District 204 board will meet with two families

In an effort to gain "perspective," several Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school board members have agreed to meet with the parents of two students involved in the alleged sexual assault case that has rocked the district in recent weeks.

Board President John Stephens said all board members except former president Mark Metzger, who has recused himself, will meet separately with both sets of parents Friday afternoon.

Two boys - a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old, both from Naperville - have been charged with felony counts of criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault against another boy stemming from a November incident at a home on the city's south side. The 11-year-old also faces a misdemeanor count of battery in a separate incident involving the same alleged victim - this time in the halls of Gregory.

The 12-year-old transferred out of District 204 last week to Lincoln Junior High School in neighboring Naperville Unit District 203.

The parents of the alleged victim and the other alleged attacker will meet with board members.

According to Will County civil court records, two boys are accused of tying up their 11-year-old classmate and sexually assaulting him in the unsupervised home of one of the students.

The father of the alleged victim and some other district parents have criticized the district for not removing the two other boys from Gregory. But district leaders say their options were limited because the alleged incident took place off school grounds.

"We've obviously been requested by several community members to get more involved," Stephens said Wednesday afternoon. "So we put the offer out there and both sets of parents (of students remaining at Gregory) agreed to come in and speak to us."

Stephens said there is no agenda for the meeting and he doesn't expect attorneys to be present.

"I'm just hoping they talk to us about what has happened during the past few months and how things are working out for both parties," Stephens said. "And we can listen to their thoughts and suggestions and see where that takes things."

An e-mail sent to parents Wednesday afternoon and signed by all members, except Metzger, stated the board "has an ethical obligation to continue to conduct due diligence and ensure fairness to all parties involved. Meeting with the families will enable us to better understand the situation."