Driver 'Sexually' Touched Hinsdale D86 Student: Complaint

HINSDALE, IL – A special education driver touched a Hinsdale High School District 86 student in a "sexually gratifying manner" and bought her food, according to a complaint filed last month.

The driver worked for bus contractor First Student, which says it no longer employs him.

The complaint was filed Sept. 5 under the district's sexual harassment policy. The sophomore and her parent are represented by attorney Roy McCampbell. The complaint said Darien police are investigating.

The district placed the girl, who suffers from depression and anxiety, in a therapeutic school in Glen Ellyn, the complaint said.

The sexual harassment and grooming began in fall 2023 during the girl's freshman year, the attorney wrote in the complaint.

"(T)he driver proceeded to touch the minor student in a sexually gratifying manner as well as stopping and buying food throughout this period of time for the minor student, further promising to allow her to drive his car when she was in driver's ed at school," McCampbell said.

The driver, who lives in La Grange, told the girl that even though he was in his 60s, he had a 25-year-old girlfriend and liked younger women – "the younger, the better," the complaint said.

In August, the girl's parent notified the district of the driver's conduct when she became aware of it, McCampbell said.

The complaint alleged First Student became aware of the food purchases and sexually provocative touching last spring. The company took disciplinary action, but failed to notify the district and did nothing to further ensure the student's safety, the complaint said.

First Student became aware by viewing video that captured activities in the vehicle, but it later provided a vehicle that had no video recording capabilities, McCampbell said.

The complaint said District 86 Superintendent Michael Lach, who started in July, failed to take the necessary actions under the district's policy. It also said he failed to afford the girl and her parent the rights, services and safeguards as provided under policy.

The complaint also focused on attorney Caroline Roselli, who works for Chicago-based Robbins Schwartz, then the district's main law firm.

Like Lach, Roselli, who specializes in special education law, failed to follow the district's policy, the complaint said.

It alleged she attempted to "bully" the parent and student to resume transportation without a safety plan in place. The attorney also failed to address the PTSD that the student was enduring, which included acute anxiety, acute depression and an ability to sleep restfully, the complaint said.

Four days after the complaint was filed, Robbins Schwartz ended its relationship with District 86, saying the district was "unreasonably difficult" to serve.

The termination notice came from attorney Joseph Perkoski, Robbins Schwartz's managing partner. Of the 42 other attorneys in his firm, Perkoski copied just one of them – Caroline Roselli.

On the same day as the complaint, the board held a special meeting to hire Oak Brook-based Engler, Callaway, Baasten & Sraga to handle "select students, special education and other matters." One of its specialties is special education.

Under the complaint's timeline, the district had heard about the situation involving the girl by the time of the special meeting. The meeting was scheduled before McCampbell submitted the complaint.

The complaint also listed what it said were multiple failings by the therapeutic school.

In response to Patch's request for comment, First Student confirmed the driver no longer works for the company. It said privacy considerations prevented it from discussing personnel matters.

For its part, District 86 said students' safety and well-being are its top priority.

"While we do not comment on student-specific matters, please know that we have protocols in place to protect students when alerted of alleged safety risks," the district said. "These protocols include notifying all relevant parties, which may include: parents, guardians, administrators, law enforcement, and the Department of Children and Family Services."

McCampbell declined to comment.