Schools

Naperville North Counselor Charged With Criminal Sexual Abuse

The DuPage County State's Attorney charged a NNHS staff member Tuesday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

A counselor and coach is being given the opportunity to turn himself in to authorities, after the DuPage County State's Attorney charged him Tuesday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

John Carbonaro, whose age or address is not listed in the news release or court records, has been suspended without pay and "removed from all duties and responsibilities within the district," according to the e-mailed statement.

District Spokeswoman Susan Rice said Carbonaro is from Warrenville. He was charged Tuesday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse after a concerned parent contacted the school's principal last week about a rumored relationship between him and a student.

“Any situation that places the welfare of a student at risk is of the highest concern to any educator," Superintendent Mark Mitrovich said in the news release. "It is for this reason that I am profoundly shocked and disappointed over the news that an individual within our school system may have violated this deepest of trusts."

Details of Carbonaro's behavior first came to light Thursday, when a parent called Naperville North Principal Kevin Pobst, district officials said.

“The principal immediately contacted district administration and reached out to the parents of the student named in the rumor," Rice said, in the release. "The district notified the proper legal authorities who began conducting a full investigation.”

Carbonaro is a school counselor and assistant coach. He was hired as a full-time employee in 2006. At that time, he successfully passed the required background checks conducted on all District 203 employees, district officials said.

“We want to stress to all of our families that District 203 takes allegations of misconduct by any staff member toward any student very seriously," Rice said in the release. "It is important that anyone who feels the actions of a staff member have been inappropriate bring their concerns to the attention of their school principal or district administration immediately."

The district is providing counseling support in the school for any student or staff member who wants to discuss the issue. Parents were notified about the news through a districtwide electronic communications system.

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