Latest news with #D203
Chicago Tribune
18-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville News Digest: Applications due May 21 for Naperville Police Youth Academy; Naper Settlement opening new ‘Farm Forward' exhibit
D203 board voting on new sked, but actual hours decision delayed The Naperville District 203 School Board is to vote Monday on a plan to move its Innovative School Experience forward, but a decision on school day hours and block scheduling won't be made till June. In a video message this week, Superintendent Dan Bridges said the board and administrators have been listening to the feedback from the staff, families and community. There has been a lot of negativity publicly about the proposal, he said, but others have expressed their support privately. The Innovative School Experience is the formal name for a proposal to switch to a block schedule format for middle and high schools and adjust the start and end times for all students in elementary, middle and high school. Since the plan was unveiled in January, the board has heard from parents, teachers and students who have opposed the proposal. The administration will ask the board Monday to consider approving the plan's implementation goal of the 2026-27 school year while continuing to seek feedback from the community. This would include hosting staff meetings to increase understanding and address concerns, Bridges said. Design teams would look at topics within the proposal such as advisory design, band, chorus and orchestra, a developmental play focus group for kindergarten, middle school zero hour and others, Bridges said. Board members also will be asked to create a start-and-end time committee to review the proposed recommendations and consider additional options that will be brought forward to the board for approval in June, he said. The start and end times that are currently on the table shift elementary hours which now run from 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Middle school hours, which are now 8 a.m. to 2:50 p.m., are proposed to be 8:50 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. High school would start at 8:20 a.m. instead of 7:45 a.m., and still end at 3:10 p.m., under the current proposal. Naper Settlement opening new 'Farm Forward' exhibit Naper Settlement's newest exhibit, 'Farm Forward,' explores the Illinois agriculture industry through the lens of local photographer Jeffrey Ross. Ross serves on the board of the Chicago chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association and travels all over the country for various farm and agriculture marketing assignments. The exhibit is located inside the Mary and Richard Benck Family Agriculture Center on the settlement's campus, 523 S. Webster St., and is included in the museum's general admission. Illinois had 72,000 farms that span 27 million acres or about three-quarters of the state as of 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agriculture Statistics Service. About 89% of the state's cropland is considered prime farmland, according to exhibit information on the settlement's website. The exhibit captures some of the industry's innovative practices and includes rarely seen images to the everyday consumer, the website said. For more information, go to Naperville Woman's Club sets dates for fine art fair in June This year's 65th annual Fine Art and Artisan Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 28-29 by the Naperville Woman's Club at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Featuring the work of more than 100 artists from around the country, the free event will feature a variety of mediums, including ceramics, glass, metal, photography, painting, sculpture and more, an event news release said. Local musicians will perform, and food and adult beverages available for purchase. The event also includes several art-oriented interactive experiences geared for families, the release said. As in past years, the club will select an exhibitor's painting to be reproduced into an 8-by-12-foot mural. Visitors who duplicate a small portion of the mural will have their work stapled to a wood frame to create the larger work of art, the release said. A children's area will include face painting, yard games and sculpting clay
Chicago Tribune
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Letters to the Editor: No support for D203's ‘half-baked' schedule changes; Naperville needs to support its immigrant population
No support for D203's 'half-baked' schedule changes I want to thank the Naperville Sun for covering the proposed changes to Naperville District 203's school schedules. Wednesday's article accurately conveyed the unanimously negative feedback from community members at Monday's School Board meeting. Every teacher, aide and parent who spoke strongly opposed the changes suggested by the administration. Survey data provided by the teachers union showed overwhelming opposition from its members. As a parent of an elementary student, I share those concerns. Elementary schools begin at 8:15 a.m., but the administration wants to move that to 7:45 a.m. They claim changes are necessary to meet children's physiological needs, however, research shows children need more sleep — not less. Elementary schools in neighboring Indian Prairie District 204 begin at 9:05 a.m. How can elementary students in District 203 be expected to do well in the classroom and participate in the same after-school activities (soccer, gymnastics, Scouting) as District 204 students while getting 80 minutes less sleep each night? The administration also wants to move the start time of middle schools from 8 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. This presents a challenge for working parents who cannot wait that long to take a child to the bus stop or drive them to school before leaving for