Some parents in Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113 have said they were willing to wait and see whether a formal reprimand of their superintendent will prevent further incidents such as the off-color attempt at humor that landed him in hot water several weeks ago.
In a decision reached late Monday, the school board will issue a formal letter of reprimand to Thomas Reiter and will require him to pay a fine, the amount of which was not disclosed. Additionally, the board ordered Reiter to attend a training session on sensitivity and sexual harassment.
Reiter acknowledged he held up a box of penis-shaped pasta during a staff meeting that about 120 people attended.
Laura Solarski, a parent, said she had hoped Reiter would apologize to parents and children in the district.
Although parents did not get an apology, Solarski said she believes parents have done their best to convey their anger to the board.
“Life goes on. People are going to watch every move he (Reiter) makes,” she said.
Another parent, Ray Klich, said, “I’m not outraged, but I’m not 100 percent satisfied.
“At least if something like this happens again, there is something on his record.”
Reiter and school board members declined to comment on Monday’s decision.
James Bartley, an attorney for the board, said afterward, “The comments (by Reiter) are deemed inappropriate and unacceptable, and no such comments should be made again.”
Monday’s meeting was a continuation of a meeting a week ago at which the board suspended Reiter with pay for the week ending Monday.
Reiter, a 16-year veteran of the district who receives $96,000 a year, had written a letter to the staff apologizing.
He said he had showed the pasta as a way to lighten the start of a difficult school year.
