Collinsville Unit 10 Superintendent Bob Green sent a letter to district parents Friday addressing allegations made in a media outlet about inappropriate conduct by district employees towards students.

Sign outside Collinsville High School / Picture by Roger Starkey

“The news station has refused to provide the source of its information and has refused to provide any specific information that would allow District 10, the Illinois Department of Family Services or law enforcement to conduct any type of investigation into the news station’s vague allegations,” Green indicated in the letter.

Collinsville Assistant Police Chief Tom Coppotelli confirmed that, except in the case of Ron Rowden, the Collinsville Police Department has not directly received any reports of inappropriate conduct by Unit 10 employees towards students. “Letters have been sent to the media, but no one has reported anything to police,” Coppotelli said.

In a case being investigated as a suicide, Rowden was found dead in his Maryville home Tuesday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. At the time, he was under investigation by Collinsville Police for alleged misconduct with a district student.

Coppotelli and Green urged victims to come forward by contacting the Illinois Department of Family Services, police or the school district. Without solid information, the police cannot act. “There has been a lot of rumor and innuendo, but no concrete allegations,” Coppotelli said.

A letter was also sent to all District 10 employees reminding them that they are mandated by law to report to DCFS if they have received a complaint or are aware of another employee’s inappropriate contact or relationship with a student. Staff was also reminded that inappropriate communications, and/or physical relationships with students, even those who have turned 18 is a betrayal of trust.