A school aide has been charged with having an “inappropriate relationship” with a student, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.
Authorities said Sandra J. Pardo, 38, of Grayslake, was carrying on a relationship with a student at the Cyd Lash Academy near Grayslake, which is an alternative high school and middle school operated by the Special Education District of Lake County.
Police said they learned that the student, who is younger than 16, posted a video on social media while driving a car Monday, and someone reported to police that Pardo, a paraprofessional at the school, could be heard with the youth.
Detectives investigated and said they learned that Pardo had recently given the boy a back massage and kissed him, and that she allegedly kissed him last month while on school grounds.
She was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated battery, solicitation to meet a child and child endangerment, police said.
“Children have the absolute right to be safe in the school environment and outside of school,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “The behavior of this paraprofessional is unconscionable and despicable.
“There is no doubt this behavior is condemned by the thousands of hard-working teachers and school staff from across the county,” he said. “Our staff will continue our zero-tolerance policy for adults who victimize our most vulnerable.”