Tensions mounted at a school board meeting in Country Club Hills this Tuesday, where parents voiced their outrage and demanded the resignation of District 160’s superintendent, Dr. Duane Meighan. The calls for resignation follow allegations of a substitute teacher physically harming students at Meadowview Intermediate School. According to a WGN TV News report, parents described the school environment as "toxic" and cited issues with school lunches, a lack of learning, and bullying.
At the core of the controversy is an incident that reportedly occurred last Thursday, where a substitute teacher is said to have chased and choked a student following a remark made after recess. "He said a teacher was trying to choke a student or something like that," Jessica Camacho, a parent of a fourth-grader, told WGN TV. Another parent, Charisma Stone, said her child suffered a foot injury amid the chaos. Despite a message sent to parents by Meighan claiming a staff member involved would not be returning, parents have been left unsatisfied, with some indicating plans to withdraw their children from the district unless the superintendent steps down.
Further intensifying the situation are allegations that the school is failing to properly communicate with parents about the severity of the incident. A letter provided by NBC Chicago stated that the school did not notify them of the incident, and instead, parents learned of the events from their children. "He is fearing for his safety," Camacho further explained during the school board meeting. At a press conference last Friday, Meighan made an appearance but remained tight-lipped about the details, only reaffirming the district's concern for student safety.
