A suburban school board voted Friday to place its superintendent on administrative leave amid an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against a former staff member.
The Fenton School District 100 board of trustees held an emergency meeting, during which members voted to place Superintendent James Ongtengco on administrative leave and named Fenton High School’s principal as interim superintendent.
At the meeting, the board spoke openly for the first time about the former staff member accused of inappropriate criminal conduct and how the claims were handled.
“If we have done something wrong, we need to be corrected and we need to resign,” said board member Sylvia Hade.
Hade became emotional while discussing the toll the situation took on her and her peers.
“I came here to be a fair voice for our students,” she said.
Although the board’s investigation is not complete, some parents and students said they were unhappy with Friday night’s developments.
“What I hoped for didn’t happen,” said one community member.
The school board insisted it fully understood how parents and students felt about the former staff member’s allegations of inappropriate conduct. Some even apologized and explained that they were working to make things right.
Fenton’s principal will continue his administrative duties while also serving as interim superintendent, according to the board.
NBC Chicago
