Illinois school districts are facing uncertainty after the Trump administration abruptly froze more than $6 billion in federal education grants nationwide, including an estimated $240 million intended for Illinois K-12 schools.

At the public hearing for the 502-acre Project Steel data center development’s annexation, Mayor John Purcell wanted to make sure a portion of the revenue is guaranteed to the Yorkville School District 115.

The Plano High School’s music honor society has been named the 2024-2025 Illinois Chapter of the Year by the National Association for Music Education.

Once again, Plano School District 88 received top national recognition for its music education program.

Each of the school’s teachers danced out of the school building wearing giant inflatable costumes, ranging from smiling sharks, a chicken jockey, a pink axolotl, a unicorn, a hopping cow, Olaf from Frozen and an upside-down clown.

Teachers and staff members surprised students at Emily G Johns Elementary School in Plano with an inflatables race on Tuesday, May 27. 2025 after the all-school field day to celebrate the end of the school year.

“Anytime we can bring people into our school to share things, the kids and the community benefit so much from it,” Shelley Schmidt said.

Featuring educational activities in both English and Spanish, the booklets are being distributed to schools, libraries, and early childhood centers throughout Kendall and Grundy counties.

The Plano Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony was held on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at the high school.

The Plano 88 board appointed Mike Jernigan to fill a two-year term that was left vacant after no candidate ran for it during the April 1 consolidated election.

The Plano Police Department is covering the first $100 in ice cream servings to community members who attend their “Custard with Cops” event at the Culvers in Plano, located at 6400 Lakeside Road.

To fill a vacancy, a seventh member of the school board will likely be appointed in early May.

Reports of a threatening message inscribed on a bathroom wall at Plano High School promoted a safety investigation by school authorities.

Ten Plano High School students competed in the Illinois Design Educators Association State Competition, with eight taking home some medals, including several for best in state.

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

Plano School District 88 board is set to maintain its president, welcome back a familiar face and embrace a new one. The updated voting totals include mail-in-ballots.

Plano School District 88 is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy on the board to serve the remainder of a two-year term.

With all precincts reported, the Plano School District 88 board is poised to maintain its president, while welcoming back a familiar face and embracing a new one.

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

Several Kendall County school districts have canceled classes or moved to e-learning Tuesday following predictions of extreme cold weather.

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

This week, the Illinois State Board of Education released school- and district-level data showing what percentage of Kendall 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.

As Kendall County students prepare get back the books, school districts are mostly keeping their cellphones policies unchanged from previous years. However, there has been increased focus on these policies.

Coaches and administrators recognized the Plano School District Unified Track and Field Team for their achievements in May.

Plano High School hosted a commencement ceremony for the Class of 2024 at the school on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

School District 88 staff members, administrators and students recently attended the annual EdRising Partnership Breakfast at Aurora University.

The Plano High School Homecoming Parade was held on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 in Plano.

Students returned to school at Emily G. Johns School in Plano on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.

Ciesla said the job of an instructional coach is not so much about teaching teachers as it is about working collaboratively with them.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in education, Hackley taught for a year as a long-term substitute in the Batavia School District before taking a job at Plano Middle School teaching seventh grade math and science.

Some of our favorite photos from our special Thank You, Teachers edition published May 4, 2023.

Celebrate young artists at Plano School District 88’s annual K-6 art show from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at Emily G. Johns School, 430 Mitchell Drive in Plano.

Question: Would you propose any changes to the curriculum? If so, what? Answer: I believe that our administrators and teachers are in the best position to vet the most qualified curricula for our students. Read Kimberly A. Velazquez's election questionnaire here.

Question: What is your assessment of how Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is handled in your school district? Answer: our administration staff does a good job with this. Read Tim Waldrop's full election questionnaire here.

The event will feature artwork from students at P.H. Miller, Centennial and Emily G. Johns schools.

Plano CUSD#88 Superintendent Tony Baker said the awards are an honor for the district and very meaningful to its staff members who work hard every day.

“We will await that ruling to see if the temporary restraining order will be upheld. In the meantime, the school district’s current rules regarding masking and close contact exclusion requirements will remain in place,” Oswego School District 308 Superintendent John Sparlin said.

The district has sent an email to parents with further details on the remote learning day.

Plano School District 88 Superintendent Tony Baker estimated that roughly 80% of the district’s total staff of 400 employee have been vaccinated.

In an email Thursday afternoon Yorkville School Superintendent Tim Shimp said district officials are “sorting through the very new announcement, and the impact it will have on our 950+ employees.”

“As long as supported by local health data,” masks will be recommended for unvaccinated individuals, but there will not be a universal mask mandate for students and staff, the resolution states.

“I don’t yet know 100% that we’ll be able to open on time,” Director of Operations Bryan Appel told the Plano School District 88 Board of Education.

The board also confirmed District 88 does not have a policy or mandate in place requiring students and staff to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status.