Parents, students, and community members gathered at West Chicago City Hall on Monday to voice concerns over a local elementary school teacher’s social media post that allegedly expressed support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, prompting an ongoing investigation by the school district.
The meeting followed reports that an employee of West Chicago Elementary District 33 commented, “Go ICE!” on a community social media post. District officials confirmed they became aware of the issue on Jan. 22 and are reviewing the matter.
Superintendent Kristina Davis said in a written statement that the employee initially submitted a resignation but later withdrew it before the school board could act. The district did not identify the teacher or the school involved, citing personnel rules. Davis said the district recognizes the disruption the situation has caused and emphasized that schools are intended to be safe environments for students.
Monday’s gathering was described by city officials as a “community listening session,” intended to allow residents to express concerns without further disrupting school operations. Many parents said they kept their children home from school that day, citing anxiety following the social media post.
Several speakers said the post damaged trust between students and educators. One mother told officials that children no longer felt safe at school, while another parent said families were experiencing ongoing stress related to immigration enforcement in the Chicago area.
An online petition urging parents to keep students home in protest had collected more than 380 signatures by Tuesday afternoon. The petition described the teacher’s comment as inappropriate and called on district leaders to take action.
West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey said the meeting was held amid heightened community tensions tied to recent federal immigration operations, including Operation Midway Blitz. Bovey said some children in the district have experienced family disruptions during recent enforcement activity.
Bovey said he has received hundreds of messages regarding the incident, most from outside the community, and urged the public to prioritize student welfare. District officials confirmed that members of the school board were not present at the meeting.
State Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Maura Hirschauer and Sen. Karina Villa, attended the meeting and addressed the crowd, emphasizing student safety and the impact of public statements made by educators. Leaders of the local teachers’ union also spoke, saying the union supports students and families while acknowledging community concerns.
During the meeting, one elementary school student told officials he supported the district’s decision to investigate the post and said he wanted all students to feel safe at school.
School Board President Rita Balgeman said in an email that the board is aware of the concerns and referred further questions to the superintendent’s statement. The next school board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 5.
The incident comes amid broader national debate over social media activity by educators and its impact on school communities. District officials said the investigation remains ongoing and declined to comment further.
