Lake County Gazette

The Waukegan Public Schools Board of Education heard complaints about student safety following an alleged assault, prompting board member Theresa Plascenia to remind students of their rights.

During a recent meeting, which was live-streamedstreamed on YouTube, Plascenia told the student that officials offer their support and will be there for them.

“Whatever happened today, regardless of anything, no one ever has the right to put their hands on you,” she said during the session. “And what I can promise you and your family is that substitute will not be back. And we will work on the issue and we will address the issue.”

According to ABC 7 Chicago, Brandon Cole, 14, a student at Jack Benny Middle School, was allegedly assaulted by a substitute teacher following an altercation with another student in which the substitute allegedly stepped in and rather than breaking up the fight ended up getting into a struggle with Cole. The report noted that another teacher stepped in to pull the substitute off of the boy.

Several members of the community stepped up during the streamed meeting to complain about hiring processes and security during the meeting stream on YouTube, and Cole’s mother spoke, showing her son’s black eye and fractured hand. The board told those in attendance that the employee involved in the incident has been fired and won’t work in the district again. According to the board, the man has been arrested and an investigation is underway.

Several board members, including Plascenia, directed comments at Cole during the session streamed on YouTube, breaking meeting procedures to demonstrate their support for the young man and ensuring that they will enforce a zero-tolerance policy for any violence against students.