the expectations that have been set for them. We do, and will continue to, administer the school system consistent with the expectations set by the board and community through your policy guidance and strategic plan."

Student ambassador Thomas Moran said, "Over the past week, many students have had mixed emotions, including feeling unsafe, frustrated and confused, not only by the actual event itself, but also due to the community's response."

Moran said, "This is an opportunity to re-evaluate our systems of support and take tangible action steps in preventing altercations."

He added that he looks forward to working with administrators to plan "proactive measures" for student safety. Moran also challenged what he called "racist rhetoric" that he said he has seen online in the wake of the incident.

Student ambassador Kailey McGady raised concerns about what she called the "physical and emotional fallout" within the student body after the Feb. 28 fight, encouraging "supportive, constructive feedback, not hatred."

Readers can view the public comment portion of the March 13 board meeting below.