'I'm Sure Something Did Go Wrong': ETHS Student Criticizes Handling Of Coach Complaints

EVANSTON, IL — The first public comment about the arrest of a color guard coach on child seduction charges from a representative of Evanston Township High School came this week — not from a school administrator or an elected school board member, but from a student representative.

Barbara Tomardze, a junior at ETHS, was appointed earlier this year as the student representative on the Evanston Township High School District 202.

During Monday's board meeting, she referenced a recent Evanston Patch report that revealed a part-time coach, 63-year-old Lorenzo Medrano, had faced complaints of inappropriate behavior from multiple students earlier this year, before being arrested in Indiana in connection with allegations he fondled a student at La Porte High School.

Tomardze said she did not want to talk about the matter, but felt that no one else would address it if she did not.

"It's known that students at ETHS complained about this coach, but other fellow coaches protected him, and the complaints were dismissed, and he kept working here," Tomardze said. "I don't think I have to explain our opinions on that, or why we feel the emotions we would feel as students. But you know I understand this is your reputation — this is school's reputation — but these are our lives, and we want to make sure nobody's put into danger because of the protection of other employees at ETHS."

Chief Human Resource Officer Toya Campbell and Assistant Chief Human Resources Officer Yolanda Hardy interviewed Medrano and two fellow coaches about allegations from female students. The teens said Medrano, a color guard instructor and marching band assistant, had touched them inappropriately, offered them rides home and walked in on them while they were changing clothes, according to records obtained by Evanston Patch under the Freedom of Information Act.

Medrano previously denied the accusations that prompted the felony charge in Northwest Indiana. He has not responded to inquiries about the investigation at ETHS.

Neither Campbell nor Hardy — who were both placed on paid administrative leave without explanation on Oct. 6 — nor any other ETHS administrator contacted the Evanston Police Department about the allegations, which the senior district staffers determined to be unfounded, according to police and school district records.

"I'm not sure what went wrong with that complaint or who's in fault or whatever, but I'm sure something did go wrong," Tomardze said. "And I fear for the other students that were put into danger because the complaint was not followed through and was not addressed with as much concern as we see it should have been."

The student representative said students have not heard anything from any adult at the school about Medrano and the allegations against him.

"I just wanted to make that clear that we know about this. And there's a lot of talk about this, and we don't know what to think, we don't know what to say, we're just talking to each other, and we're just kind of scared and worried," Tomardze said.

"Because it's like ETHS has like a message like: we're safe here, and we can come to you about things — but this instance is sending the complete opposite message than what we stand to be," she added. "And I fear that other students will take this and really take it in and think that they can't come to adults at ETHS about accusations of assault or harassment or any type of abuse that they faced in the school."

Board President Pat Savage-Williams thanked Tomardze for sharing the fact that many students are discussing the matter and said the district "will respond."

She said uncomfortable conversations are important to have.

"We realize that we have work to do, and we learn from the past and that's what we're trying to do," Savage-Williams said. "But I really do appreciate — I'm not making excuses — I just really want to tell you that I appreciate your courage and how candid you are in sharing."

Evanston Patch asked Savage-Williams when that response will be issued and whether it will address the administrative leave for its two senior human resources employees. Any response received will be added here.

Related:

• Arrested Coach Faced Complaints But Cleared Of Wrongdoing At ETHS
• Senior HR Staff Put On Leave At Evanston Township High School
• ETHS Employee Charged With Child Seduction At Indiana School