School fight video in west suburban Chicago alarms parents, sparks safety concerns

WHEATON, Ill. (CBS) -- Parents in Wheaton were calling Thursday for better safety and security measures, after video of a serious fight in a high school bathroom circulated online.

Two teens appeared in DuPage County Juvenile Court Thursday morning, facing felony battery charges after the fight at Wheaton Warrenville South High School last week.

Little is known about the teens involved in the fight, as they are all underage. But authorities said there were three kids involved – two of whom are facing charges.

A Wheaton Warrenville school resource officer called for more help around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Fen, 28, after a fight broke out in a school bathroom. The first of two videos posted online shows two students punching and kicking another boy as he lies on the tile floor near the sinks.

In a second video, students pull the boy from the bathroom into a hallway, where they come across an adult.

"911 should not have been the first call. This is not where the nurse gets involved," said concerned parent Brooke Gennaro, "and that should have been abundantly clear to the faculty member."  

The video online has prompted concerns from parents, some of whom said Thursday that they have plans for two meetings demanding better safety and security measures from the school district. 

Gennaro said she is now organizing with other parents - calling for better accountability, transparency, and security from the district.

"We don't know how many things have happened that we are not aware of, and quite frankly, if these kids did not take that video, would we even know about this?" Gennaro said.

But the district said they have already made changes, including:

• A dedicated staff member to monitor each of the bathrooms.
• No more than three students in a bathroom at a time.
• A prohibition on multiple students from leaving a classroom at the same time.
• A stricter hall pass system.

The district added the school's security cameras were recently upgraded -- and the police presence is being increased around campus.

The concerned parents plan to gather next week before a planned Community Unit School District 200 board of education meeting, pressing for more action on safety and security.