Two staff members will no longer be working at Waukegan High School’s Brookside Campus after they were involved in a physical fight at the school on Tuesday.
Waukegan High School Brookside Campus Co-Principal Avelira Rodriguez Gonzalez sent a message to parents about the incident.
Two agency staff members were involved in a physical altercation during a passing period, Rodriguez Gonzalez said.
No students were involved or injured during the fight but several students witnessed it.
The two female staff members were separated by security staff. “We are deeply disappointed with this incident,” Rodriguez Gonzalez said.
Director of Communications and Chief of Staff Nicholas Alatzakis said the two staff members were employed by a third-party agency and served as classroom paraprofessionals.
“We expect much more from adults entrusted to care for our students, whether they are our employees, or employed by a third-party agency,” Rodriguez Gonzalez added.
The two staff members will no longer be working at any Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 school.
“It is our job to model appropriate behavior for our children, and incidents like this are completely unacceptable,” Rodriguez Gonzalez said.
The school is investigating the incident and will also be having “an important dialogue” with third-party staffing agencies that the district works with.
Rodriguez Gonzalez said that students who witnessed the event and need support can talk with mental health support staff at the school.