Education

One newcomer has unseated a 12-year incumbent to nab a spot on the Sycamore School District 427 school board, if unofficial election results hold. Check back for updates.

Unofficial results have two newcomers joining the St. Charles District 303 school board.

A slate of candidates is leading in the race for seats on the Community High School District 99 Board of Education

Coal City Unit 1 School Board will have three new members, according to the unofficial election results from Tuesday, after Ryan VanDuyne, Matt Melvin and Mindy Rampa received the most votes.

As long as the unofficial election results hold, Morris Community High School will be receiving a $67 million addition that includes improvements to the existing portions of the school.

Voters this week in Kendall County determined who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries. See the results here.

Three-story building was built in 1899 and closed as school in 1985.

Workers continued to demolish the historic, but dilapidated, school building that had stood in Polo for 126 years. Demolition crews from Fischer Excavating of Freeport continued demolishing the Congress School, 208 N. Congress Ave., Tuesday, March 28, 2025, creating small clouds of dust as the 18-inch-thick brick walls were collapsed, sparking waves of nostalgia from former students.

Prospective students can Explore IVCC at the spring open house on Tuesday, April 8, where they will meet potential classmates, tour the campus and learn more about the college’s programs and resources.  

Sterling Public Schools' Assistant Superintendent Sara Dail will replace Tad Everett when he retires June 1, 2028.

Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 are available to Dixon residents who attend Dixon High School, Newman High School, Faith Christian School or who are homeschooled.

The Woodland Education Foundation announced three new members will be inducted into the Woodland Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees are John Mortland, Diana (Burkett) Hallam and Paul Webster.

The White Oak Library District hopes to raise its taxing rate for the first time in 96 years with a voter referendum on the April 1 ballot in order to expand hours and services.

LeShae Hudson: In my experience, the best way the district can improve reading and English proficiency and test state scores is bridging the gap between school life and home life

Joseph Oswalt plans to become a physical therapist.

Many students can now attend Kankakee Community College for free because of almost $17.4 million in grants awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Community College Board.

This spring, Kendall County voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

Lockport Township High School’s treble a cappella group secured its place at the International Championship of High School A Cappella Finals in New York City in April.

The Kankakee School Board approved two resolutions this month authorizing the non-renewal of a total of 50 non-tenured teachers other than final-year probationary teachers.

Putnam County Junior High School announced its honor roll for the third quarter of the 2024-2025 school year.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville will host a spring exhibit that highlights pollinators beginning Wednesday.

An analysis underway across Minooka Community Consolidated School District 201’s facility footprint is expected to help assemble a list of short- and long-term capital projects in the years and decades ahead.

A Will County judge has denied an emergency motion from a Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees candidate who wanted to prevent a trustee from casting votes on the board under the claim that he was “illegally appointed.”

Zonta Club of Streator held its third annual Youth Leadership Awards night on March 11 at Bruce Township Hall.

Streator FFA members Joyce Walkling and Palmer Phillis were named the State FFA Food Service and Ag Communications State Proficiency Award Winners.

Dalzell Grade School announced the students in fifth through eighth grades who earned the distinction of making the honor roll for the third quarter.

Students from Bureau, La Salle, and Putnam counties recently attended a weather presentation sponsored by 4-H Federation clubs held at Illinois Valley Community College.

Razing of older, taller portion of building to begin Monday.

Directors from Illinois Head Start centers, the federally supported child care and early education program, said they fear cuts, as it targeted in The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.

The dean’s list honors students with a semester grade-point average of 3.6 or higher.

Helping prepare students for the future by expanding digital skills, career exploration and college readiness is one of the goals in the Oswego School District 308’s new three-year strategic plan.

Yorkville’s new $30 million public works and park maintenance facility just became more expensive thanks to federal tariffs. The facility will be located within the Yorkville Business Center.

Sixty-five members of the La Salle-Peru High School class of 2025 were inducted into the L-P Honor Society this week.

Godspell Jr. will be presented 7 p.m. Friday, March 28; 7 p.m. Saturday, March 29; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School, 410 S. Park St., Streator.

Serena High School’s National Honor Society wrapped up Mental Health Week with an assembly promoting Down syndrome awareness and a Polar Plunge fundraiser, raising $6,001 for the Special Olympics.

The Princeton Christian Academy fourth grade class recently took its annual trip to the Bureau County Agricultural Fair at the Bureau County Fairgrounds.

Registration for summer and fall classes at Illinois Valley Community College opens at 9 a.m. online and at 10 a.m. in person Thursday, April 3. 

Waltham School Superintendent Kristi Eager led residents on a tour Thursday, March 27, 2025, and gave a presentation on why the school has outgrown its space five years after being built in Utica.

Emma Jones is a sophomore in the university’s College of Liberal Arts.

Erin Grych on top issues facing the DeKalb school district: Potential loss of federal funding and lawsuits if not compliant in getting rid of DEI, Supporting Title IX, and ending radical sexualization of our children

The Streator Education Association and Streator Elementary School Board are scheduled to meet Tuesday, April 1, for a mediation session in pending labor negotiations. The parties, however, will have to move forward without the service of a federal mediator.

The contest play entry took second place and group interpretation took third in their respective events at the Huntley High School Sectional. 

Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau has two $1,000 Crops For College scholarships available for students planning to study agriculture (freshman year of college only).

Eight candidates are running for four seats open on the board.

Joliet Junior College’s president reported he’s been subjected to harassing behavior from two members of the Board of Trustees and the hostility of one of those trustees caused him to feel unsafe.

Read the transcript from our podcast with Dixon School Board member Jon Wadsworth for his views on chronic absenteeism in the district, and other topics in Dixon education.

Read the transcript from our podcast with Dixon School Board member Linda Leblanc-Parks sharing her vision for Dixon education.

Read the transcript of our podcast with Dixon School Board member Brandon Rogers and his plan for chronic absenteeism in Dixon schools.

Dixon School Board President Linda Wegner talked with Shaw Local reporter Payton Felix about the future of Dixon schools ahead of the April 1 election. Read the transcript from our podcast here.

Princeton High School’s Scholastic Bowl team players Tim Lewis, Clayton Rokosz and Max Wilborn have been given all-sectional honors by the Illinois High School Scholastic Bowl Coaches Association.