schools
Metea students hear about dangers of DUI
Seniors at Metea Valley High School received a sobering lesson during the “Under the Influence” safety program held at the Aurora campus on Tuesday. The program, in its second year, allows students to see first-hand what can happen when people drink and drive. “We feel …
Bill imposing one-year moratorium for online charter schools heads to Quinn for signature
A yearlong moratorium on new online charter schools has passed the Illinois Senate and now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn for his signature. Bill sponsor state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, said Wednesday that she and other interested parties, including Illinois Superintendent of Schools Christopher …
Aramark to feed, clean all of School District 204
One company will provide cleaning, maintenance, landscaping, mail and even food service to Indian Prairie District 204 schools next year. The Indian Prairie School Board approved two contracts with Aramark on Monday night — for facilities management and for food service for the school district …
School districts in proposed virtual charter to get own appeals hearings
CHICAGO — A state commission overseeing the appeals process for a proposed virtual charter school that was denied by 18 western suburban Chicago districts voted Wednesday to give each of those districts their own public hearing, after district representatives said consolidating their hearings would be …
East Aurora students make gains on annual English proficiency test
AURORA — Sitting at tables in the gymnasium of East Aurora’s Simmons Middle School, about 140 bilingual education teachers and administrators anxiously looked at the giant projector screen. They were waiting to hear how their students fared on the annual ACCESS test, a federally mandated …
Parents oppose plan to eliminate special ed class size limits
ELGIN — When Mary Jo Shepherd of Schaumburg first read about the Illinois State Board of Education’s proposals to end class size restrictions for both special education classrooms and general education classrooms that serve students with disabilities, she wondered which of her five children they …
West Aurora OKs new rules on gender identity, social media
The West Aurora School Board has adopted revisions to the district’s Student Handbook aimed to protect students from discrimination based on gender identity and punish students for making threatening statements on social media. “It is our responsibility each year to update our student rights and …
Two East Aurora students say they were bullied because of race
AURORA — The allegations of two 14-year-old East Aurora female students who say they were bullied because of their race have prompted a federal civil rights investigation at the school district. Brooke Whitted, a Northbrook-based lawyer who is representing both students pro bono, said Wednesday …
West Aurora to finalize agreement with Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office
AURORA — The West Aurora School Board voted unanimously Monday night to finalize an agreement with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, the terms of which are still being finalized but are expected to be completed this week. Joseph Perkoski, an attorney for the West …
New Oswego School Board sour on new hires
Several fresh faces on the Oswego School Board are challenging the idea of adding more fresh faces to the school district as a whole. On Tuesday, four new board members — Matt Bauman, Mike McDowell, Greg O’Neil and Danielle Paul — were sworn in. School …
Ormond re-elected as West School Board president
The West Aurora School Board re-elected Neal Ormond as president Monday night for what will be his fifth year as the group’s leader. But it was not a unanimous vote. During the election of board officers, newly-elected board members Valerie Brown Dykstra and Robert Patterson …
Teacher, school musical are joined at the hip
GENEVA — The eternal question at Harrison Street Elementary School here might be, which came first, the fifth-grade musical, or teacher Roger Parazaider? The truth is, Parazaider himself does not know the answer. He has been organizing the musical at Harrison for the 35 years …
Yes, this is rocket science
Students from two local high schools have high expectations as they take part in the nation’s largest student rocket contest. Rocketry club members from Neuqua Valley and Oswego East were named among the top 100 finalists in the Team America Rocketry Challenge set for May …
West Aurora Hall of Honor induction means returning to beginnings
When School District 129 created the West Aurora High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor seven years ago, I had not anticipated the testimonials from these most successful people concerning the pivotal impact that their high school teachers had on their lves. These are people …
Remodeling nears finish line at East Aurora magnet school
AURORA — At the Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy in East Aurora, Principal Angela Rowley’s students have been telling her lately that the school smells like a new car. That’s because the building, which East Aurora School District purchased from the city for $3 million last …
Goodwin PTA honors parents, teachers for their service
The PTA at the Goodwin School in the West Aurora School District recently presented service awards to two teachers and four parent volunteers. The following received Distinguished Service Awards: Michelle Hill, PTA co-president for the past two years and parent volunteer. “The experiences of all …
