Woodstock teacher charged with inappropriate exchanges with student

Woodstock North High School teacher and coach was arrested Thursday in connection with alleged inappropriate statements made to a student in a handwritten letter.

Woodstock Police said Joseph M. Brasile, 49, of 1019 Hibbard St., had a nonphysical interaction with a 15-year-old female student earlier this year.

"He had some communication with her in an inappropriate way," Woodstock Police Sgt. Richard Johns said, but he would not elaborate on the extent of the communication.

According to the criminal complaint, Brasile made suggestive statements to the student in a handwritten letter "inquiring her thoughts of engaging into a more meaningful relationship with him while displaying his strong feelings he [had] developed for her."

The inappropriate exchanges lasted for about a month, from January to February, Johns said.

Brasile, a science teacher at Woodstock North High School and Blue Streaks girls swimming head coach, was charged with disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor. He was arrested at the Woodstock Police Department.

Brasile declined to comment when contacted by the Northwest Herald.

He was placed on administrative leave Feb. 10, when the district became aware of the investigation, spokeswoman Barb Banker said. He has taught at District 200 for six years and has been head coach for the swim team for a year.

Citing "personnel matters," Banker declined to comment further or on the terms of his leave. However, Banker said that "appropriate steps were being taken."

District 200 school board President Paul Meyer also declined to comment.

Brasile is also the head coach of the Woodstock Dolphins, a youth swimming league. On Feb 10 Brasile requested and was granted an immediate personal leave of absence from the team, said Dolphins Board President Dave Devinger in a statement to the media.

"Almost concurrent with that request, the board of directors was made aware of an investigation by the Woodstock School Administration," Devinger said. The Dolphins were advised the investigation did not involve a physical incident, he said.

Devinger said he has never received complaints or concerns about inappropriate behavior relating to Brasile.

The Dolphins' website states Brasile has two daughters, ages 16 and 11 years old.

Brasile posted 10 percent of his $1,200 bond and is scheduled to appear in court April 7.

• Northwest Herald reporter Sarah Sutschek contributed to this report.