York Teacher's Case Kept Under Wraps

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205 is not releasing information about the disciplinary case involving a York High School teacher.

In response to a Patch request, the district on Wednesday cited exemptions under the state's open records law to keep the documents under wraps.

It said the records were preliminary and involved attorney-client communications.

The district also said records related to the disciplinary case can be kept secret because there is no final outcome "at this time."

If the district hands out discipline, some documents will probably become subject to the records law.

At its meeting last week, the school board was set to consider reprimanding American Studies teacher Kelly DeLoriea.

But board President Athena Arvanitis pulled the item from the agenda just before members were to vote on it. In an email to Patch, she said the board needed more time to discuss it.

Officials have not said what got DeLoriea into hot water. Over the last couple of years, she and her American Studies colleague, Lindsey DiTomasso, have been accused by parents of teaching liberally biased lessons.

At the board meeting, DeLoriea and a number of residents spoke in her defense.