Read the transcript of our interview with Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 Superintendent Dr. Glenn Wood on DEI and the future of funding in the district, along with AI policies

Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202's Superintendent Dr. Glenn Wood discusses the district's contingency plans for lost funding following a series of new rules from the Department of Education with Herald-News reporter Jessie Molloy.

The 12 Plainfield District 202 juniors can use the Horizon Grants for summer workshops, classes, field studies, internships or conferences during the summer before their senior year.

Juan Figueroa and Sandy Figueroa's passion for education stems from their own childhood experiences.

The Plainfield School District 202 board swore in two new members and three incumbents during a special reorganization meeting.

Stefan Bjes, who has more than two decades of law enforcement experience, will start as security director for Plainfield schools on May 27.

Will County Board votes 12-10 to approve quarry plan that faced opposition from two villages, a school district, and hundreds of residents.

The Will County Board on Thursday approved expansion of a quarry that faced opposition from the villages of Plainfield and Bolingbrook along with dozens of residents who showed up at the meeting to try to stop it.

A teacher from Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 was named as one of ISBE's teachers of the year.

The Plainfield District 202 Board of Education approved the new contract during a special meeting on Tuesday,

The Illinois State Board of Education held its March meeting in Plainfield to tour and highlight District 202, the fifth largest school district in the state.

Two Plainfield School District middle school Special Olympic basketball teams will compete in the state championship games this weekend.

District 202 in Plainfield's new schedule will provide more equity in offerings across all four high schools additional opportunities to prepare for college and careers, more academic support for students and increased collaborative planning time for teachers.

Gov. JB Pritzker announced a plan Wednesday to require Illinois schools to limit student use of cell phones during instructional time.

Because of the expected winter storm forecast for northern Illinois, some Will County school districts are opting for virtually with e-learning on Wednesday.

Plainfield Township beta tested the Thriveworks program in 2023 and then increased its budget in 2024 for mental health services.

Henry Franzen, a fifth grader at River View Elementary School in Plainfield, is honoring veterans in two ways this Veterans Day.

This week, the Illinois State Board of Education released school- and district-level data showing what percentage of Will County students were considered proficient in math and reading last year. Check out this chart to see if that's an improvement over the prior year.

Search our table to see what designation your Will County school received on the 2024 school report card.

The Playnfield Players will perform “A Christmas Carol” Dec 20, Dec. 21 and Dec. 22 at Plainfield High School – Central Campus, 24120 Fort Beggs Drive Plainfield.

Audrey Stein who served School District 202 for 24 years, will serve as grand marshall for the Plainfield community homecoming parade, which steps off at 9 a.m. Sept. 28.

To combat an ongoing teacher shortage, Illinois has passed a bill which will allow for greater flexibility in when teaching candidates can take subject area certification exams.

Plainfield police say there is "no credible evidence to support" the threat made regarding Plainfield Central but there will be extra security at the campus Tuesday morning.

School District 202 has new entrepreneurship classrooms at all four Plainfield high schools. Students will spend the 2024-25 school year building a product.

Central Elementary School in Plainfield is one of three schools in Illinois recognized as a Promising Practices Professional Learning Community by Work Solution Tree.

September is National Hunger Action Month and several Plainfield organizations and taxing bodies are joining together to help support local food pantries.

Chad T. Richards, 23, of Loves Park, Illinois was scheduled to appear in court Monday on charges he killed 21-year-old Kara Welsh of Plainfield on Friday.

Kara Welsh, 21, of Plainfield was found shot multiple times in an apartment near the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus Friday night. Welsh would have started her senior year on Tuesday.

The Plainfield District 202 Board of Education voted 6-0 to approve a settlement agreement in a federal civil case that alleged two former student athletes were subjected to hazing and sexual assault.

As Will County schools begin a new year this month, we took a look at cell phone policies for students at Joliet area schools districts. Here's what we found.

The Plainfield School District 202 Board of Education may consider approving a settlement agreement in a federal lawsuit case involving allegations of hazing and sexual assault of two former football players.

Anushka Menon also landed in the 99th percentile with the SAT.

Joliet Township High School District 204 wants to add more school resource officers.

The school is located on the far west side of Joliet, and the damage marks one more example of the scattered impact of the storm across the city.

Plainfield School District 202 has approved the hiring of Ashley Lamorte as principal at Wesmere Elementary School.

After a season fraught with complications, Luke Winder, a former IHSA state pole vaulting champion and owner of Rise Pole Vault in Joliet, placed sixth at his first Olympic trials in Oregon June 23.

Local school districts give the State Seal of Biliteracy to encourage students to pursue biliteracy and honor students’ mastery of two or more languages.

Retired District 202 technology teacher Margie Bonuchi receives 2023 Walter G. and Juanita F. Niehus Award in honor of extraordinary commitment to students, parents and employees.

District 202 sends athletes to the Illinois Special Olympic Summer Games in the first year for the middle school program.

Plainfield School District 202 hires two new elementary school principals

Plainfield Community Consolidated School District approved a new contract with its support staff employees which closes the wage gap between the district and neighboring schools.

After receiving a letter from an eighth grader asking questions for a research project, Civil Rights activist Edith Lee-Payne paid JFK Middle School in Plainfield a visit.

Plainfield Police Officer Dean Klier said his experience in his first year as a school resource officer has taught him that "everybody has a story,” whether it’s “inside the school or on the street.”

District 202's parent organization recognized 95 “outstanding parents, community members, teachers and staff members for their dedication to students, their schools and community” at the 48th annual awards night on April 16.

Tom Hernandez came to District 202 in 2006 as its director of community relations and remained in that role in 2003. Hernandez was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2022.

District 202’s Plainfield Parent Community Network will present this free program. Professional development credits (CEUs and CPDUs) will be available for all certified educators attending this program.

More than 130 students from 12 high schools competed in the competition,

Glenn Wood, superintendent of District 202 in Plainfield, said the parade celebrated Hernandez’s contributions to the community. Wood called Hernandez the “consummate professional” and a man of “great character.”

Registration is required for Saturday's event. Hernandez, former director of community relations for District 202 in Plainfield, has battled brain cancer since 2022.

The Ira Jones Middle School National Junior Honor Society will host its fourth annual Family Game Night fundraiser on Friday at the school.