In today’s Leading News, districts statewide hold personnel discussions.

McLean County Unit District 5 school board approves pay increases for staff
Kate Stevens, WMBD, Peoria, July 20

Jasper County school board approves personnel changes, honors spring athletes
Herb Meeker Hometown Register, Mt Caramel, July 24

RBHS music parents keep up pressure to increase staffing
Bob Skolnik, Riverside Brookfield Landmark, July 18

Registration open for substitute teacher informational session
Clint Walker, Journal Gazette and Times Courier, Charleston/Mattoon, July 25

Cowden-Herrick Board Approves Agreement w/Beecher City Board on Social Work Services
Greg Sapp, WXEF, Effingham, July 14
 

In today’s Leading News, a plant for manufacturing electric vehicles, including school buses, has opened in Channahon. Wesclin CUSD 3 and Danville  CCSD 118 discuss staffing for educational support services. Also in the news,  Crystal Lake CCSD 47 students can get library cards.

Pritzker focuses on business development, clean energy jobs
By Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois, the Daily Herald, July 21, 2023

Lion Electric opens electric vehicle plant in Channahon
Christian Piekos, WLS, Chicago, July 2

Wesclin School District hires new special services coordinator;
parents voice their concerns over the district’s special education department
Kelly Jo Ross, Breese Journal, July 19

D118 board approves educational support programs
Jennier Bailey, Danville Commercial News, July 19

Crystal Lake Public Library now offers access cards to all District 47 students
Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake, July 21
 

In today’s Leading News, school districts hold security discussions on installing metal detectors at entrances. Wabash CUSD 348 reached a contract agreement with its teachers. Use of a fine arts grant is making waves in Peoria. Also in the news, a look at the law requiring districts to have a racial harassment policy.

Rantoul latest high school to consider metal detectors
Jeff D’Alessio, Champaign News-Gazette, July 14

Township High D113 promises to enhance school security as some call for metal detectors;
‘We are ... literally begging you to protect our children’
Steve Sadin, Lake County News-Sun, July 14

Wabash 348 school board approved 4-year pact with teachers
Herb Meeker, Hometown Register, Olney, July 20

Why a splash pad funded with a fine arts grant is creating controversy in Peoria
Leslie Renken, Peoria Journal Star, July 24

Does your school have a racial harassment policy? A new law requires one on the books by 2024
Lyndsay Jones, WGLT, Normal, July 21
 

In today’s Leading News, the IHSA considers air quality. Naperville CUSD 203 talks student voice. CPS seats its new board of education. PE waiver season is here. Also in the news, EdWeek looks at what’s stressing school administrators.

Football Camps Face Air Quality Concerns: IHSA Monitoring Situation
Shane Saathoff, Country Herald, Will County, July 19

Dist. 203 board looking to add more student voice to meetings
Kevin Schmit, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, July 19

Chicago swears in new members to city’s last fully appointed Board of Education
Reema Amin, Chalkbeat Chicago, July 19

P.E. classes per week for 74 elementary schools
Jeff D’Alessio, Champaign News-Gazette, July 18

The Number One Thing Stressing Out Superintendents Right Now
Caitlynn Peetz, Education Week, July 12

In today’s Leading News, read about facilities projects, completed, ongoing, and future, in schools across the state.

‘Our students deserve this:’ West Prairie celebrates new junior-senior high
Rich Egger, Tri States Public Radio, July 8

Construction continues at Thomas Paine School in Urbana ahead of school year
Will Simmons, WCIA, Champaign, July 10

District 233 approves $29.7-million contract for new science wing, updates in culinary and fashion design
Marilyn Thomas, Homewood Flossmoor Chronicle, July 13

Clinton Schools Still Evaluating Next Step in Facilities Updates
DeWitt Daily News, July 13

Centralia City Grade School Board moves forward with multi-purpose rooms for Jordan and Central Schools
WJBD Radio, Centralia, July 13
 

In today’s Leading News, breaking barriers, improving communication, painting glass, planning for the future, and summer camping for a cause.

Mount Prospect school helps break down barriers for students with special needs
Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, July 10

OPRF communication audit cites 7 areas to improve
Bob Skolnik, Oak Park Journal, July 3

Unleashing creativity for a cause: CPS teacher hosts summer glass-painting workshops to raise money for Ukraine
Jacquelyne Germain, Chicago Sun-Times, July 6

Unit 40 day care facility to open soon
Nick Taylor, Effingham Daily News, June 30

Illinois teachers spend a week at 'Social Justice Summer Camp'
Peter Medlin, Northern Public Radio, July 11
 

In today’s Leading News, school districts stay on top of new state laws. Paris Union SD 95 discusses corrective action. Also in the news, the Daily Herald looks at hazing in light of the reported incidents at Northwestern University.

Naperville teen gets law passed requiring students learn how to respond to life-threatening allergic reactions
Suzanne Baker, Naperville Sun, July 11

Peoria School District preparing for new Illinois laws
Sean Lisitza, WMBD, Peoria, June 30

New law provides access to trauma kits for Illinois educators to bolster school safety
Marlena Lang, WRSP, Springfield, July 7

Paris School District close to finalizing plan with state after misspending grants
Marley Capper, WCIA, Champaign, July 12

Why does hazing persist? What some experts say schools must do to fight it
Doug T. Graham, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, July 5
 

In today's Leading News, Glenbrook High School turns 70. STEM workshops help get students behind the wheel in a simulator. Quincy SD 172 maintenance director "puts kids first". In other news, longtime educator and administrator is recognized in Carbondale.

