CALUMET CITY | The transfer of a former baseball coach at Lansing's Thornton Fractional South High School to another school has sparked a grievance, School Board officials said.
At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 School Board dealt with the questions and complaints it has received over the past month regarding the disciplinary action against Ken Reynolds.
Reynolds is now a faculty member at the district's Center for Academics and Technology in Calumet City, District 215 Superintendent Creg Williams said.
This summer, the School Board will address the grievance, which the teachers union filed on Reynolds' behalf, Williams said, adding the process could stretch into the fall.
Citing personnel issues, David Shrader, president of the American Federation of Teachers Local 683, said he couldn't confirm if a grievance has been filed on Reynold's behalf.
Reynolds declined Wednesday to comment on the matter.
In April, the School Board approved unspecified disciplinary action against two TF South staff members. Williams identified one as Reynolds, TF South's dean of students, assistant athletic director and baseball coach, who had planned to return next school year as an English teacher.
Following the decision, School Board and district officials cited an ongoing investigation but did not confirm publicly that Reynolds was the subject of an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services review or elaborate on the accusations that led to the disciplinary action.
But in response to questions and complaints over the past month, School Board President Debbie Waitekus read Tuesday a public statement drafted on behalf of the School Board by its attorneys.
The statement did not mention anyone by name, referring to an incident between a young female athlete and a "boy's athletic coach." The incident involved inappropriate conversation and behavior that "failed to recognize appropriate boundaries between staff and students," according to the statement.
The "boy's athletic coach" admitted to certain behavior, was removed from his coaching duties for the rest of the school year and was transferred to another building following a suspension, the statement said.
School officials did not refer the matter to police, although they notified the DCFS, which conducted a review of the incident.
DCFS officials on Wednesday would not comment on their review.
School Board officials said they believe they met their "legal responsibility" after conducting their own investigation and hearing the conclusions of the state, the statement said.
"After conducting a thorough investigation, the administration and the board believed that the girl's story was true, and disciplined the coach. ... Another student witness has come forward and has corroborated the incident," the statement said. "The (School) Board has also learned that various parents who were friends of the athletic coach have harassed the young lady's parents and friends.
"They have steadfastly demanded that the young lady recant her story for the betterment of the coach. ... The Board of Education will not tolerate such behavior and will pursue all of its remedies to protect students in the school system."
