West Cook News

A program at Lyons Township High School meant to even the playing field for economically disadvantaged students in now being weighted based on racial background as well.

According to Patch, said the new rules will allow students of color to be “bumped up” in consideration for such placement. The Lyons Townships High School program has historically focused its efforts on students who meet the same profile as higher-performing students but come from lower-income households. Program participants have been recommended by the school’s principal. 

"We're identifying students who are here with us who we believe and who teachers believe and who people who have worked with the students believe they can do it,” Lyons Township High School Principal Jennifer Tyrrell told Patch. 

"They can be successful in an AP course, but we know that we have to continue to do that upon entry into LT to make a difference from initial placement.”

Many have been complaining about the hyper-focus on race at Lyons Township High School and treating students differently based on the color of their skin alone. Former English teacher Tom Stukel quit the school earlier this year noting the diversity, equity and inclusion training at the school is destroying the education environment. 

“And if this is happening in many public schools – which I know that it is – it's just not healthy and I don't want to be a part of that unhealthiness,” he told West Cook News. 

“The way the administration promotes this is that it is supposed to be more equitable. But the problem is, is that at least what I've seen in my classroom is it's not, it's actually doing the opposite.” After quitting Stukel left the state for Miami Beach, Florida.

Two alleged race-related beatings at the high school occurred at the school this year, including one perpetrated by Heavyn Washington, a campus activist, who planned and filmed an ambush attack on another student in a hallway. 

Washington and her 14-year-old Countryside companion planned the assault so that it would be captured on camera. As seen on the accomplice's videotape, Washington approached the smaller victim and repeatedly struck her in the face, then grabbed her by the hair and dragged her across the floor. 

"Beat her a**, racist a** b****, yes!" the accomplice yelled. "Beat her a** Heavyn, beat her a** h**,” the accomplice yelled as he filmed the beating. 

The victim’s attorney in that incident called for “a full investigation by the Western Springs Police.” The Village of Western Springs has refused to release the police reports on that and another race-related incident involving students at the school.

The school environment is said to have changed after the hiring of Dr. Jennifer Rowe who makes $155,000 in her role as Director of Equity and Belonging. Rowe is said to have hanged policy to make punishments more lenient for non-white students in the wake of the incident. 

Rowe’s termination was advocated for during the gubernatorial campaign of State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia). 

"All students, regardless of race, should be held to the same standard of conduct,” Bailey said of Rowe’s tenure. 

“These racist policies are only going to serve to create more problems and potentially put kids in serious danger. The message being sent here is that as long as you meet the right racial profile you don’t have to follow the rules. Any student who commits violence against other students should be punished for those actions. Kids of all races deserve to be safe at school. Jennifer Rowe is a sick psychopath who is putting kids in danger, and she has no business being anywhere near children. She should be terminated immediately."