Authorities Wednesday had not yet charged the substitute teacher they said hit a Waukegan student in the face during a Tuesday science class, while the student’s mother called for stricter hiring procedures.
The teacher, who was working at Jack Benny Middle School, was arrested by Waukegan police after they said he struck Brandon Cole, 14, in the face in a science lab Tuesday morning.
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A spokesperson for the Lake County state’s attorney’s office said Wednesday that the incident remains under review. The teacher’s identity has not been released.
Cole, an eighth grader, and his mother spoke to reporters in the rainy parking lot of the Waukegan District 60 headquarters Tuesday evening before going inside to address the Board of Education.
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The boy, who had a swollen black eye, said the teacher struck him in the face, apparently in response to a verbal argument Cole was having with another student.
“He just hit me,” said Cole, who also suffered a broken finger in the incident.
“He was arguing with another student, and the teacher escalated it instead of breaking it up,” according to attorney Kevin O’Connor, who is representing the family.
“He doesn’t know how to take it — he’s scared,” the boy’s mother, Natasha Cade, said. “We want something done for other kids. We don’t want them to feel scared.”
Cade said the incident points to the need for stricter vetting of substitute teachers.
After meeting with the media, Cade and her son went inside to address school board members.
“My son sits here with a fractured hand, a black eye and a sore hip,” she said. “How do I send my son back to school? How do I send them all back to Waukegan,” she added, referring to her other children, including Brandon’s twin.
Board member Anita Hanna came down from the dais to comfort Cade and Cole while Cade was speaking. Hanna said she was going to do everything she could to make sure this does not happen again.
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Board President Brandon Ewing proposed a policy supported by a majority of the board.
“Either we’re going to have a zero-tolerance policy or we’re not,” Ewing said. “Either it’s OK to put our hands on kids or it’s not. It doesn’t matter the race, gender or ethnicity, either we are going to have zero tolerance or we are not.”
Superintendent Theresa Plascencia, whose son and Cole are Jack Benny classmates, addressed the teen. “Brandon, I’m sorry,” she said. “Whatever happened today, regardless of anything, no one ever has the right to put their hands on you.”
Nick Alatzakis, the District 60 communications director, said the substitute teacher accused of beating Cole was on a long-term assignment at Jack Benny Middle School and has been a sub with the district since summer.
Plascencia said he will no longer be affiliated with the district.
