Legislation could give schools options for off-campus incidents
State Rep. Darlene Senger says she realized Indian Prairie school officials' "hands were tied by law" in their recent handling of an alleged sexual assault involving three middle school students who were off campus at the time.
She's hoping to help Unit District 204 leaders with this and future cases with legislation she proposed Thursday.
Senger, a Naperville Republican, wants to amend the state's Safe Schools Law to allow districts to immediately transfer students charged with juvenile or felony crimes to an alternative educational program.
"This absolutely is in response to the Gregory (Middle School) incident we've all been reading about in the last few days," Senger said Thursday. "That piece is currently missing from the code. This would make it easier for them to proceed."
Two boys from Naperville, a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old, are charged with felony counts of criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault as well as a misdemeanor count of battery against their 11-year-old schoolmate. According to police, the incident occurred Nov. 11, 2008, in an unsupervised home.
In recent days, school board members have heard from the victim's family and other parents urging them to remove the accused attackers from Gregory, where all three boys are classmates. But district officials and lawyers maintain there is nothing the district can do because the alleged offenses took place off school property.
School board President Mark Metzger said any help the district can get in this case would be welcome.
"It's a potentially welcome additional tool for us to work with in this difficult situation," Metzger said Thursday. "I also appreciate (Senger) realizing we lack the authority to address the issue. Otherwise she would not be attempting to change the law."
The victim's father called Senger a model for all elected officials and applauded how quickly she acted to propose the bill. He said he remains optimistic the legislation will be approved in time to apply to his son's situation.
"We're expecting this to get overwhelming support because I can't imagine anyone being against this," he said. "It also sends a pretty clear message to those who attack their classmates: 'You better make other plans because there will be a place for you but it won't be with your classmates.'"
Senger also is optimistic the bill will give the district "some flexibility" in the current case. It's her first legislative proposal since being sworn into office last month.
"I know I can expect some hazing for my first bill but I'm pretty sure my colleagues know the seriousness of this case," Senger said, "They know this is my priority and I believe it will be the General Assembly's intent to move this forward."