An Antioch family has filed a complaint with a state agency, alleging that their children were subjected to racial harassment in the local school system while education officials failed to take action.
Tiffany and Brian Durlak filed their complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights against Antioch Community Consolidated School District 34. The family is being represented by the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, which announced the complaint this week.
The action alleges that the Durlaks’ three children faced racial discrimination and harassment over seven years while attending district schools.
“Despite repeated efforts from the Durlak family to seek accountability for the treatment their Black children were experiencing in a predominantly white school, District 34 has failed to appropriately respond to or address the ongoing harassment and create a safe and welcoming environment for Black students and their families within District 34,” the lawyers group said in a news release.
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The Durlak children faced verbal and physical assaults from white students and discriminatory treatment from school staff, the complaint alleges.
“This complaint is bigger than our three children. It raises what we believe are systemic issues in how minority children and families are treated within District 34,” Tiffany Durlak said. “It’s about making sure the next minority child who speaks up is heard, the next parent who raises concerns isn’t made to feel like they’re the problem, and another family doesn’t have to fight this hard just to get what every child should already have, a safe school experience where they are treated with dignity and respect.”
District Superintendent Aron Borowiak said the district was aware of the complaint and would cooperate with the process.
“District 34 is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive teaching and learning environment for all students, staff, families, and community members,” he said. “We make it a priority to ensure that students and families are supported and that there is always someone available to speak with if they have concerns.”
“We take all reports of discrimination and harassment in any form seriously, and any reports of such conduct are fully investigated and addressed in accordance with Board of Education Policy and the law,” Borowiak said.