Schools
Sonntag's Lawyer: Board Came to 'Fair Conclusion'
Brian Schwartz said his client has no plans to appeal and is looking forward to the start of next school year.
According to the lawyer of (CHMS) Principal Griffin Sonntag, there is no plan to appeal the suspension handed down Thursday night by the Community Consolidated School District 181 Board of Education.
Brian Schwartz, who is a lawyer for the Illinois Principals Association but represented Sonntag independently, said Sonntag “absolutely respects” the board’s resolution to suspend the principal without pay through July 31 for “unprofessional and inappropriate conduct.”
“The board certainly did their due diligence,” Schwartz said Thursday night over the phone. “It came to what we believe is a fair conclusion.”
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(For more on Thursday's meeting, click here.)
The resolution passed Thursday does not specify Sonntag’s offenses, but stated the principal’s conduct violated board policies that pertain to “Ethics,” “Responsibilities Concerning Internal Communications,” and “Access to Electronic Networks and Acceptable Use of Electronic Networks.”
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Schwartz, speaking on behalf of his client, would not go into details of the misconduct.
Sonntag had been on administrative leave since April 27, according to District 181 Director of Communications Rita DuChateau.
The principal was “apprehensive” about the board’s decision, Schwartz said, which came after more than 10 hours of closed-session discussion by the board.
“Obviously Mr. Sonntag is very glad that he will still be serving, after the suspension, as a principal in the district,” Schwartz said. “He’s really looking forward to starting up the next school year.”
During the two meetings when the executive sessions were held, 12 community members made public comments—11 of those comments expressed support for Sonntag.
“It’s safe to say he’s very humbled by the support of the community,” Schwartz said of his client.
Former CHMS student Ellie Cleber attended Thursday with her mom, Margie. The 18-year-old College of Wooster (Ohio) student spoke highly of Sonntag.
“In the past everything’s been great. He was always willing to help with any issue, social or academic, that I had,” said Cleber, who is studying to become a teacher. “I think our district is incredibly lucky to have such an amazing administrator.”
Schwartz said it was best that Sonntag not speak to press Thursday.
“There’ll be a time, certainly, when he’ll talk to you guys,” Schwartz said. “It’s not that there’s anything to hide, it’s just that we want to respect the board.”
Schwartz said he and Sonntag attended an evidentiary hearing during the closed sessions, where Superintendant Dr. Renee Schuster presented her recommendation based on her investigation and Sonntag was given the opportunity to address the board.
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