Parents Discuss Alleged Threat at Elwood School Board Meeting

Parents of Elwood School students came to get their questions answered over an “inappropriate post” that, according to parents, was a threat posted on Instagram over the weekend.

Elwood Community Consolidated School District 203 Superintendent Cathie Pezanoski said in a prepared statement at Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting that administration was informed around 8:20 a.m. Monday morning by a classroom teacher that students in her class were talking about an Internet posting that was created over the weekend by a student.

Sign up for the Patch newsletter and never miss a moment

“Administration thoroughly investigated this posting, pulled the student from class, found (the message) to be inappropriate, but of no specific threat to any specific student or staff member,” Pezanoski said. “There was never a gun or any other harmful device in this school, building or on school grounds. There was never a so-called hit list that specified or designated any specific student to be in danger or any staff member.”

Pezanoski said disciplinary action was taken with the male student and he was removed from campus.

“Administration continued the investigation Sept. 15. Because of the findings of this further investigation, further measures will be taken by the Board of Education to provide assistance to the student posting the inappropriate message and the safety of all students,” Pezanoski said.

However, parents weren’t swayed by that information and continued to say the “inappropriate post” was that of a gun and a hit list posted on Instagram.

Parent Cherisse Infusino said that she could get 20 students together who said they had seen the list on Instagram.

“You’re making certain parents look like liars,” Infusino told Superintendent Pezanoski. “There’s a whole bunch of kids who have seen it and know it’s been deleted. It’s not fair to make other people, a whole bunch of parents and a whole bunch of their children, look like liars when they’ve seen the list and obviously know who was the first person, second person and last person on the list.”

When asked what exactly was the nature of the post, Pezanoski said that wouldn’t be disclosed at this time. However, she did say it was on Instagram.

Jenny Siok, a parent of a student at Elwood School, addressed the board to discuss missteps that were taken in informing the parents.

“A student posted a picture of a gun on Instagram. Whether that was a Google image or a weapon within the student’s home is irrelevant. The student posted names of no less than four peers, that I had been told, that he wanted to injure. He also made these comments (Monday) morning to some of the students themselves,” Siok said.

According to Siok, the accused student came to school Monday morning and verbally threatened her son. Her son reported the incident to the teacher.

“As I understand the next steps, the offending student was called to the office, lockers were searched and in my opinion, case closed. I was never even called. My concerns were my son was never called down to discuss this and was never called down (Tuesday). No parents were notified and police were not called by the school and the punishment seemed light. What I’m concerned about is when the kid comes back to school. Not just for the other kids’ safety, but his also. He’s going to come back to a hostile environment.”

Siok said a call to parents should have been made Monday and not postponed until Tuesday and the school needs to be better prepared when it comes to threats.

“Elwood is a small town, but it’s time to stop thinking with a small town mind,” Siok said.

Parent Sarah Adler suggested that more security be brought into the school.

“Hire a guard, metal detectors,” Adler said. “We might get used to doing more drills.”

One parent said they wanted to make sure the student in question got help.

“That is the number one thing that needs to be done or this will just continue,” she said. “I can honestly say that before (my son) came home and told me who it was, I knew who it was. We all did. We really, really, really need to have something in place to get the child help.”

The student who allegedly made the “inappropriate post” was said by parents in the meeting to be the victim of bullying.

“I felt so bad for this kid who felt so isolated and so demeaned,” a parent said.

Pezanoski said there will be parameters that will be followed to eventually let the student return to school.

Infusino said she never saw the alleged hit list or gun photo, but said if no one had seen anything, things could have gone further.

“At other schools, you don’t see a list. Most of the kids kill themselves after, so you don’t know which ones were shot that were on their list,” Infusino said. “Elwood needs a better plan because this could have went (differently.) This could easily happen in Elwood.”

Another parent said she wasn’t happy about when she was notified.

“We were notified a day after,” she said. “That’s not when I want to be notified. I want to know when it’s happening. As a parent, I deserve that. I need to know my kids are safe and you as a school board should provide that.”

Phone messages left Tuesday and Wednesday for the Elwood Police Department were not immediately returned.