Why LTHS Teacher Got In Trouble: Records

LA GRANGE, IL – After initial resistance, Lyons Township High School last week disclosed its letter that detailed the reason why a teacher was given a warning.

Two weeks ago, the school board voted to issue a "notice of remedy" to English teacher Katherine Karubas. Member Michael Thomas dissented. The board had no discussion.

On Thursday, the school released Superintendent Brian Waterman's April 11 memo to Karubas, who has worked there 18 years.

Karubas did not return an emailed message for comment.

In the memo, Waterman said he recommended the notice of remedy because Karubas failed to conduct herself professionally and use good judgment.

In a meeting with an assistant principal, Waterman said, Karubas was unprofessional when discussing a student assigned to her roster. She referred to the student as a "hood rat," the superintendent said.

The term "hood rat" is defined in Dictionary.com as "a young promiscuous woman from an impoverished urban area."

In the memo, Waterman said concerns about Karubas' inappropriate and unprofessional language have been shared with her a number of times. He said she was given clear expectations and directives to improve her behavior.

Karubas had been told to refrain from using profanity and "racially or culturally insensitive" language, Waterman said.

Karubas' unprofessional conduct has jeopardized her job, he said. If she repeats such behavior, he said, she will face disciplinary action, including her suspension without pay and firing as a tenured teacher.

Last week, the school initially denied Patch's public records request to see the memo, saying it was "pre-decisional." If true, such a record would fall under an exception to the state's open records law.

But the document appeared to be a final memo to Karubas. The board's own letter to Karubas cited the memo as the basis for its decision.

Since 2020, the high school has provided similar memos involving teachers to Patch without any problems. In an email, Patch asked Waterman why the school was making an exception for Karubas.

Waterman then provided the memo.

"The original determination was this was a pre-decisional record, but in the spirit of transparency, the District is willing to share it with you in this circumstance," the superintendent said in an email. "This does not waive the District’s right to utilize applicable exemptions for similar letters in the future."

Karubas, whose salary is $141,000, teaches English IV World Perspectives and has been a gymnastics coach, according to the school's website.