Lake Forest, IL – March 10, 2025 – Parents in Lake Forest School District 67 are growing increasingly frustrated after Dr. Matthew Montgomery’s administration refused to release instructional materials related to a controversial HIV video shown to fourth graders at Cherokee Elementary School. The district is citing a technical exemption under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to deny access to the requested documents, a move that many see as an attempt to evade transparency.
The issue began when Parents Care, a local school oversight organization, received multiple complaints from Cherokee parents whose nine-year-olds had come home distressed after a health class lesson. According to parents, the lesson included discussions about HIV/AIDS, death, and risky behaviors that they felt were inappropriate for young children. When parents approached school administrators for clarification, they were met with vague responses and, in some cases, outright denials of what their children had reported seeing.
In response to these parental concerns, Parents Care submitted a FOIA request to Lake Forest Schools on January 23, 2025, seeking the HIV lesson plan, unit map, and any documentation related to the video's approval.
However, superintendent Matthe Montgomery's administration denied the request in a letter dated March 6, 2025, citing Section 7(1)(j)(iv) of the Illinois FOIA statute, which exempts certain course materials from public disclosure.
While the district insists that parents can view the instructional materials in person at the district office, many see this as a tactic to limit accessibility and delay public scrutiny. The refusal to provide the records digitally or through FOIA prevents broader community oversight and raises further questions about why the administration is reluctant to disclose the content.
"I'm very uncomfortable with this whole thing," said a Cherokee parent who preferred to remain anonymous. "I honestly don't feel comfortable having to go to my daughter's school and sit with a group of administrators to review course materials that they had no problem showing a bunch of 4th graders."
Parents Care has been at the forefront of pushing for transparency in Lake Forest schools, previously exposing misleading communications from district officials regarding safety incidents and curriculum concerns. The group's efforts have highlighted a pattern of administrative stonewalling under Dr. Montgomery’s leadership.
“We're not here to judge the appropriateness of the video," said Frank McCormick, director of Parents Care. "As I have told parents, the video may be appropriate for a 4th-grade Wellness class, but by blocking access to the course materials, the District is potentially creating unnecessary controversy. I now have parents asking, "If the video and lesson plan were age-appropriate, why go to such lengths to keep us from seeing them?”
The district’s refusal to release approval documentation for the video further compounds the issue. Without records, it remains unclear whether the lesson was vetted properly or if it was introduced without formal oversight. This lack of transparency leaves parents questioning who, if anyone, is accountable for the materials presented to their children.
According to Illinois law, those who believe their FOIA requests were wrongfully denied have the right to appeal to the Public Access Counselor (PAC) at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office or file a lawsuit in state circuit court. Parents Care is currently weighing its legal options while continuing to advocate for full disclosure.
“I was a teacher for over a decade, and not once did I ever think that what I taught my students was private,” McCormick added. “I had all course materials and documents on an e-learning platform I operated. The district’s decision to block access through legal loopholes rather than open dialogue is unacceptable.”
The situation remains fluid, with parents and community members demanding answers. Parents Care has vowed to continue pressing the administration for transparency and accountability regarding the materials shown to Cherokee students.
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