Statement by District 129 School Board President Neal Ormond
Statement by District 129 School Board President Neal Ormond
The Board of Education of West Aurora School District 129 wishes to express our concern and, more importantly, our response to recent statements by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) regarding a 2010 incident involving a former District teacher, Mr. Orland, and an alleged failure to report by school personnel.
First, the Board has directed an immediate review of the allegations concerning the failure to report. Second, the Board continues to cooperate fully with DCFS and the State’s Attorney’s Office in their review of this matter.
We understand how the DCFS allegations have triggered a significant reaction in the community and we understand how information in situations like this can become distorted and confusing. As we work through this, we trust that the community understands that while this former teacher was later found in 2011to have engaged in criminal conduct for which he was terminated, the current DCFS failure to report allegations pertain to a 2010 incident.
Please know that the Board will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure that the District is providing a safe and healthy learning environment for its students. While there are legal constraints with respect to sharing information concerning students and employees, we will continue to keep the community apprised of our efforts to the best of our ability.
