Target Of Elmhurst D205 Rebuke Kept Secret

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst School District 205 board voted unanimously Tuesday to publicly reprimand a tenured teacher.

But the board did not identify the teacher who received the "notice to remedy." That's information other districts give when they take similar action.

In an email Wednesday, Patch asked board members for the name, but no one immediately responded. On Monday, Patch filed a public records request for the documents related to the teacher's case.

The board rarely reprimands teachers. The district has about 600.

The last such reprimand was in August 2023. It was against Kelly DeLoriea, an English teacher at York High School. The board said she shared personally identifying information about a student on social media.

The board, however, did not identify DeLoriea as receiving the notice to remedy. Through public comments at meetings, it was revealed by DeLoriea's supporters and opponents that she was the target of the pending notice.

Patch reviewed the agendas and minutes for Hinsdale High School District 86 and Lyons Township High School. Both reveal the names of publicly reprimanded teachers.

If a notice to remedy is given, schools must provide the related documents in response to a public records request.

After DeLoriea received her reprimand, Patch filed a public records request for the details of the case against DeLoriea.

When the district declined to give the information, Patch filed a complaint with the attorney general's office.

In response, the district's lawyer said it had the legal right to keep the documents under wraps. But four months later, the district released the documents to Patch, with the lawyer saying the decision was not setting a precedent.

Patch has had no such trouble in getting similar records from Hinsdale High School District 86 or Lyons Township High School.