The Peotone School Board faced a series of sharp criticisms Monday night from parents and community members who described a culture where bullying persists, communication is lacking, and a significant student data breach was allegedly mishandled.

During the public comment session, several speakers detailed a string of unresolved issues. A family outlined allegations that a student used an administrator’s credentials to repeatedly alter other students’ schedules over a three-year period, an act they connected to ongoing bullying.

Karen Cantone, speaking on behalf of her daughter, Rachel Egler, claimed her granddaughter’s schedule was changed without authorization on the first day of school. The family alleged the district administration quickly identified the student responsible, who they said had been “bragging through a private social media chat that due to her mother being a principal she had access to do this.”

The family stated that the issue was not taken seriously when raised with a previous principal. They described frustrating interactions with the current administration, claiming that despite identifying the user, the district questioned other students, which they felt turned peers against the victim.

“This student not only broke the law but has been bullying not only my granddaughter but other students,” Cantone read from the family’s statement. “Unauthorized access to PowerSchool is a huge violation of one’s privacy and illegal. The situation should never have been taken lightly.”

The family also stated the junior high principal, who was the mother of the student alleged to have made the changes, resigned two days after the family met with the board in executive session.

“What did this student learn from the situation with no repercussions?” Egler’s statement concluded. “I am incredibly disappointed in the board and our administration for looking past such a severe situation… As a board in our district, we need to do better.”

The family’s concerns were echoed by other speakers. Parent Jamie Bennett, who stated she was “shaking” as she spoke, described the impact of bullying on her child and her frustration with the district’s response.

“We are not heard. Nobody feels heard. Nobody ever feels like anything is ever followed up on,” Bennett said. “I have cried in this room I have poured my heart out to you telling you what bullying has done to my child.”

Bennett said she was told she could not have a meeting with the parent of another student due to privacy issues. After she contacted the other student’s grandmother herself, she said the woman was “shocked” and claimed to have never been contacted by the school about the issue.

“That’s outrageous,” Bennett said. “Communication, that’s all it takes.”

Board President Tara Robinson and other members did not respond directly to the allegations, which is standard for public comments involving student discipline and personnel. However, the themes of communication and bullying were central to the public forum.

“My overarching topic is communication, and it seems that that is echoing nearly every person who has stood up here tonight,” said parent Victoria Theodosopoulos.