Students want arrested-teacher fired

The arrest this week of a veteran teacher at Central High School at Clifton has students protesting, wanting more protection from the school administration.

Central students staged a brief walkout (Friday). Some students and some parents are not satisfied with the administration’s handling of a personnel matter involving Ag instructor Brett Sorenson. The 13-year veteran teacher is on administrative leave, jailed in Ford County on felony charges of Disseminating Child Sexual Abuse materials. Sorenson is due back in Court next week.

Students and some parents want the teacher fired. Some say it should have happened long before now.

Parents of students claim complaints about Sorenson, and how he’s alleged to have reached out to students in the past, were never addressed.

The school administration is unable to comment on personnel matters, however Sorenson is on paid administrative leave following his arrest Tuesday.

Illinois State Police searched his home leading to the arrest. A news release stated an investigation was triggered by a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Ford County Sheriff’s Police, Paxton Police and the Ford County State’s Attorney Office are part of the investigation.

Sorenson was charged in Ford County with 8-counts of felony child pornography offenses.

94.1 WGFA