Blue Island principal charged with child sex assault

BLUE ISLAND, Ill. (WLS) -- Parents are shocked and outraged in a south suburban school district where a principal has been charged with sexually assaulting a former student.

"I don't know what to say. It surprised me. It did," said Eloisa Rodriguez, a grandparent.

After learning the now-former principal of Lincoln School in Blue Island, Sam Berrios, is charged with sexual assault of a child, parents were at a loss for words.

"I received an email. I read it. I was just dumbfounded, like wow. Unbelievable," said Adriana Cisneros, a parent.

"I think he's been there for a while now," Rodriguez said.

District 130 officials say they became aware of the allegations by a former student in January and placed Berrios on administrative leave. They contacted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and DCFS notified Blue Island Police.

Police arrested and charged Berrios earlier this week.

The district said: "The number one priority of our District is the welfare, safety and education of our students. At this time, we have no information suggesting any cause of concern for current students in the District."

"I always used to tell my kids and I always tell my grandson if anything happens, if he sees or feels anything weird with anybody even a kid his own age, whoever, just let somebody know. Us," Rodriguez said.

"It can happen anywhere. Your kids are not safe anywhere," Cisneros said.

On Friday, the district notified parents through e-mail. If parents did not receive an e-mail, they can expect a letter in the mail next week.

Berrios is free on bond Friday night.