Grayslake High says cryptic votes were for wrestling coaches resignations

Grayslake High School District 127 officials have released the names of three teachers who serve as wrestling coaches and resigned at an open meeting March 10 without the public knowing what had transpired.

No details on why the three men submitted their resignations were provided as part of an announcement Thursday.

“Please know that district policy prohibits comment on confidential personnel matters and no further comment will be made on this issue,” District 127 said in a statement.

Officials said the school board members in open session accepted the resignation of Grayslake North High School life-fitness instructor and head boys varsity wrestling coach Tom Frye, effective immediately.

Two other Grayslake North wrestling coaches, John Glorioso and Erik Jensen, are resigning effective at the end of the academic year.

Glorioso and Jensen work at Grayslake North as a life-fitness teacher and special education instructor, respectively. None of the coaches could be reached for comment.

Many visitors at the March 10 meeting spoke during public comment time and said they were concerned some wrestling coaches were part of board actions that night for an unspecified number of employee resignations and disciplinary measures.

Board members at the meeting first voted 7-0 to “approve personnel items as presented.” They later voted 5-2 on another personnel action with similar wording.

Following the first vague personnel vote, Superintendent Catherine Finger thanked parents and a student for speaking on behalf of the wrestling coaches. In addition to saying she couldn’t shed light on rumors surrounding the men, Finger told the roughly 25 spectators no information would be immediately provided about personnel action they witnessed.

How District 127’s board handled the personnel issues at that meeting was brought to the attorney general March 11 in an Open Meetings Act request for review submitted by the Daily Herald.

In a letter sent Monday to District 127, Assistant Attorney General Amanda Lundeen wrote that further inquiry is warranted to determine if the cryptic personnel votes complied with the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

District 127 officials said Thursday’s announcement on the names of the employees whose resignations were accepted at the March 10 open meeting was in response to Freedom of Information Act requests over the issue.

Officials said the resignations were to be released early next month in minutes approved by the school board.