Cook County, IL School Incident Prompts IHSA Investigation

Frankfort, IL – Two incidents involving Homewood-Flossmoor High School students are drawing scrutiny Tuesday, with the Village of Frankfort condemning conduct shown in a video after a football game and the Illinois High School Association opening an investigation into a separate cross country incident.

According to the Village of Frankfort, officials are aware of a video and incident involving student conduct following the recent Homewood-Flossmoor and Lincoln-Way East football game. The village called the behavior depicted in the video "abhorrent" and "offensive," saying it does not represent the values of Frankfort residents, students or families.

The village did not identify the students involved or provide additional details about what occurred in the video. Officials said student discipline falls under the jurisdiction of school district officials, families and relevant authorities.

Mayor Keith Ogle's statement also emphasized Frankfort's relationship with neighboring communities, including Homewood-Flossmoor, and acknowledged why members of that community were upset by the conduct.

Separately, the IHSA announced Tuesday that it opened an investigation after receiving a Sept. 8 report from Homewood-Flossmoor High School concerning a cross country meet held Sept. 5.

According to IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson, the report alleged that Homewood-Flossmoor student-athletes were subjected to "unacceptable words and actions" by athletes and coaches from another IHSA member high school.

The IHSA did not identify that school in the statement provided. Anderson said the report triggered an investigation under the association's Hate Speech and Harassment Policy.

"Every high school student-athlete in Illinois should be provided the opportunity to compete in a safe space," Anderson said.

The statements describe separate sporting events, and no information provided establishes that the incidents are connected.