3 Gavin teachers to be fired over molestation charges
The Gavin School District 37 board Tuesday moved to fire a Gavin Middle School South teacher who has been charged with molesting a student.
Michael Vucic will be suspended without pay until a formal dismissal hearing is held, officials said.
The board also moved to fire two other teachers who authorities have said did not report suspicions of the abuse.
John Keehan and April Courtney also will be suspended without pay, pending dismissal hearings.
Vucic and Keehan were social studies teachers. Courtney taught math.
The unanimous votes to fire the three teachers followed a two-hour, closed-door discussion about the teachers' fates.
Vucic, 41, of Lake Forest, is charged with five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and five counts of criminal sexual assault.
Vucic fled to Europe three days before charges were filed in August, police said. He was arrested Sept. 15 in Bosnia-Herzegovina and remains in custody pending extradition to the U.S.
Two additional teachers were placed on administrative leave and a third resigned after the criminal investigation. School officials said those three teachers failed to report accusations of inappropriate conduct involving Vucic and a child.
A crowd of 10 community members waited in the school library for the board members to return and vote on the disciplinary action.