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  Boy Allegedly Molested, Then Forced out of School

Chicago Sun-Times
January 15, 2009

http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1379416,CST-NWS-teach15.article

A victims' rights group is urging officials at a private Christian high school on the West Side to explain why they forced out a star football player after a female teacher allegedly molested him on campus late last year.

"The child shouldn't have been forced to leave the school," said Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "The child should have been embraced by the school."

Kathryn Vail-Wesley, 22, is accused of sexually assaulting the 17-year-old student last year, both at her home and in her classroom at Chicago Hope Academy, according to a Chicago Police report. Vail-Wesley was arrested last October and is awaiting trial.

School officials refused to discuss specifics of the case Wednesday.

"Chicago Hope Academy doesn't discuss school affairs in public," said principal Mike Laneve. "We do that for the protection of the children and the families."

The student's mother said she was given an ultimatum a few days after the sexual assault allegations came to light.

School officials told her, "That this was the last straw. He wasn't welcome back, that I could either take him out in good standing or they would expel him," the mother said Wednesday. She asked not to have her name used.

The mother said her son can be "mouthy," but she didn't know of any serious discipline problems at school. She said he now attends a public school in the western suburbs.

Laneve would not say whether Vail-Wesley still works at the school. A member of Hope's Parent Support Group said Vail-Wesley is no longer a teacher there.

 
 

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