A private school in Kildeer has been permanently closed after multiple allegations of child abuse at the school prompted police and DCFS investigations.
The Kildeer Police Department said they received a report of an incident involving physical contact with a child on October 17.
The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) had become aware the prior day of the incident, which occurred at Guidepost Montessori at Deer Park, 20786 North Quentin Road in Kildeer.
Kildeer Police Chief Steve Balinski said it involved a staff member and a child at the school.
A message sent to families of the school said one of the Children’s House Guides hit a child in the face.
Guidepost Montessori said they reported the incident to DCFS and terminated the worker immediately.
“I am deeply shocked by this behavior and am saddened to be writing this message and making such calls to the parents from the classroom,” the message said.
“I take this personally and do not want this to be representative of our school; this isn’t who we are nor who we will be,” the message added.
The police chief said the incident was separate from another child abuse report at Guidepost Montessori that the police department investigated and occurred on September 17.
Balinski said the first report involved a young child who was enrolled at the school.
The child was examined at a nearby hospital on September 18 and DCFS was notified.
“The Kildeer Police Department treats any report of child abuse very seriously and we will utilize every resource available to our Village in determining the factors related to this investigation,” the police chief said at the time.
The victim’s mother in the first incident told NBC Chicago that her 3-year-old had bruising to his ear and arms after being at the school.
Staff at the hospital said they believed an adult had caused the injuries.
Illinois DCFS Associate Deputy Director for the Office of Communications Deborah Lopez told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the September investigation was closed with a finding of “indicated,” meaning that the agency believes the abuse or neglect occurred.
Another investigation, which DCFS opened last month on January 13, remains ongoing involving exploitation, neglect or abuse.
Lopez said the school’s director reported that Guidepost Montessori at Deer Park had permanently closed as of January 31.
Balinski said the police department closed the case into the October incident after working with DCFS and the state’s attorney’s office and no charges were filed.