Parent Raises Concerns After Pikeland Statement on Former Employee, Police Investigation

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — A Pikeland parent is publicly raising concerns after Pikeland CUSD 10 confirmed that an individual involved in a district personnel matter is no longer employed by the district.

In a public statement to the Pikeland community, Superintendent Dr. Russ Tepen said the district is aware of questions related to the status of a personnel matter. Tepen said confidentiality requirements limit what can be publicly shared, but confirmed the individual involved is no longer an employee of the district.

Tepen also said it is the district’s understanding that police are investigating the alleged conduct, but the district cannot comment on the law enforcement investigation or any related legal proceedings.

The district statement came after concerns circulated publicly regarding alleged inappropriate sexual comments reportedly made to students by a former Pikeland Community School staff member.

In a Facebook post, parent Cody Redman said his fifth-grade son came forward more than a month ago with concerns about repeated inappropriate sexual comments allegedly made by a school staff member to children. Redman said other students also came forward, and that families cooperated with the school’s process and requested law enforcement involvement.

Redman wrote that the allegations involved inappropriate sexual comments allegedly directed toward male students, as well as claims that students were told not to tell anyone about the conversations. He said the matter had been referred for investigation and expressed frustration that families have received little meaningful communication since then.

Redman also said his child recently encountered the accused former employee in public and became visibly upset, saying the experience left his child feeling unsafe.

No criminal charge, arrest, or public charging decision has been confirmed as of this report. RiverNewsLive is not naming the former employee because no formal charge or official identification has been publicly confirmed.

Redman said his goal is not to spread rumors or assign guilt before an investigation is complete, but to call for transparency, accountability, and communication with families.

RiverNewsLive is continuing to seek additional information from official sources, including law enforcement and local officials, and will update this story as more information becomes available to the public.