Winnetka Public School Board Concerned by Allegations Against Teacher

Winnetka school officials have put a fourth-grade teacher on leave due to concerns about an Evanston police investigation into a possible incident that happened in the late 1990s at a private North Shore school.

During a special meeting on Monday morning, the school board for agreed to issue a notice to remedy, which is a mandate for performance improvement, to the teacher at Hubbard Woods School.

David Wartik, who has worked within The Winnetka Public Schools district for more than a decade, teaches fourth grade. The teacher's behavior was called into question after the Evanston Police Department informed the district about an investigation that involved Wartik, who was placed on leave Feb. 29.

"Specifically, this [notice to remedy] is related to Mr. Wartik’s conduct during communications with the District in its efforts to conduct due diligence," read the press release from Superintendent Dr. Thomas Hagerman.

The police investigation, whch is also in the hands of the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), concerns a "recent allegation made by an individual regarding an incident that occurred in the late 1990s when Mr. Wartik was employed as a teaching assistant at a private school on the North Shore."

No one has pressed charges against Wartik.

Hagerman's office would not respond for comments on Tuesday morning.

A search for fourth grade teachers on the school's website did not list Wartik on Tuesday afternoon.

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