District 87 to stay silent on reasons for firing Tiritilli

Posted on March 15, 2018

*Marc Tiritilli awaits the chance to plead his case at Wednesday night’s District 87 School Board meeting. (Photo by Howard Packowitz/WJBC)*

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Rules about confidentiality prevent District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly from discussing personnel issues, including the dismissal Wednesday night of Bloomington High School physics teacher Marc Tiritilli.

Reilly said the administration and school board will abide by confidentiality laws and policies even though, in the words of one parent, the district faces a public relations nightmare.

“Sometimes, what’s right is not always popular, and what’s popular is not always what’s right,” said Reilly.

The school board unanimously backed the staff’s recommendation to fire Tiritilli, who was a probationary teacher in his second year at BHS.

Several students, a couple of them in tears, pleaded with the school board to save Tiritilli’s job. There was also a petition drive on Tiritilli’s behalf. Reilly praised the students for their efforts.

“These kids stood up for something they believed in. They wanted their voices heard, and I believe that they did that appropriately, productively, and I think the board members heard their message,” Reilly also said.

A year ago, Tiritilli ran for mayor of Normal, and lost to incumbent Chris Koos by 11 votes.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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