Frankfort Community High School in West Frankfort is suddenly in the market for a new leader, after Principal Aaron Hill submitted his immediate resignation on Monday. Hill had already been on paid administrative leave earlier this year while under investigation and facing criminal charges. His resignation comes in the wake of a February arrest on allegations of aggravated battery, and the criminal case is still moving through the courts.
District officials have stressed to families that the incident under investigation allegedly happened off campus and does not involve students. In the meantime, day-to-day operations are being handled by district administrators and the assistant principal while the search for a new principal gets underway.
According to NBC Chicago, Hill’s resignation became official on Monday as investigators continue working the case. The outlet reports that an arrest warrant was issued earlier this year and that Hill was held in the Franklin County Jail while pretrial detention proceedings were pending.
Local February coverage showed that Hill was placed on paid administrative leave shortly before he was arrested and booked into the Franklin County Jail on an aggravated-battery charge, then extradited to Williamson County, where online court records indicated a preliminary hearing had been scheduled. KFVS detailed that sequence. Local outlets also reported that an order of protection was filed in connection with the case.
In a public statement, Frankfort Community Unit School District No. 168 said it learned of Hill’s arrest from publicly available sources and underscored that "the District has received no information that the allegations involve student safety." The district added that administrative duties at Frankfort Community High School are being handled by district administrative staff and the assistant principal while the matter is reviewed. A full version of the district’s update is posted by Frankfort CUSD 168.
What the Charges Mean
Under state law, aggravated battery is defined in the Illinois Compiled Statutes and is generally treated as a Class 3 felony. The statute lists several different forms of aggravated battery and notes that certain versions, including those involving firearms or great bodily harm, can bring stiffer penalties. The specific charge and any eventual sentence depend on which statutory sections prosecutors use and the evidence they present in court.
Legal Next Steps and Board Action
Hill’s criminal case remains active in Williamson County court, and aside from the initial filings in February, officials have released few public details about its progress. The district has said it is now accepting applications for the principal job, and the school board plans to take up personnel issues at a special meeting set for June 11, according to local reporting from KBSI.
District leaders have asked the community to be patient and said they will share more information "if and when it becomes available" as investigators and prosecutors continue their work. Officials have declined to elaborate on the underlying allegations, pointing residents instead to the district’s statement and ongoing coverage from local news outlets for further updates.