work. The administration, after hearing from concerned parents, said they reached out to community partners last week to see if there was capacity to handle increased demand for before-school child care. Why did it take an outcry from parents for the administration to investigate that issue last week instead of when the proposal was being formed? This illustrates a clear lack of foresight and preparedness from the administration. They have not considered all the downstream impacts of this proposal and are pushing the negative consequences onto teachers and families who never asked for it. The district's FAQ website about the proposal, while lacking hard evidence as to why the changes are needed, says, 'Our students deserve this. How could we wait? At what cost?' I believe if we are truly worried about the well-being of our kids and the community, prematurely implementing a half-baked plan with large-scale negative impacts and lack of support from teachers and parents is the worst thing that could happen to students. I strongly encourage community members who share these concerns to contact the School Board at boemail@ and let your voices be heard. Daniel Alamillo, Naperville Naperville needs to support its immigrant population In 2023, Mayor Scott Wehrli proclaimed Oct. 28 as 'Immigrants Day in the City of Naperville,' an initiative led by ALMAS in collaboration with other local organizations. This was a powerful acknowledgment of the important role immigrant communities play in shaping our city. According to the most recent Census numbers available, more than 21% of Naperville residents were born outside the U.S. and nearly 26% of households speak a language other than English at home. This kind of diversity isn't just part of our city's identity — it's one of our greatest strengths. But proclamations are just the beginning. Across the nation, immigrant families, including undocumented and mixed-status households, are facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainty. History has shown us that in moments like these, solidarity, leadership and community action can make all the difference. None of these initiatives are new. Suburban cities like Evanston, which has adopted 'Welcoming City Ordinances,' have shown us what's possible when municipalities actively support immigrant communities and foster trust within their neighborhoods. With a growing immigrant population, we urge Naperville leaders to consider the following actions: Implement data protection policies: Safeguard personal information from misuse by federal immigration agencies. Develop safe spaces: Make public buildings safe zones for all residents. Provide resources: Offer legal, educational and support services for immigrants and their allies. Engage the community: Host workshops to educate residents on their rights and how everyone can support vulnerable neighbors. Embracing immigrants regardless of immigration status isn't just aligned with the city's mission statement; it amplifies it by strengthening Naperville's identity as a thriving, diverse and welcoming place to live, work and grow. Whether you are an immigrant, the child of immigrants or someone who values social justice, you have a role to play. Now is the moment to come together and advocate for policies, programs and initiatives that reflect our shared values of inclusion and mutual support. Together, let's take practical steps to create a stronger, more inclusive Naperville for generations to come. Lili Burciaga, Founder and President Diana Torres Hawken, Founder and Secretary Alliance of Latinos Motivating Action in the Suburbs (ALMAS) DEI's about respect and empathy, not job advantages The term 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' has become a weapon. Recently, it has become mainstream to label DEI as unfair and a way to restrict opportunities for some individuals. It is time to revisit the concept because practicing DEI makes us all better human beings. We teach our children to be courteous and respectful of the physical and emotional needs of others. DEI extends this respect, courtesy and empathy in the community or workplace. Accommodating religious practices such as fasting and providing space for prayer and meditation in the workplace shows respect and compassion for colleagues. DEI is about valuing all individuals and not deeming a job candidate unqualified because they are female, have a name that is difficult to pronounce, wear a hijab, have dark skin or are otherwise different from ourselves. It is about seeking diversity and ensuring that people are not excluded for reasons unrelated to the job. Equity is not equality, which is one of the important lessons DEI teaches us. If we give a teenager and a toddler the same bike, it would be equal. But it would not be equitable because only one of the two would have a vehicle they could use. Equity helps level the playing field by giving everyone what they need even if their needs are not the same. Diversity is challenging, but growth only happens when we push ourselves to consider new views. As champions for women and girls, we advocate to ensure that their talents are developed and utilized to advance our communities, organizations and country. Let's mobilize this commitment to DEI by uplifting those companies and organizations that are still enacting these ideals. Challenge yourself to reach out to your legislators and ask them to uphold the value of diversity and encourage equity and inclusion everywhere. Laura Welch, President, Illinois NOW Jill Lexier, Advocate, National Council of Jewish Women, Chicago North Shore Submit letters to the editor via email to suburbanletters@ Please include your name, address and town of residence for publication. We also need your phone number and email address for confirmation. Letters should be no more than 250 to 300 words.
