D113A Still Weighing Disciplinary Action for Student in False Bomb Threat

District 113A board members are still in talks about punishment for a student who confessed to a false bomb threat earlier this month.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Pamela Hollich said the board is discussing options for disciplinary action. She noted that confidentiality standards will prevent her or the board from disclosing the chosen action.

Classroom sign-out procedures and staff bathroom checks helped Old Quarry staff identify the student responsible for the fake bomb threat written on a bathroom wall.

Staff were able to pinpoint the threat's time of origin, and focused on students out of the classrooms during that span. Staff, police and Principal Caron then interviewed the students—and one ultimately took responsibility for the unsubstantiated threat, according to a notice from Principal William Caron sent to parents at the time.  

"Appropriate disciplinary actions will be administered for those involved," Caron wrote. "We will continue to use the bathroom procedures put in place after other incidents, as they were our primary way of resolving this most recent threat."

The threat was the fourth since the beginning of the school year, each of which led to a soft lockdown while staff and police investigated. 

In Other News:

At a special meeting Dec. 11, the board selected a firm to assist with the search for a new superintendent. 

Board members chose to work with Lemont High School District 210 former superintendent Thomas Madden, and his firm School Exec Connect, at a cost not to exceed $20,000. Madden and company partner Kathy Robbins will help with each step of the search, from start to contract, including: the planning process and guidelines, focus groups with the board, staff and community members, and a community online survey. 

Madden and Robbins will then analyze focus group input and draft a superintendent profile. From there, the company will present a slate of candidates and help the board prepare for interviews. Exec Connect will conduct comprehensive background checks, prepare any committees for interviews, and arrange for any site visits. 

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