Please release the audio. Someone may recognize the voice of the person calling helping the police to find them faster.

Disgusting. There's NO excuse for that. I hope you find him.

Unforgiveable. I used to be proud to live in this community. Now, my husband and I are looking forward to moving. To the board: you have supporters. You are looking out for the long term survival of our schools...not instant gratification, which is what our country has become "entitled" to. Shannon, no one deserves to be treated like this and I will pray for peace, strength and security for your family. Thank you for doing what you feel is right by our children.

No matter how anyone feels that this is being handled, this is absolutely horrible and disgusting! Is there anyway for the police to trace the phone number that called you? Perhaps look on your phone bill to get the number. So very sorry that something like this happened.

That is absolutely disgusting. How dare someone threaten to have someone else's children taunted at school. Whoever did this is a poor excuse for a man and a parent. Not to mention a horrible role model to his own children in encouraging that kind of behavior. I hope he is found and persecuted to the highest level of the law. I am sure my name appears on this post and if my children start having any taunting issues at school let me tell you now you are barking up the wrong tree because I will not tolerate ANYBODY taunting or harassing my children.

What an ugly, disgusting thing to do! It clearly shows the level of immaturity and bitterness of this person. Man or woman, young or old, I pray you are caught, prosecuted, and made to stand at the corner of route 83 and center street with a sign around your neck saying " I am the one who left a nasty message on a board member's phone, threatening their family and children. Honk if you think I am a loser!

I've heard a couple of teachers have received threatening calls as well. Where's the reporting on that? This is horrible, nobody should be threatening anyone, but I have to also question why this is coming out in the press two hours before the board is meeting with the mediator. I agree, release the recording. Also, the call can easily be traced by so whoever made the call is a ding dong.

Unacceptable. I hope they find this person.

What is wrong with people? Grow up and act your age. Set an example for your child(ren). I'm in Springfield now, educating my son about Abe and our State while this is going on. I'm making the best of it.

That just ain't right. If there was a line to cross, that was it.

Though I don't agree with the boards position, I am embarrassed that a member of my community would use such disgraceful tactics. Threatening children it's repugnant and serves to make the supporters of our teachers look irrational and cruel.

True, I don't know that it was a supporter of the teachers, but it seems a fair inference as they were threatening a board member, not a teacher or union rep. Also I agree that the callers actions were cruel, when I said that their actions made the supporters look cruel, I was simply saying that I hate to see us all painted with the callers brush. Civility and kindness will ultimately takes us farther than threats and cruelty.

I truly feel sorry for your daughters...I really do. However, are you under the impression that your kids, being bullied/threatened at a D46 school, is any more important than anyone else's bullied/terrorized kids, who attend a D46 school? Because you're in the public eye, and are a school board member, and now you're, perhaps, using this incident to gain publicity, and thereby public sympathy for the BOE? My child was bullied at a D46 school for 6 months, and absolutely nothing was done to stop it, after complaining time and time and time again. Even spoke to the teachers, principals, and the superintendent...Nada. I had a nasty voice mail message from a parent too, should I have gone to the local newspaper as well? Although, I sympathise with your situation in terms of the bullying...it is surely wrong! However, please don't try to use this incident, and the current BOE/teachers union strike issues, to sway public sympathy, they are 2 separate matters.

I agree Molly! My kid, as well as a few others have been getting bullied on the bus for the past 2 years, nothing has been done about it, but hey, we're not on the school board, so, our kids don't matter, I guess. Kinda sad... Still, this whole situation is uncalled for and disturbing. I'm making the best of it and keeping my kids education going as best I can. He has workbooks and like I previously stated, we're currently in Springfield, IL, learning all about Honest Abe and our State Capital. ;) This isn't a vacation for the kids, they still need to learn.

That's a bunch of shenanagans Lennie. Anonymous people continue until they get caught.

I don't believe that was her intention Molly.

Molly and Katie, to say the things you have both said above sounds to me like you should be getting upset with the people you told who did nothing, not Shannon and the BOE. The BOE has nothing to do with Shannon's letter getting published on the Patch. Shannon sent the plea for the public's help in indentifying this ADULT directly to the Editor. I have tried very hard to be as respectful as possible on these comments, but I have to tell you both that your comments above come across as bitter and intending to create more divisions where community is needed. As far as you kids getting bullied is concerned, I feel for both of you as a mama, and pray things are better now. If not, I say this sincerely, Shannon can help & will. She is a long time anti-bullying advocate for the children of D46.

I surely hope it wasn't her intention. I admit, I don't know her, or the situation. However, I'm not sure what the motivations are, in this case, of the people involved, but I can tell you, from a personal perspective, that we do NOT have a zero tolerance anti-bullying policy in our D46 schools, it is a myth! I find it repulsive that anyone (parents/kids/supporters) would behave in this manner. However, I don't like the timing of this article, it has the air of abuse of position/access to media. I, also, feel it's safe to say, that the BOE and none of the teachers would ever condone threats or harrasment on either side. Bullying is alive and well, and being tolerated just fine in the D46 schools, folks...welcome to a non-BOE parent/child nightmare...monumentally sad, but very true!

