District 211 board censures member for sharing closed-session discussion of fired teachers
Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board of education members censured their colleague Pete Dombrowski Thursday for sharing information about closed-session discussion that led to the firings of two Hoffman Estates High School teachers last month.
The two tenured male teachers were unanimously fired by the board over separate allegations of inappropriate contact with female students over a number of years.
Hoffman Estates police are currently engaged in a criminal investigation of those same allegations.
The Daily Herald reported on the reason for the firings after obtaining documents through a public records request to the district.
But Board President Steven Rosenblum said Dombrowski’s sharing details of the closed-session discussion on social media was a breach of confidentiality that undermined the integrity of the board.
“Regardless of the context associated with his actions, the fact is that he violated his fiduciary duties and breached these very important aspects of his elected position,” Rosenblum said.
Dombrowski cast the sole dissenting vote against his censure and was the first to speak on the matter. He not only defended his actions, but questioned whether his colleagues violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act by discussing his potential censure outside of a public meeting.
“The events that have led to the censure are both sad and convoluted,” Dombrowski said. “I am saddened that while answering questions to a group of community members via private message my trust was betrayed and screenshots without context were delivered to the board president.”
He added that the discussions in question occurred after the vote and said the information he shared was within what would be available through a public records request.
“I will continue to provide answers to the community when I’m asked about my actions taken in public,” Dombrowski said. “Please vote as you see fit, but taking this action to silence me with the intention of protecting staff that violated our policies does not align with the values of our community.”
Board Member Kimberly Cavill said Dombrowski hurt the board’s ability to be trusted with the confidential information of students, staff or community members. She also complained he created a disparity by sharing information with a select group of people.
“Anyone who must share sensitive information with this board will rightfully question whether that information will remain secure,” Cavill said. “Why is this so serious? Because in closed session we regularly discuss matters of great sensitivity, individual student discipline, staff disciplinary cases, active litigation and detailed school safety measures.”
Rosenblum emphasized Dombrowski’s disclosures had specifically violated his duties as a board member and the intent of the censure was to prevent a recurrence.