Petition: Preserve evidence of CPS teacher’s bathroom videotaping

A Chicago Public Schools teacher filed an emergency petition to preserve evidence against another teacher who is accused of videotaping people in a Gold Coast school’s bathroom.

The teacher, identified as Jane Doe, filed the motion to preserve evidence Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court.

The teacher alleges she was illegally recorded in a bathroom of Ogden International School, 24 W. Walton, by a camera set up by Elliot Nott, who taught kindergarten through fifth grade.

The camera was discovered and turned over to Chicago Police on Sept. 7. On Sept. 23, Nott — a CPS employee since 2009 — was charged with one count of child pornography and seven counts of unauthorized videotaping. He was ordered held on $75,000 bail.

An 8-year-old student at Ogden was among those videotaped by Nott, the filing stated.

Nott was hired by CPS despite “a known criminal history, including peeping and prowling,” according to the filing.

Along with the preservation of evidence, the filing also seeks copies of Nott’s CPS employment file, along with any related hiring documents possessed by CPS.

In an emailed statement Wednesday evening, CPS spokesman Michael Passman said several checks were conducted before Nott was hired.

“CPS requires all employees to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a fingerprinting, state and federal criminal database review, tuberculosis test, and drug test,” Passman said. “The District’s background checks are guided by Illinois School Code standards and are done to ensure all employees meet our high standards for personal and professional conduct.”

CPS is examining Nott’s hiring to make sure the process was carried out correctly and is open to making changes, if there are areas needing improvement, Passman said.