The East Aurora School District has issued a second letter to parents providing a further explanation of the incident that occurred at Waldo Middle School last week. (Click here for that story.)
The letter from East Aurora School District Superintendent Jennifer Norrell, produced below, denies that any video or other images of a sexual nature were seen by sixth-graders during the incident.
“Contrary to comments and rumors on social media accounts and an online local outlet, there was [sic] absolutely no inappropriate videos viewed by any student, Elevate staff or district employee,” she stated.
Elevate K-12 is the Chicago-based third-party virtual learning vendor engaged by the district to provide online tutoring to students. An employee of Elevate is the tutor referred to throughout the letter.
The letter does acknowledge that “noises that could be mistaken for sexual activity from what sounded like a TV” were noted by Elevate quality control staff.
Apparently responding to statements from students and their parents on social media – including one recorded on video – Norrell flatly denied their accounts and indicated that “all student written statements, including statements from 2 students now giving different accounts on social media, were signed saying that they heard noises,” she wrote. “Not one student, who was logged onto the platform, reported seeing video or images of any kind.”
According to the district and Elevate, the tutor involved has been fired.
Norrell’s account is at odds with at least two parents of students attending the class.
Cory Reiser, whose son, she says, was greatly disturbed by the incident, responded to the letter from Norrell.
“I’m just upset. I don’t understand if it’s a ‘see something say something’ school, but when our kids report something, this is what happens,” she said in a statement to Fox Valley Magazine. “You’re telling our kids that if you don’t catch it on camera your word isn’t enough.”
“I feel helpless as his mother and definitely have damage control to do here at home in making sure my son knows what he did was right and how the school handled this was wrong. Since the APD lead investigator on the case has still yet to contact me, I will be contacting other agencies to get involved at this point.”
“I’m done with this district,” she added.
Another mother, who declined to be named for this article, simply said “I’m overwhelmed” after reading the letter.
The Aurora Police Department is continuing to investigate the matter and asks that anyone with evidence should contact them at 630-256-5500 or email [email protected].
