ROBINSON SCHOOL DISTRICT TAKES ACTION AFTER ARREST OF JANITOR

CRAWFORD CO.—Outrage was quick to build following the arrest last week of Robinson high School janitor Daniel Bonnell, 27.

Bonnell was arrested after a recording device was located in one of the girls’ locker rooms in the facility. He’s been charged with felony Unauthorized Videotaping.

Scant information has come from the incident; most of what we’re learning is originating from horrified parents, who are all wondering how violated their children have been.

While we’re working on a more detailed article for the print version, we learned this morning that this is what the school district has sent to parents of all students at RHS:

October 14, 2012

Dear RHS Parents,

I wanted to reach out and share as much information with you as I can in light of the ongoing criminal investigation involving one of the custodians employed by Robinson School District #2.

A member of our staff Thursday night discovered a recording device in the custodians’ closet, and the device appeared to have been used in one of the locker rooms at the high school. He reported the discovery to Mr. Hickey, who notified me and we immediately contacted law enforcement authorities. The Robinson Police Department dispatched investigators to the school and began a criminal investigation that resulted in the arrest of the employee who is alleged to have placed the device in the locker room.

In addition to contacting law enforcement authorities when notified of this discovery, I also immediately suspended the employee who is the subject of the investigation. All school district employees must pass a background check before they are hired. Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, I am not at liberty to comment any further at this time. All questions should be referred to the Robinson Police Department.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we address this disturbing situation.  We will share additional information as it is made available by the police.

Sincerely,

Josh Quick

Superintendent

Parents have advised that they intend to go to the next school board meeting to try to address the issue. This, while it’s their right, probably won’t do any good. There are 24 exemptions to the Illinois Open Meeting Act. Most of them have to do with schools. A lot of them have to do with litigation, others have to do with personnel. Unfortunately, all of those exemptions apply in this case. The school board can listen to parents’ concerns, but can’t address anything in an open meeting. If they talk about Bonnell, they can only do so in closed session.

We’ll update the situation when we get an update….and be watching for the next print version, with a projected on-stands date of a week from this Thursday: October 25, 2012!