Leading News

In today’s Leading News, a teachers in Bremen CHSD 228 could strike on January 27. Geneseo CUSD 228 plans to add professional development for teachers by offering instructional coaching. A ROE-related referendum question has been questioned in McHenry County. Decatur SD 61 proposes, and reconsiders, placing specialists in classrooms to address unfilled teaching positions. Also in the news, objections continue as Carrollton considers a downtown TIF district.
 
Bremen High School District 228 teachers set Jan. 27 strike date
Mike Nolan, Daily Southtown, Chicago and suburbs, January 13
 
Geneseo schools plan instructional coaching
Lisa Hammer, Quad Cities Dispatch-Argus, January 14
 
Electoral board upholds referendum asking whether to restructure Regional Office of Education
Drew Zimmerman, Northwest Herald, Chicago suburbs, January 14
 
In a 'last resort' response to teacher shortage, Decatur schools reassign specialists to classrooms
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, January 13
Decatur schools to 'hold off' on planned reassignment of specialists to classrooms
Decatur Herald and Review, January 15

Facing potential lawsuit, city hall stops TIF process
Marco Cartolano, The Intelligencer, Edwardsville, January 11

In today’s Leading News, school districts consider implementation of Ashley’s Law, which allows trained school personnel to administer a cannabis medical product to a student at school, under certain conditions. Danville CCSD 118 is asked to consider an outside source for its sexual abuse training curriculum. Teutopolis CUSD 50 looks at details of asbestos removal in a classroom building. Palatine SD 15 is putting a hold on plans to put a school in a shopping center. Also in the news, are there enough school nurses?

Oswego School District officials mull implementation of Ashley's Law
Shea Lazansky, Kendall County Now, January 9

Some question source of sexual abuse training in schools
Courtney Bunting, WCIA, Champaign, January 9

Parents concerned about asbestos removal at Teutopolis High School
Crystal Reed, Effingham Daily News, January 7

District 15 in 'holding pattern' on plans for new school at Palatine shopping center
Bob Susnjara, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, January 13

Chicago Wants A Nurse For Every School — Are There Enough?
Sarah Karp, WBEZ, Chicago, January 14

In today’s Leading News, schools in southern Illinois look locally to combat their teacher shortage. New laws bring new policies for schools in the New Year. One district is looking to install solar panels on their rooftops, while another seeks to enter into a purchase agreement to buy solar energy. Finally in the news, the District 230 board has voted to replace traditional snow days with eLearning Days.
 
Rural Southern Illinois schools court 'homegrown' teachers amid statewide shortage
Gabriel Neely-Streit, Southern, Carbondale, January 11

School Districts Revising Policies Due To New Laws
WSPY, Plano, January 11

West Aurora looks to put solar panels on a number of schools
Linda Girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, January 10

Letter Of Intent Approved Between Solar Energy Provider And A-Town
WGIL, Galesburg, January 9

Snow Days Turning Into Learning Days In D230
Dermot Connolly, The Reporter, Palos Heights, December 26
 

In today’s Leading News, a new program aims to educate more future teachers for, and in, the state’s southern counties. Read another take on the property tax reduction report that favors school district reorganizations. Career and tech education is booming in the suburbs. The Hononegah CHSD 207 community takes sides on the school’s mascot and the associated  “Princess Hononegah” dance routine. Also in the news, required in schools for years, those graphing calculators come at a high cost.
 
New program to train teachers for Central, Southern Illinois
Gabriel Neely-Streit, Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale, January 9
 
Merging school districts seen as solution in driving down Illinois property taxes
Peter Hancock, CNI/Journal Gazette and Times Courier, Charleston/Mattoon, January 7
 
Suburban high school students showing strong interest in career and technical education
Bob Susnjara, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, December 27
 
Hononegah students circulate dueling petitions on mascot
Corina Curry, Rockford Register Star, January 9
 
Big Calculator: How Texas Instruments Monopolized Math Class
Maya Kosoff, GEN Medium, November 25

In today’s Leading News, a bill would add cautions about sexting to school sex education programs. Community challenges Champaign CUD 4 on achievement gap concerns. Woodstock CUSD 200 reaches an agreement on TIF funds. Danville CCSD 118 promotes a new strategic plan. Also in the news, a property tax task force brings up school district consolidation.
 
Illinois House bill would add risks of sexting to sex ed. curriculum
Ben Orner, CNI/Alton Telegraph, January 9
 
Parents, community want Unit 4 to address achievement gap
Haydee Clotter, WCCU, Champaign, January 8
 
D-200 Finds TIF2 Deal ‘Satisfactory’
Larry Lough, Woodstock Independent, January 8
 
District 118 adds programs, starts strategic plan
Carol Roehm, Danville Commercial-News, January 4
 
Merging Governments Tops Property Tax-Reduction Plan
John O'Connor, AP/U.S. News and World Report, January 7
 

In today’s Leading News, Illinois legislators hear about isolation and seclusion practices in public schools. A new wave of tension could impact the contract that ended the teachers’ strike last fall in CPS. Decatur SD 61 meets with teaching assistants in contract dispute. Also in the news, two districts, Lake Villa CCSD 41 and Elmwood Park CUSD 401, approach bond referenda in March.

