Teacher
attacked by teen in 2008 inspired measure, Quinn says
August 28, 2012
Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law requiring police to alert school officials when a student is under investigation. (Armando L. Sanchez, Chicago Tribune)
As a teacher who was attacked by a student in 2008 looked on Monday, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law requiring police to alert school officials when a student is under investigation.
"Something really bad happened here," Quinn told dozens of students and local officials during the signing ceremony at Elgin High School, referring to the attack on Carolyn Gilbert. "We need to make sure that never happens again."
"Something really bad happened here," Quinn told dozens of students and local officials during the signing ceremony at Elgin High School, referring to the attack on Carolyn Gilbert. "We need to make sure that never happens again."
He referred to Gilbert, 55, as "heroic" and "dedicated."
"She inspired this law and all of us," he said, hugging her after signing House Bill 5602. The law takes effect Jan. 1.
Gilbert stood at Quinn's side as he spoke of the day when Angel Facio, then a 16-year-old sophomore at the school, threw a coat over her head as she was alone in her classroom and repeatedly stabbed her.
The attack caused her to lose sight in her left eye. Facio was convicted of attempted first-degree murder. In a separate trial, he later was found guilty for the aggravated criminal sexual assault of a victim younger than 9 — a case he had been under investigation for at the time Gilbert was attacked. School officials did not know of the investigation because law enforcement at the time was not required to share such information with school officials.
A school would not have learned about a student being under investigation until he or she was detained or arrested in connection with a crime, said John Heiderscheidt, school district safety coordinator for Elgin-based School District U-46.
"Now police can tell schools if a student is under investigation," he said.
"She inspired this law and all of us," he said, hugging her after signing House Bill 5602. The law takes effect Jan. 1.
Gilbert stood at Quinn's side as he spoke of the day when Angel Facio, then a 16-year-old sophomore at the school, threw a coat over her head as she was alone in her classroom and repeatedly stabbed her.
The attack caused her to lose sight in her left eye. Facio was convicted of attempted first-degree murder. In a separate trial, he later was found guilty for the aggravated criminal sexual assault of a victim younger than 9 — a case he had been under investigation for at the time Gilbert was attacked. School officials did not know of the investigation because law enforcement at the time was not required to share such information with school officials.
A school would not have learned about a student being under investigation until he or she was detained or arrested in connection with a crime, said John Heiderscheidt, school district safety coordinator for Elgin-based School District U-46.
"Now police can tell schools if a student is under investigation," he said.
