'Rumblings' Of York High Walkout: District

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205 on Monday acknowledged that York High School students may walk out of classes this week in connection with an incident Thursday involving an altercation in a boys bathroom.

"I've heard rumblings of a walkout," the district's spokeswoman, Tonya Daniels, said in an interview. "I don't have details."

The protest would be designed to show support for a student who is believed to be the victim in the incident.

In a statement Sunday, Superintendent Keisha Campbell said the video of an incident at York was "deeply disturbing." It showed "an aggressive physical altercation by a student toward another student with a disability, while a group of bystanders watched and laughed," she said.

Daniels said the school is still investigating the incident.

"We're gathering information. It's important to know the facts," she said.

Daniels said the school is hoping to "channel" the students' energies without a walkout.

"We also value their right to peacefully assemble under the First Amendment," she said.

As of Monday morning, more than 4,700 people have signed a Change.org petition spotlighting the York incident and calling for action.

Patch wrote about the incident in a story Monday morning.