D128 Pledges Safety Reforms After Lawsuit Involving Former Teacher

VERNON HILLS AND LIBERTYVILLE, IL — Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 is pledging changes following public criticism of its handling of allegations against now-retired teacher Parker Rohde, the Daily Herald is reporting.

The district has promised mandatory student-safety reporting training for all employees and plans to create a director of campus safety and security position. Superintendent Marc Schaffer said the district will report to the community before the end of the year on how the changes are being implemented and monitored, according to the Daily Herald.

The promises follow a lawsuit filed by a district parent that accused Rohde of grooming a student with Down syndrome. The lawsuit was dismissed last month after the district reached a settlement, according to the article.

Rohde has never been criminally charged over the allegations, and his attorney has defended his professional record, noting that his final four two-year evaluations were rated “Excellent," according to the Daily Herald.

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