An updated statement has been posted on D46 website. Both sides are still in session. Board states it hopes for an agreement tonight. www.d46.org

Yes, Lennie. I agree. I don't condone bullying on ANY side of the aisle, or in/out of the schools, by parents/adults, or kids. Sadly, parents/adults can be just as culpable for this type of behavior.
Wow, that's really tragic to hear. It's impossible for me to believe, anymore, that these adults can keep my children safe, under any circumstances. I worked my way up the ladder all the way to the superintendent, and a school board member. Nothing meaningful was done...all lip service! This is standard practice, in schools, through out the country. Big talk, NO action!

BILL QUICK: “Any parent who sends their kids to public schools should understand that they are sanctioning the long term abuse of their own child. Sit them down in front of a computer screen loaded up with Khan Academy courses. They’ll end up healthier, happier, better adjusted, better educated, and far, far more safe. Nobody ever got an STD, bullied, or shot through an online educational course. And no kid ever got harmed by predatory edu-bots that way, either.”

None of this matters. If what Shannon says is true on it's face, it's disgusting and there is no excuse for it. IMHO...
This thread should be about the cruelty inflicted on Shannon and her family. It is indefensible and not open to any form of criticism, supposition or explanation.
This is serious business.

Thanks to those of you on both sides who point out that Shannon is just trying to catch the adult man. (She is not trying to create drama nor sympathy.) I think it’s obvious why that man called Shannon’s house so late the night before negotiations. He was threatening her family and hoping to intimidate her so much that she would change her vote.

I don’t think that Shannon’s Letter to the Editor has anything to do with publicity. In fact, if you think about it, you will likely understand that fewer people will stand up to support her by their real names – or the BOE for that matter. It makes sense that such a deranged and seemingly unbalanced man might be likely to go after the families of whoever supports Shannon.

I hope they catch this disturbed man! Shannon, I’ll pitch-in with $100 to add to the reward. Maybe other people will add money, too. I’ll contact you personally on your D46 email so you know who I am. I don’t want to use my name in case the unstable guy wants to target my family.

Tara ~ I have filed complaints with the school and bus company. My son came home from school one day back in November with a rip in his jeans on his thigh and blood drawn. I called the school then and told them about it and this kid is STILL on the bus!!! What is it going to take to get this kid off the bus???

I don't want to seem heartless and do not accept any type of harassment in any way, especially when it involves childre. However, as Lennie suggested , show the tape and prove that Shannon didn't stage this. She has proven many times how dishonest she and the board are and now she wants sympathy! Sorry, not from me! Never cry wolf, Shannon! I will say god bless all the children that have been affected by this strike though.

What is wrong with people? Why so cynical? The fact of the matter is that SOMEONE made a threatening call to her home. The motivation here was to write a letter to the editor in the hopes of finding out who is responsible and ask for the communities help if the police cannot determine the person. For those who have children that have been bullied, I think that is terrible as well. But to say that the district does NOTHING to help resolve the matter is just wrong. Please, quit your negativity and move on!!! Geeeeesh!

What's also sad is that someone in that position has put enough doubt in residents' heads that they even question the validity of her claim and motivations. I hope that the harassing phone call was a one time deal and Shannon's children are safe. I've never attended a CCSD 46 Board Meeting, but with all of the comments that have been posted on the articles about the strike, It seems prudent that as parents, we hold both our teachers and BOE a little more accountable.

Mrs. Smigielski, no one, regardless of position, conviction, beliefs, ideas or anything else should have their family threatened, especially their children! Its disgraceful that anyone come here and victimize your family again by laying blame on you. Shameful!
I am so so sorry your daughters have been targeted by a coward. I hope he has a big mouth and bragged of his cowardace. I hope anyone who knows him is courageous enough to contact the authorities. He needs to be caught so never to do it again. God bless you and keep you safe.

Wow! Six years ago when we bought our house we researched school districts and believed that Grayslake had a great schools. Everyone we spoke with said Grayslake had a great community too. We have four in a half more years before my children are out of high school. I'm scared to think that this strike and all the negativity from people in the community is making Grayslake a town that families will want to move from and not move to. I know we're looking forward to moving.

Mrs. Smigielski I hope you find the culprit.

Wow, how embarrassing that our community has come to this and that adults would go after children - how pathetic and disgusting. We are not exempt from many wanting to exit GL not just bc of prop taxes, school strikes, but the uncaring of many and poor neighborly attitudes. Shannon, I wish luck in finding this person, and I can see why many don't want to BOE volunteer, this behavior is defin not worth it & I hope many are keeping their safety eyes out for her kids and talking with all our kids that BULLYING is wrong and even as a bystander, you should step up! The schools say they have a ZERO tolerance which when asked to put that in action, they bail out. So many students get threatened with weapons, violence, and harsh verbal abuse and much of the administration & parents of these kids causing this, just ignore, no responsibility, no care. Someone needs to revamp Ellen Corell's bully plan that went far to the wayside & some parents need to take responsibility for their kids and pay attention.

and wow that parent that made the threatening call to Shannon & her family, there it lies as with the majority of bullying...starts from the parents/homes. wonder what goes on in his home, what a terrible thing he is teaching his kids, DCFS should run a head check on him.