The fallout from last year's Denman Elementary controversy is still rippling through Quincy, as the Illinois State Board of Education has sidelined two Quincy Public Schools employees for 60 calendar days each. The state board’s action, issued June 18, was accepted by both teachers, even as they continue to insist they did not do what they are accused of. Quincy Public Schools says it is reviewing the state’s materials before making any recommendations to the local board of education.
According to KHQA, which cited an Illinois State Board of Education press release, the state suspended the professional educator licenses of Denman P.E. teachers Kimberly Kirby and Jennifer Oitker for 60 calendar days apiece. KHQA reports both teachers denied the allegations in communications with ISBE but agreed to the 60-day suspensions as part of the state’s action.
What Happened at Denman
The case first burst into public view after a Department of Children and Family Services investigation that followed parent complaints. Families alleged that students had tape placed over their mouths and that P.E. staff carried out so-called “birthday spankings,” sometimes using pool noodles. Muddy River News reported that DCFS ultimately described the conduct as inappropriate but did not find evidence of criminal abuse.
Those findings led Quincy Public Schools to place the teachers on administrative leave while state agencies conducted their investigations, and the controversy helped fuel broader leadership turmoil in the district. WGEM reported that the school board suspended Superintendent Todd Pettit with pay during the uproar and later approved a separation agreement as scrutiny continued.
District Response and Next Steps
Quincy Public Schools says state and federal personnel laws limit what it can share about individual employees while the district reviews the Illinois State Board of Education’s findings. The district told KHQA it will make recommendations to the local board after that review is complete.
As KHQA notes, district leaders are weighing the state’s decision before determining whether to pursue additional local discipline or other measures. For a community that has packed recent school board meetings over what many have dubbed the “Denman debacle,” that next move is being watched closely.
What a License Suspension Means
Under the Illinois School Code, the State Superintendent and State Board have the authority to suspend or revoke educator licenses for causes that can include abuse, neglect or unprofessional conduct. Sanctions can range from a temporary suspension to remedial training requirements, all within the framework laid out in 105 ILCS 5/21B-75 of state law. The statutory language is available through the Illinois General Assembly.
For the families and community members who first brought complaints forward, the ISBE suspensions represent a formal disciplinary step but not the criminal outcome some parents had hoped for. Many at recent board meetings have continued to press for clear explanations about what happened and what will change. Muddy River News has followed the public meetings, petitions and ongoing pressure on the district to account for the past and to spell out what comes next.
