Willard School in River Forest is hosting an LGBT "Rainbow Club" for children ages 7-10 | Willard School
Willard School in River Forest is hosting an LGBT "Rainbow Club" for children ages 7-10 | Willard School
Willard Elementary School in River Forest has started a gay, lesbian, bisexual and "trans-sexual" club for its students ages 7-10.
A "Rainbow Club" flyer announcing the club was sent home with all students in grades one through four, parents in the district tell West Cook News.
"Please join us Wednesday in room 106 from 11:20-12:20 for Rainbow Club!," the announcement says. "Be sure to bring your lunch!"
Room 106 is Willard Elementary's "preschool room."
The club is hosted by pre-school teacher Victoria Bynum and school psychologist Karyn Kraska.
Bynum, 39, lives in Oak Park.
In July 2018, during public comment at an Oak Park Elementary School District 97 school board meeting, she identified herself as the parent of a "child who is a member of the LGBT community" and "thanked the board for... making sure that things are solidified for these students."
"Bynum said that she now feels more secure that things are set in stone, and is no longer worried about her daughter's safety," according to minutes of the meeting published by the district.
Bynum was referring to District 97 Board's enshrining of the "right" of a boy who dresses like a girl to use girls' bathrooms and locker rooms, and to play girls sports.
Kraska, 30, previously worked for Chicago Public Schools in a similar position for five years. The 2010 Glenbrook South H.S. graduate lives in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood.
River Forest District 90 has increasingly promoted so-called "transgenderism," which argues there is no such thing as biological sex, to taxpayers, parents and student in the district.
In January, it hosted a "talk on the fast changing gender landscape" and encouraged parents to "learn... social-emotional implications, and current best practices."
Willard is one of two elementary schools in River Forest District 90; it has 375 students in pre-school through fourth grades.
According to Illinois State Board of Education School Report Card Data released on Oct. 29, 58 percent of Willard students failed the statewide English portion of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR); 51.3 percent failed the math portion.
Willard spent $19,715 per student in taxpayer dollars in 2021.
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