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Lake County Journal

Alternative school worker had inappropriate relationship with student, police say

Paraprofessional at Cyd Lash Academy has resigned

Sandra J. Pardo, 38, of the 100 block of Glen Street, Grayslake

A former employee at an alternative school in North suburban Gages Lake has been arrested on allegations she had an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old student while she worked there, authorities announced Thursday.

Sandra J. Pardo, a former paraprofessional at Cyd Lash Academy, is charged with three counts of aggravated battery, solicitation to meet a child and child endangerment.

Pardo, 38, of the 100 block of Glen Street in Grayslake, was arrested Wednesday after a two-day investigation by Lake County sheriff’s detectives. Pardo had resigned Tuesday, a day after the investigation began, said Tim Thomas, interim superintendent at the Special Education District of Lake County.

The investigation began after police learned of a video on social media depicting the boy driving a car while a woman who sounded like Pardo spoke from a passenger’s seat, sheriff’s Deputy Chief Chris Covelli said.

Pardo and the boy began having an inappropriate relationship last month, Covelli said. Pardo gave the boy a massage and kissed him, police said.

During a court appearance Thursday morning, Pardo was ordered to be held in jail until a Feb. 11 detention hearing.

The case remains under investigation. SEDOL officials are cooperating with police, Thomas said.