About 200 people — many of them at times in tears — showed up at a school board committee meeting Thursday night to urge that the district rehire a former employee who said he resigned rather than face termination after an incident in the Huntley High School cafeteria.
Chong “John” Woo, who worked as a security aide and athletic coach, was described as a mentor, trusted friend and second father by those in the crowd.
Students told Huntley Community School District 158 board members that Woo always smiled, checked how they were doing, was encouraging and gave out candy.
One student said the school feels empty since Woo resigned.
Parents said they trusted Woo with their children.
Woo, who was not at the meeting, said earlier he resigned when he faced being terminated after a male student accused him of grabbing him by the hood of his sweatshirt and choking him as he dragged him out of the cafeteria.
Woo said he was trying to defuse a volatile situation during the Feb. 21 incident. He said two boys were encouraging a fight between a group of students by standing on chairs, pumping their fists and yelling “fight, fight.”
Woo has denied being excessive with the boys, and said he only touched them on the shoulders and escorted them out of the cafeteria in an effort to prevent a melee as hundreds of students began to gather.
District 158 said earlier this week that it cannot release details of the incident or of Woo’s departure.
School board President Michael Fleck said the board does not handle staff hiring and firing except for the job of superintendent.
Hiring and firing of certified and noncertified staff is handled by administrators, and the board gives its approval. In Woo’s matter, there still is an open investigation, he said.
“When controversial issues come before us, we can and will take more information before an employment decision is made,” Fleck said. “But if somebody voluntarily resigns, we won’t stand in the way of that decision.”
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However, he said the comments from the public do not “fall on deaf ears” and that the board would take them into consideration “as we move forward.”
Tammy Fabis, president of the Huntley Education Support Professionals Association, which is representing Woo, said Friday the board has been asked to rescind Woo’s resignation. She said the association hopes to clarify policies with the board.
“He absolutely would love his job back,” Fabis said.
Mike Doty, a parent and assistant football coach, said Woo has always been “for the students.”
“(Woo’s) goal is to coach (and) help students,” he said. “I am not here to pick on the students (involved in the incident), but to say I’m disappointed in them is an understatement.”
Doty, who said he works in law enforcement, said the boys incited a fight and that Woo “had to take action.”
He said the situation was “fluid and fast, and (Woo) had to protect the students. He had to act … in order to protect students from a fight.”
Doty said it was loud, and Woo did not hear when an administrator told him to let go of the students.
“(Woo) has never lied in his life. (He) used reasonable force,” Doty said.
Doty said that in forcing Woo out of his job, the district has “empowered” students to think they can do “whatever they want,” a statement that drew a roaring round of applause.
Dana Wiley, parent of three students in the district, echoed Doty’s sentiments.
“We are enabling students to make poor choices,” Wiley said, adding that the district, by not standing behind Woo, is empowering students to “know there is no accountability.”
“This case has cost the livelihood of a respected adult,” she said.
On Friday, about a dozen students held a peaceful protest at the school in support of Woo, officials said.
Woo was cited by Huntley police with an ordinance violation and has a court date set for March 23. Though he said he was told the charge, a petty offense, would be dropped, as of Friday morning the case remained open in the McHenry County court records.
Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.