Normal denies it misled district about teacher

URBANA -- A Normal-based school district denies it intentionally provided incorrect employment information to Urbana's district about a teacher convicted of molesting students in both places.

A federal complaint filed on behalf of an Urbana girl molested by Jon White claims a Unit 5 official signed a form that incorrectly states the dates White was employed. It also claims Unit 5 failed to investigate parental complaints and didn't report suspected abuse.

But Normal attorney James Kearns said Tuesday that's not true and Urbana's request to verify White's record came two weeks after it hired him.

White pleaded guilty last year to abusing eight students at Urbana's Thomas Paine Elementary School and two students at Colene Hoose Elementary School in Normal. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison.