Matteson school board members are heading into a high-pressure showdown this week, as they prepare to introduce a resolution in the fallout from a video that shows Vice President Carl Scott Sr., a newly elected board member and former Robbins police chief, in a physical altercation while on duty. The footage has lit a fire under parents and community members, who have packed recent meetings demanding answers. With tempers already flaring, the district expects a tense Wednesday night session when trustees formally take up Scott's status.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the board’s attorney has drafted one or more resolutions regarding Scott’s role, and the district has been hit with a wave of emails over the controversy. Board President Sharee Morton told FOX she has received threats as the backlash has grown, and said the resolutions are set to be considered at Wednesday's 6:30 p.m. meeting.
What the footage shows
Body-worn-camera and interrogation-room video from July 1, 2024 shows then Robbins Police Chief Carl Scott Sr. pushing a man into a back room, ordering officers to turn off a camera and repeatedly striking him, according to CBS Chicago. The man, identified in coverage as a First Amendment auditor who had come to the station to record, suffered bruising and later received a citation, prosecutors said.
Legal fallout
Scott resigned from the Robbins Police Department and later pleaded guilty to battery in 2025, receiving two years of probation and losing his law-enforcement certification, ABC7 Chicago reported. Prosecutors had initially filed more serious counts, including aggravated battery, in connection with the July 1 incident, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Parents demand accountability
Parents at recent meetings have told the board that Scott is not a role model for students and have called for his resignation, with several speakers urging the board to act immediately. As ABC7 Chicago reported, some community members said the district did not properly notify families about the incident. One parent, Catherine Miles, said, “That video showed violence is the answer.” Scott told ABC7 he has “accepted my accountability whether I felt it was right or wrong” and said he intends to fight to keep his elected seat.
What to watch Wednesday
The board is set to take up the issue at a 6:30 p.m. meeting at the district's Administrative Center/STEM Center at 20700 Matteson Ave., according to the district calendar. The board may introduce a resolution that defines Scott's role or outlines other steps, FOX 32 Chicago reported, and the online calendar lists the time and location. Community members say they plan to turn out in force, looking for clear answers on what happens next.
