West Cook News

Oak Park District 97: Yes, we are teaching the 1619 Project and “critical race theory” to 7th and 8th graders

By LGIS News Service | Nov 10, 2021

Oak Park Elementary District 97 is teaching students so-called “critical race theory,” which argues that racism is to blame for differences in racial group performance, such as lower test scores by black students, or higher violent crime rates for blacks than whites.

Fenwick, Nazareth, St. Patrick advance to IHSA football quarterfinals

By LGIS News Service | Nov 9, 2021

Of the 64 teams advancing to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) quarterfinals next weekend, three are from West Cook County.

OPRF school board votes unanimously, 7-0, to ban honors classes

By LGIS News Service | Oct 29, 2021

Oak Park and River Forest High School freshmen will no longer have the option to take honors classes in history, foreign languages, English or science.The high school board voted 7-0 to ban honors classes

Ahead of honors ban vote, OPRF school board ponders how to measure its impact

By LGIS News Service | Oct 28, 2021

Oak Park and River Forest High School Director of Student Learning Laurie Fiorenza says she’s certain that her plan to ban freshman honors classes will be successful, if she isn’t quite sure yet how she’ll prove it.

Rep. Hernandez supported removing protections for COVID-19 vaccine foes

By LGIS News Service | Oct 28, 2021

Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D-Cicero) voted in favor legislation that would remove legal protections now available to opponents of COVID-19 vaccine mandates through Illinois’ Health Care Right of Conscience Act.

Analysis: Pledge of Allegiance no longer recited by five of 27 West Cook school boards

By LGIS News Service | Oct 26, 2021

Of 27 school boards in West Cook County, five no longer recite the Pledge of Allegiance before their meetings. That's according to an analysis of school board agendas by West Cook News.

Community group: OPRF leaders misrepresenting research to sell honors ban

By LGIS News Service | Oct 20, 2021

A community group says Oak Park and River Forest High School administrators are misrepresenting academic research and state test score data, claiming it shows a proposed honors class ban won't hurt top students, when it shows the opposite.

On eve of honors ban debate, OPRF School Board President moves to limit parent comment

By LGIS News Service | Oct 14, 2021

Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education President Sarah Spivy wants fewer parent comments during meetings-- even virtual ones.

"Honors for all:" OPRF leadership demands ban on grouping students by academic performance; High achievers should take classes with low achievers

By LGIS News Service | Oct 13, 2021

Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRF) school leaders want a ban on allowing top freshman students to take more advanced classes in history, foreign languages or English, according to a memo sent to the school board on Tuesday.

Most west suburban schools still celebrating Columbus Day, not "Indigenous Peoples"

By LGIS News Service | Oct 12, 2021

Three of thirty West Suburban public schools surveyed were in session on Monday October 10th, 2021, a day frequently used to honor Christopher Columbus and more recently Indigenous People.

Who were the 'indigenous people' who once lived in River Forest?

By LGIS News Service | Oct 11, 2021

First-term River Forest Trustee Erika Bachner has tried to start a new tradition in the village.

"Unlock the basketball hoops;" River Forest diversity committee ponders policy recommendations

By LGIS News Service | Oct 6, 2021

One way to bring diversity to River Forest: more basketball.That's according to lawyer and River Forest resident Tim Brandhorst, one of 46 members of the village's nascent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group.The Village of River Forest's new citizen committee focused on "diversity, equity and inclusion" 

Fenwick H.S. to allow students an outdoor Homecoming dance

By LGIS News Service | Oct 6, 2021

Fenwick H.S. students are closely watching the weather forecast for River Grove.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinois’ non-teaching public employee jobs down 6.9% in wake of pandemic

By LGIS News Service | 4 years ago

The size of Illinois’ combined local and state government workforces declined 6.9% from July 2019 to July 2021, representing the fifth largest gap in public-employee job recovery during the pandemic, a Pew Charitable Trusts study concluded.

80% = A? Oak Park-River Forest H.S. history teacher lowers the bar for her students

By LGIS News Service | Sep 21, 2021

Oak Park-River Forest H.S. students taking teacher Amy Hill's American History class this fall could, theoretically, fail. But it would take some effort.

River Forest citizen "diversity, equity and inclusion" committee to host first meeting after nixing the Pledge of Allegiance

By LGIS News Service | Sep 20, 2021

River Forest's citizen advisory committee dedicated to pushing "inclusion" in the village won't start its scheduled meeting Tuesday night with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Fenwick H.S. cancels homecoming dance over COVID fears. But fundraising gala is still on.

By LGIS News Service | Sep 15, 2021

Fenwick High School's annual homecoming dance, scheduled for Oct. 9, has officially been canceled by the school "due to COVID-19 restrictions," "We will not be able to hold a “typical” or “traditional” event at our campus," But

From Chambana Sun

UIUC reports largest freshman class ever with 8,303 new students

By LGIS News Service | 4 years ago

The size of the freshman class at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign numbered 8,303 this fall, including 5,835 new students – or 70% of the total – from around the state, UIUC reports.

Proving they have the moves, Fenwick football turns out to help Our Lady of Angels

By LGIS News Service | Aug 30, 2021

After beating Morgan Park on Friday night, the Fenwick High School varsity football team got up early Saturday to join the Oak Park Catholic school's sophomore and freshman teams in moving furniture for Our Lady of Angels.

River Forest's Henek proposes transforming village with subsidized, low-income housing

By LGIS News Service | Apr 3, 2021

A River Forest mayoral hopeful is running on a platform of bringing more low-income, Section 8 apartments to the village.