Naperville N. students return to classes without incident
Naperville North High School students returned to class without incident Tuesday as police patrolled the campus to keep media away.
Tuesday was the first day of class since the death last week of freshman Michelle Fahle, 14.
The teen died Oct. 8 and was later found to have an undiagnosed heart defect as well as the H1N1 flu.
Some students wore special shirts or ribbons in Michelle's honor and counselors were available throughout the day. Teachers read a note to students in their individual classrooms regarding Michelle's death and observed a moment of silence.
Students had been out of school Monday for Columbus Day and the previous Thursday and Friday for parent-teacher conferences.
Outside the school, five police officers were on campus from 6 to 8:15 a.m. to protect North from reporters. Naperville Unit District 203 officials said they felt any media presence would be a disruption for students and threatened to arrest reporters or photographers who set foot on school grounds.
The police presence included two uniformed patrol officers, two school resource officers and a sergeant who oversees the resource officers.
Cmdr. Mike Anders said there were no arrests or citations. He read a statement from Sgt. Kathy Anderson, who was at the scene.
"We appreciate the response by Chicago media to respect the request sent by 203," Anderson said in the statement. "No incident occurred with morning arrival of students and we continue to ask for the cooperation of the media in respecting the Naperville North High School community and educational process."
Anders said the patrol officers who spent their morning at North were available to respond to emergencies elsewhere in the city. District 203 will pay the police department $275 for overtime costs.
District 203 spokeswoman Melea Smith said the patrols helped the school community return to normal. She does not expect the additional police presence to continue.
In the meantime, the district is keeping an eye on illnesses at its schools. North experienced a higher number of absences Tuesday than it averaged last week, Smith said, but is within normal range for a winter day. The number of reported fevers is unchanged from last week.
Funeral services for Michelle are at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 516 S. Washington, Naperville.
Michelle's family asks that donations be made to the choral program at Naperville North. Checks should be made to the Naperville Education Foundation with a notation they are in memory of Michelle. Donations can be sent to 203 W. Hillside Road, Naperville, IL 60540.