A video that surfaced out of York Community High School in Elmhurst School District 205 on Thursday showed “an aggressive physical altercation by a student toward another student with a disability,” school officials said Monday.
Superintendent Keisha Campbell said in an email to parents on Sunday that a group of bystanders watched and laughed while the altercation took place.
Advertisement
“We are deeply disappointed and saddened by the actions of this small group of students. Bullying, intimidation and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate,” Campbell said. “Such behaviors are not tolerated, and any student who chooses to engage in these behaviors will face the appropriate consequences.”
The video circulating on social media shows a student pushing another student in the boys bathroom, school officials confirmed Monday. The altercation took place during a passing period, they said.
Advertisement
“Immediately upon receiving this report, our school team began investigating,” said York High School Principal Shahe Bagdasarian. “Parents were contacted and students were interviewed. Upon completion of the investigation by the school, appropriate consequences will be issued to those involved.”
York High School parent Cris O’Connell learned about the incident Monday while scrolling through Facebook. Her son attends the York High School Transition Center, which serves students ages 18-21 with intellectual disabilities.
O’Connell said she didn’t receive communication from the district regarding the events of Thursday.
“I have a lot of questions,” O’Connell said. “Why didn’t I get the email? Why isn’t this being explained further to people, what the consequences are?”
The video sparked outrage among parents who have their own stories to share about bullying at York Community High School, O’Connell said.
“People are coming out left and right saying, I’ve tried to report this, my child has been bullied, my special needs child has gone through this, and nothing gets done about it,” O’Connell said. “As bad as the situation is, and you wish it didn’t happen or someone stepped in and stopped it for the poor kid, there’s proof of it.”
O’Connell said her own child has always been assigned a one-to-one aid at the Transition Center, but children who don’t have that resource may be more vulnerable to bullying.
“It’s extremely serious,” she said. “So what do we need here at York? Do we need more people, more hall monitors? I’m not sure what the answer is, but I know that consequences to these actions are going to set the stage moving forward because this is going to get a lot of attention.”
Advertisement
Another parent, Robin Petchul, said her two daughters attend York and came home from school on Friday “upset and disappointed.”
“But not very surprised,” Petchul said. “They just knew a child with special needs had been assaulted in a bathroom at York and that they knew the kids involved but weren’t friends with them.”
One of her daughters shares a class with a student seen in the video.
“She’s like, ‘I don’t want to be near him. I don’t want to have to see him after what he did,’ ” Petchul said. “The students themselves want to know what the consequences are.”
School officials said since sending out emails to parents and students, they have received several reports regarding the situation and will continue to uncover more information.
“The investigation has continued throughout the weekend and interviews and tips will continue to be fully examined to ensure a full understanding of all details pertaining to this incident, including the moments before and after what are shown on the video,” Campbell said.
Advertisement
Campbell said Elmhurst Police Department school resource officers have been in contact with the parents of the student who was pushed. And the high school’s administrative team will be working with the families involved to ensure emotional and physical safety while also determining potential next steps.
“As we continue to work together to support our students, we are thankful for the people who have already reached out through our quick tip line to provide the district with additional information,” Campbell said. “The immediate and overwhelming response from the York community is a testament to the fact that the actions of a few do not represent the entire school.”
A Change.org petition calling for reform and better education on empathy, bullying and harassment garnered nearly 5,000 signatures in three days, and there has been word about a possible student-organized walkout Friday.
Petchul will support her children attending the walkout, she said, adding that she is happy to see a number of students wanting to be vocal.
“I’m very proud of our York students right now because they’re angry,” Petchul said. “And I think that’s a great thing because parents get angry pretty easily. I think it takes a lot for the student body to say, ‘This is unacceptable, and we don’t want it happening.’ ”
O’Connell also plans to attend the walkout to show up for something that feels “especially personal.”
Advertisement
“It is a vulnerable population and these students deserve to be treated with respect and dignity,” O’Connell said. “If they’re not being treated as such, then the people who are the offenders need to be punished accordingly.”
A spokesperson for the district said that although they could not speak to any plans, they respect the students’ right to assemble peacefully.
