Dupage Policy Journal

Glen Ellyn District 41 School Board votes down mask mandate; students to have uncovered faces on Feb. 22

By LGIS News Service | Feb 15, 2022

At a special board meeting tonight, the Glen Ellyn District 41 School Board voted 4-1 in favor of going mask-optional, allowing its 3,576 students to attend school for the first time in nearly two years with their faces uncovered.

Glenbard 87 Superintendent Larson: Basketball games safe because fans "facing one direction;" "A dance is not safe for students."

By LGIS News Service | Feb 14, 2022

Glenbard Township District 87 Superintendent David Larson told high school parents he cancelled school dances because he believed they were "not safe for students," and that school basketball games were safe because "spectators at athletic events are seated, usually facing in one direction."

Glen Ellyn School Board member Loebach, student mask advocate, takes mask-less selfie at coffee house

By LGIS News Service | Feb 9, 2022

Glen Ellyn District 41 School board member Jason Loebach, an advocate of mandatory student masking of children in the district's classrooms, posted a mask-less selfie on social media this week.

"As someone with an actual law degree..:" Pro-mask Naperville lawyer Dave Nordsieck slams parents opposing them

By LGIS News Service | Feb 9, 2022

At a Naperville District 203 school board meeting Monday, Naperville lawyer Dave Nordsieck told parents opposing in-class masks at that they are "wrong and childish," upbraiding them for using "Google law degree analysis" to try and understand a Sangamon County court order as non-lawyers.

Watch: Naperville 203 School Board President Kristin Fitzgerald admonishes mask opponents

By LGIS News Service | Feb 9, 2022

Naperville School District 203 Board President Kristin Fitzgerald refused to start a Monday board meeting until a crowd of hundreds--- gathered to speak out against her policy of masking students in class-- all put masks on themselves.

Which DuPage County Schools and School Districts are going mask optional?

By LGIS News Service | Feb 8, 2022

See a running list here. DuPage County is home to 42 public school districts and 144,905 enrolled public school students.

Hours after parent protest, Hinsdale - Clarendon Hills District 181 goes mask-optional

By LGIS News Service | Feb 7, 2022

Community Consolidated School District 181, which serves elementary school students in Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills, told parents Monday night the school would go mask-optional, effective immediately.

"Children have suffered irreparable harm;" Parents at Hinsdale's St. Isaac Catholic school challenge diocese decision to ignore court order, continue requiring masks

By LGIS News Service | Feb 7, 2022

Parents at St. Isaac Jogues Parish School in Hinsdale are asking the Diocese of Joliet to respect a Sangamon County Judge's court order that declared Gov. J.B. Pritzker's school mask mandate "null and void."

"We are bound by this judge's ruling:" Lombard School District 44 goes mask-optional

By LGIS News Service | Feb 6, 2022

Lombard School District 44, which includes eight schools and 3,020 students, is now mask-optional.The announcement came Saturday in an email to parents by District Superintendent Ted Stec, in response to a Sangamon County court ruling late Friday that declared Gov. J.B. Pritzker's school student mask requirement "null and void."

"Timothy will be mask-optional, effective immediately:" Timothy Christian Superintendent Davidson says students can ignore Pritzker order, uncover faces

By LGIS News Service | Feb 5, 2022

In a letter to employees, students and parents Friday night, Timothy Christian Schools Superintendent Matt Davidson celebrated a Sangamon County judge's ruling declaring Gov. J.B. Pritzker's statewide schools' mask mandate null and void, declaring his schools "mask-optional-- effective immediately."

"I am cancelling all basketball games for this weekend:" After judge halts Pritzker mask mandate, Joliet Diocese Schools Superintendent Boyle bans maskless youth basketball

By LGIS News Service | Feb 5, 2022

Joliet Diocese Catholic Schools Superintendent Michael J. Boyle cancelled all boys and girls basketball at 40 schools over the weekend, after a Sangamon County Judge's ruling halted Gov. J.B. Pritzker's statewide requirement that children cover their faces while playing sports.

Wayne’s McCall named Division III volleyball player of the week.

By LGIS News Service | Nov 11, 2021

St. Francis High School graduate and Wayne native Jessica McCall has been named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Player of the Week, as announced by the AVCA on Tuesday.

Wheaton North, Willowbrook, Glenbard North, Neuqua Valley, IC Catholic advance to IHSA Football Quarterfinals

By LGIS News Service | Nov 8, 2021

Five DuPage County schools reached the IHSA football quarterfinals.

Glen Ellyn library celebrates "Diwali," but nothing planned for Veterans Day

By LGIS News Service | Nov 4, 2021

This year, the Glen Ellyn Public Library has celebrated "National Hispanic Heritage" and "Gay Pride" months and a Mexican Halloween-type remembrance named the "Day of the Dead." But next Thurs. November 11, for the federal holiday Veterans Day, the Glen Ellyn Library has nothing commemorative planned.

Rep. Mazzochi opposed removing protections for COVID-19 vaccine foes

By LGIS News Service | Oct 28, 2021

Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Westmont) voted against legislation that would remove legal protections now available to opponents of COVID-19 vaccine mandates through Illinois’ Health Care Right of Conscience Act.

Downer's Grove group uncovers more votes counted than cast in Virginia 2020 General Election

By LGIS News Service | Oct 28, 2021

An analysis of 2020 election results and individual Virginia Department of Elections data by a Downer's Grove organization shows a 64,000-vote difference between those marked as having participated in the election and the number of ballots certified as being cast.

From Kane County Reporter

"Am I going to have to F%#%#-ing throw down with this bitch?" Geneva H.S. French teacher posts Tik-Tok rant against grandmother for not wearing mask properly, disrespecting so-called "black national anthem"

By LGIS News Service | 3 years ago

Toni Tortorello-Allaway says she warned a "bitch" Glenbard South grandmother who wouldn't wear her mask properly during a school indoor choir concert Thursday that she wouldn't tolerate such insubordination.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinois’ non-teaching public employee jobs down 6.9% in wake of pandemic

By LGIS News Service | 4 years ago

The size of Illinois’ combined local and state government workforces declined 6.9% from July 2019 to July 2021, representing the fifth largest gap in public-employee job recovery during the pandemic, a Pew Charitable Trusts study concluded.

From Chambana Sun

UIUC reports largest freshman class ever with 8,303 new students

By LGIS News Service | 4 years ago

The size of the freshman class at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign numbered 8,303 this fall, including 5,835 new students – or 70% of the total – from around the state, UIUC reports.

Naperville is worst city in Illinois for commuters, new study finds

By LGIS News Service | Aug 11, 2021

The average travel time to get to work in Naperville is now 32 minutes, making it the worst city for commuting in Illinois, according to a new analysis from the insurance comparison website Insurify.