An incident a week ago in Elmhurst’s York High School in which a student with a disability was shown being pushed to the floor by another student on what school officials called “a deeply disturbing video” is being resolved internally for the students involved.
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That is according to Elmhurst Community Unit School District officials and Elmhurst police, who sent a news release on the incident Tuesday (Dec. 13). The incident was reported in the Tribune on Monday. Video shows York High School student with disability was pushed
“Elmhurst Police Detectives have contacted the parents of the student that was pushed and the parents have declined a formal police investigation,” according to the release, sent over the authority of Police Chief Michael McLean. “Both the parents of the student and school administration have decided that this matter would be handled through the school disciplinary process.”
In remarks at the beginning of the public portion of the board’s regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, school board President Kara Caforio addressed what she called the heartbreaking incident.
“Bullying or violence of any kind will not be tolerated in Elmhurst District 205,” Caforio said. “Any student who chooses to engage in this behavior will face consequences for their actions.”
Caforio said that this week, after administration officials had a full understanding of the incident, “significant consequences were issued to the students involved.”
In their release, police said the investigation revealed that the student with special needs, who is a member of the wrestling team, engaged in wrestling behavior with four other students, two of whom are his teammates on the wrestling team. In the video recording, a student who is not on the wrestling team appears to have pushed the student with special needs after physical contact was made.
No students were physically injured during the incident, release said. A female student aide faculty member had escorted the student with special needs to the restroom, and was outside the restroom during the incident. The aide summoned school administrators when she heard unusual activity inside the restroom.
Elmhurst police have offered counseling services to the juveniles involved. Police also noted that since the incident involved juveniles, confidentiality rules prohibit identifying individual students or detailing disciplinary actions.
An emotional Caforio, her voice breaking, concluded her remarks by acknowledging “the outpouring of compassion and action” by many York students.
“We are so proud of our students for their outrage over this situation and their adamant and immediate response,” she said.
A link to a video of Tuesday’s school board meeting can be found on the district website, Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205: (elmhurst205.org)
Caforio’s remarks on the incident begin at about 1 hour 42 minutes into the meeting, which began with a closed session.
Graydon Megan is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.