CARTERVILLE, Ill. (KFVS) - The Carterville School District announced the reinforcement of safety protocols along with an update on the investigation of alleged sexual abuse by an employee.
In February 2026, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office classified the situation as a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual abuse. The school district placed the employee on administrative leave once they heard of the investigation.
The FBI received a tip more than a year before, and it was sent to local law enforcement, according to an article from Capitol News Illinois. On March 6, the school district responded to the article.
On March 19, Sarah Barnstable, superintendent, and the CUSD #5 Board of Education released a statement with an update on the investigation and request for records:
“As we have from the beginning, the District is fully committed to fully cooperating with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation of this matter. We have received and will comply with requests from both the Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Board (ISBE) for the personnel and disciplinary records of John J. Wakey, who has been employed as a teacher and assistant football coach at Carterville High School since 2003.
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“The District has also been asked to provide the Sheriff’s Office with academic records for additional former students who were taught or coached by Mr. Wakey during the same time period as the reporting student (between 2009 and 2018). The District has been informed by the Sheriff’s Office of a report from a former student, but no evidence of inappropriate contact involving Mr. Wakey has been shared with the district at this time, as this remians an active and open investigation, Of course, the District will fulfill our obligation to comply with this request upon receipt of a verified subpoena issued by a judge as required by federal privacy laws protecting student record.”
They also announced the reinforcement of safety protocols:
- The pre-employment process includes an employment history review, criminal background checks and cross-checks with federal and state sexual offender databases
- Faculty and staff affirm in writing to report suspicions or knowledge of abuse or neglect of a student
- Faculty and staff participate in annual mandatory training regarding appropriate conduct with students and other topics
- Moving forward, biannual training on appropriate personal and professional uses for social media
- During staff meetings, reviewing and reinforcing expectations of professional and appropriate employee conduct (along with prohibiting personal technology for school communications)
- Completing the transition to Apptegy Rooms, the only approved communication platform for text messaging between students, staff and families
If you believe a student is at risk, they say they are counting on you to report it.
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