District 128 places associate superintendent on leave

A veteran administrator in Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 has been placed on leave amid continuing criticism of how school officials have handled allegations of sexual grooming and other complaints brought by students.

Associate Superintendent Briant Kelly, who has worked in various capacities in the district for nearly 26 years, was placed on leave effective Tuesday, according to the district.

The rationale, duration and other details of the leave were not provided and District 128 officials declined further comment. The action followed Monday night's school board meeting at which several members of the public skewered the board for its alleged inaction.

A lawsuit alleging a former special education teacher at Libertyville High School engaged in sexual grooming, assault and abuse of a 15-year-old junior with Down syndrome in the fall semester of 2024 has been at the center of criticism.

The teacher, who was allowed to keep his job and retire with a pension, Libertyville High School and District 128 are named as defendants.

As at previous meetings, several speakers blistered district officials, saying the case was not isolated and that requirements to report suspected child abuse to authorities had been ignored.

“For years, students and parents' reports to staff have gone nowhere,” said Marnie Navarro, an attorney, school board candidate in 2025 and frequent district critic.

The failure to follow the law has led to “more children being victimized, parents ignored and the system protecting itself,” she added.

Don Vosnos, a former school administrator, said he has a 7-year-old son with Down syndrome. He described the situation with the 15-year-old Libertyville High School student as “a documented failure to follow the law.”

He said his son can’t advocate for himself the way other children can and neither could the 15-year-old at the center of the lawsuit.

“That is exactly why the law exists,” he said.

Amy Frantz, a special educator and parent of three Libertyville High School graduates, said the district has a legal obligation to report.

“How many more children need to be victimized before we take this more seriously?” she asked. “And we’re going to keep coming up here until we see some consequences.”

School board members did not respond to the public comments, as is their policy.