Arrested teacher resigns from Lake Zurich Dist. 95

Lake Zurich Unit District 95 board members Thursday night formally accepted the resignation of a high school teacher charged with sexually abusing a student.

Drama teacher Ronald D. Culver submitted his resignation Oct. 29. Culver, 51, of the 900 block of Blackburn Drive in Inverness, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse Monday night.

Board members voted 4-0 in favor of accepting the resignation of Culver, who is accused of sexually abusing the student in the school. They did not comment before or after the vote in a public session.

Culver's arrest and other factors led District 95 Superintendent Michael Egan to cancel a play the former teacher was supposed to lead, “The Sparrow.” The play had been slated to open Thursday and run through Sunday.

But the Lake Zurich High student performers who were affected by the cancellation are now preparing a special variety show in the hope the community rallies behind them.

Janet Barron, a high school theater department producer, announced at Thursday's board meeting that “The Phoenix Variety Show” will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the performing arts center at 300 Church St. She said the show will be free.

Barron said cast and crew members who would have been in “The Sparrow” pushed for the show.

Marcel Graham, coordinator of the district's performing arts center, credited Egan for gathering all possible information before making Tuesday's decision to cancel “The Sparrow.” He said the students will showcase their talent in a variety of ways Sunday.

“I also do need to make a very special thank-you to the high school guidance and counseling staff. Through this difficult time, they have been absolutely amazing,” Graham said.

Lake Zurich police said they were summoned to the high school Oct. 28 after District 95 officials were informed about the incident. That disclosure led to Culver's immediate removal from the school, igniting the criminal probe and his eventual arrest.

Authorities declined to say who told the district about what purportedly happened between Culver and the pupil. They aren't releasing the victim's gender or age.

Culver, who also was a full-time English instructor, was popular among students. He had been involved with the high school drama club since coming over from another District 95 building in 2002.