State Legislators Search for Answers After Bombshell Isolation Room Report
Matt Masterson, WTTW, Chicago January 7

New CPS-CTU fight over veteran teacher pay could hold up entire contract that ended historic teachers strike
Nader Issa, Chicago Sun-Times, January 7

Decatur teaching assistants, district fail to reach agreement in 3-hour negotiating session
Analisa Trofimuk, Decatur Herald and Review, January 6

Lake Villa District 41 streamlines its loan pitch to voters
Mick Zawislak, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, January 3

Elmwood schools seek $55 million in bonds in March primary election
Rachel K. Hindery, Pioneer Press/Elm Leaves, December 23

In today’s Leading News, Palatine-based Township HSD 211 puts into place its policy granting transgender students unrestricted facilities access. Decatur SD 61 discusses the option to change a magnet school to a neighborhood school. Hoopeston Area CUSD 11 seeks to add Title I services to all grade levels. Prairie Central CUSD 8 makes facility improvement plans. Also in the news. The Tribune and Pro Publica continue the series reporting on restraint and seclusion practices.
 
District 211 fulfills privacy requests as new transgender locker room policy begins
Eric Peterson, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, January 6
 
Decatur school officials invite community to discuss future of Hope Academy
Analisa Trofimuk, Decatur Herald and Review, January 3
 
Hoopeston Area hopes to add services
Carol Hicks, Danville Commercial-News, December 20
 
PC Board looks ahead
Kent Casson, Daily Leader, Pontiac, December 23
 
We sent a reporter to a class where school workers learn to restrain students. Here’s what it was like.
Jennifer Smith Richards, Chicago Tribune, January 3

In today’s Leading News, Rantoul THSD 193 reexamines chronic absentee data. An EAV increase sets Bureau Valley CUSD 340 (Manilus) on firmer financial footing. Park Ridge-Niles SD 64 approves school construction projects. Illini West HSD 307 (Carthage) seeks bonds for new high school. Also in the news, Galena USD 120 sets date for a community forum related to its superintendent search.
 
Absenteeism report raises eyebrows at RTHS
Debra Rawlings, Rantoul Press, December 24
 
Big EAV increase boosts Bureau Valley finances
Bureau County Republican, December 23
 
$4.9 million in construction bids approved for Park Ridge school addition
Jennifer Johnson, Pioneer Press/Park Ridge Herald-Advocate, January 5
 
Illini West seeks $17 million bond issue to build new school
Michaele Niehaus-Steffensmeier, Peoria Journal Star, December 24
 
School board sets tax levy: Galena schools planning community forum
Hillary Dickerson, Galena Gazette, December 23
 

In today’s Leading News, Edwardsville CUSD 7 addresses cyberbullying. Illinois’ new cannabis law includes changes regarding medical marijuana administered in schools. CPS aims for equitable per-pupil funding. Also in the news, local public education has a role in supporting the 2020 U.S. Census; for further information, read the January/February issue if the Illinois School Board Journal.
 
District 7 reviewing school policies
Charles Bolinger, The Intelligencer, Edwardsville, December 29
 
Gifford, other schools must comply with new state marijuana law
Dave Hinton, Rantoul Press, December 31
 
CPS, Lightfoot take 1st steps toward revamping per-pupil school funding formula
Nader Issa, Chicago Sun-Times, December 12
 
How schools are working to count every child in the 2020 census
Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, December 27
 
Counting the kids
Tabi Jozwick, McDonough County Voice, January 2

In today’s Leading News, as investigators work to pinpoint a cause of serious vaping relating illness, are taxes the solution to the vaping problem? In Nokomis CUSD 22, school officials take a second look at new windows. Elgin-based School District U-46 considers its new physical education curriculum. Also in the news, after two years, Northshore SD 112 in Highland Park eliminates tuition for its full-day kindergarten program.

CDC Confirms A THC Additive, Vitamin E Acetate, Is The Culprit In Most Vaping Deaths
Richard Harris, NPR, December 20

In campaign to stop teen vaping, states turn to tried-and-true remedy: Taxes
Carmen Heredia Rodriguez, Chicago Tribune, December 19

Fire Marshal Not Happy With New Nokomis Windows
Hillsboro Journal-News, December 23

U-46 officials discuss expansion of recently-introduced high school PE curriculum
Rafael Guerrero, Elgin Courier-News, December 26

North Shore School District 112 drops kindergarten tuition
Karen Berkowitz, Pioneer Press, Highland Park News, December 26