Glenbrook High School turns 70 this month 
Dan Kaye, Chicago Daily Herald, July 12

STEM workshops get students behind the wheel in an eRacing simulator 
Pat Nabong, Chicago Sun-Times, June 29 

QPS maintenance director follows philosophy to 'put kids first'
Deborah Gertz Husar, Herald-Whig (Quincy), June 30

Carbondale Elementary School district honoring John Major 
Les O’Dell, The Southern, July 12

In today’s Leading News, Springfield school district buildings escaped damage from recent storms. Chicago Mayor Johnson unveiled his transition report that includes recommendations for CPS. Lead paint remains an issue in some Chicago schools. Quincy Public Schools has a new maintenance director who started from the ‘grounds’ up.

Superintendent: District 186 schools, buildings escaped storm damage
Steven Spearie, State Journal-Register, Springfield, July 11

Johnson unveils ‘blueprint to transform’ Chicago, revealing ‘how we will govern’
Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun Times, July 6

CPS says it fixed every lead paint hazard it found this year, but work at some schools hasn’t been completed, records show
Nereida Moreno, WBEZ/Chicago Sun Times, June 30

Clair taking on QPS director of maintenance role
Deborah Gertz Husar, Herald-Whig, Quincy, June 30

In today’s Leading News, Decatur schools are utilizing a state tutoring program. A Mount Prospect therapeutic school is helping to break down barriers for students with special needs. Freemont School District 79 unanimously approved a strategic plan for 2023-2027. Chicago Public School graduates visit an L-stop to kickstart their engineering careers. Also in the news, the state ended the fiscal year with record revenues topping $50 billion.  

State program, Decatur schools partner for free tutoring 
Valerie Wells, Herald & Review, Decatur, July 6 

Mount Prospect school helps break down barriers for students with special needs 
Madku Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald, Chicago Suburbs, July 10 

Fremont School District 79 Launches 2023-27 Strategic Plan  
Fremont School District 79, Daily Herald, June 29

CPS engineering scholars tour L stop project, ponder possible careers 
Michael Loria, Chicago Sun-Times, July 5

State ends fiscal year with record $50.7 billion in base revenue, sparking small surplus  
Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois, State Journal-Register, Springfield, July 7

In today’s Leading News, Byron CUSD 226 comes to an agreement on property taxes with the Byron Nuclear Power Station. Longtime DuPage ROE recognized for her service. Students in Quincy SD 172 students learn about finance with a behind the scenes look at banking. In other news, Hononegah CHSD 207 board meets with feeder district boards. 

$33 million: Byron taxing bodies, nuclear plant come to agreement on property taxes 
Chris Green, Rockford Register Star, July 6 

Longtime DuPage regional superintendent of education recognized for service 
Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Daily Herald, July 2 

Students learn about finances and behind the scenes of banking
Kayla Houchin, Quincy Herald-Whig, June 29 

Hononegah High School board meets with feeder district boards 
Marianne Mueller, Rockton-Roscoe News, July 5 

In today’s Leading News, Mayor Johnson appoints new board members to the Chicago School Board. Illinois college presidents reaffirm their commitment to diversity and inclusion in the wake of a Supreme Court decision on admissions policies. Updates on 23 construction projects in the Champaign area. In other news, schools awarded grants for student journalism and students awarded prizes for best editorials by the New York Times.   

Mayor Johnson cleans house at CPS as he replaces nearly all board members 
Sarah Karp, Nader Issa, Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun-Times, July 5 

'Easy to forget ... the actual students': Local college leaders on affirmative action ruling 
Barbara Vitello, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, June 29 

School construction: The latest on 23 projects ranging in cost from $7,316 (Gifford) to $19.5 million (Urbana's Thomas Paine) 
Jeff D’Alessio, Champaign News-Gazette, July 3 

Normal West receives $1,500 grant for revamped journalism program, student newspaper 
Olivia Jacobs, Bloomington Pantagraph, June 16 

The Winners of Our 10th Annual Student Editorial Contest: Giving Up on Student Journalism Means Giving Up on Student Voices 
The Learning Network, New York Times, June 22 

In today’s Leading News, read some national-level conversations with a local education nexus.

Muslim group shines light on laws requiring schools to accommodate religious observances
Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, July 3

Migrant crisis reverses decade-long enrollment decline at CPS, top mayoral aide says
Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun-Times, June 29

Ransomware criminals are targeting nation's schools, dumping kids' private files online
Frank Bajak, Heather Hollingsworth And Larry Fenn, AP/Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale, July 5

Bill to stop student ticketing suffers setback, delaying action to protect families from costly fines
Jodi S. Cohen and Jennifer Smith Richards, Chicago Tribune/ProPublica, June 29

IHSA to prioritize CPR/AED training for all coaches. One ref is living proof it works
Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star, June 29
 

In today’s Leading News, the U.S. Supreme Court decides against student loan forgiveness and affirmative action in college admissions.  Faith’s Law now requires employment history checks for school personnel. Also in the news, next door, Iowa’s program for education savings accounts meets high demand.

The Supreme Court rejects Biden's plan to wipe away $400 billion in student loans
AP/Danville Commercial News, June 30

Biden 'strongly disagrees' with high court ruling striking down affirmative action in admissions
Mark Sherman, AP/ Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, June 29

Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling ‘an attack on people of color,’ Illinois education leaders say
Nader Issa and Jacquelyne Germain, Chicago Sun-Times, June 29

Faith's Law requirements for hiring school employees to begin July 1
Stephanie Markham, Kankakee Daily Journal, June 28

Iowa budgeted for 14,000 education savings accounts and twice that many applied
Tom Barton, Lee-Gazette Des Moines/Quad Cities Dispatch-Argus, June 30