Latest news with #LoriBrown
CBS News
14-08-2025
- General
- CBS News
Vallejo City Unified considering closing several schools
While many districts are celebrating back to school, the Vallejo City Unified School District is weighing more school closures due to declining enrollment, chronic absenteeism, and funding. A committee of 10 community members recommended a list of seven schools, including Lincoln Elementary "It's like family to me, especially the staff too," said Lori Brown, who lives near the school. "But you know, things change and there's a transition." The full list includes: Brown's husband is also the pastor of the First Baptist church directly across the street from Lincoln. Throughout the last two decades, they've stepped in to help. "We started out actually as a uniform closet back when they required uniforms," explained Brown. "They would come over and then you would see that there was other needs, food was needed for them." Brown said the students also needed school supplies and even assistance with their homework. The church has held pep rallies, ice cream events for kids with perfect attendance, and provides a safe space for the students. She said the school is located in a low-income neighborhood, making access to resources, like a school, imperative. "Children really rely on the school for safety, and for being educated," said Brown. "It's really a part of their family the staff over there." Two schools have already closed for the 2025-26 school year, bringing the total schools in the district down to 18. Superintendent Ruben Aurelio has only been with the district for a year, but in that time, it has exited state receivership and now has full autonomy. He said they have to continue to make the right decisions to correctly size the district, and that means closing some schools. "We're not going to close seven schools," Aurelio clarified. "We probably won't close five schools. It's hard to predict exact numbers, but if I had to guess, it's probably going to be one to three." The committee ranked each school in terms of priority for closure, Lincoln Elementary is at the top. But they will look at the numbers at the beginning of the school year before making any decisions "We're funded based on our average daily attendance, we staff based on enrollment, but we only get funding for the kids that show up to school," said Aurelio. "So, we're staffing and funding at 89% attendance, and we're leaving 11 percent on the table, which for us each percentage is over a million dollars." The committee will present the list to the school board on August 20. The final decision will be made in December, and it will go into effect for the '26-'27 school year. Impacted students would be moved to different campuses. Brown said she's hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. "We're going to try and stay connected in other ways," Brown said with commitment. "There's other ways you can still be connected if the schools not there, but I guess it's a little harder, but we'll find ways."
Chicago Tribune
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
IDOT wants public input on Route 20/Shales Parkway improvements in Elgin
The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback on four possible ways it might improve traffic flow and safety on Route 20 at Shales Parkway in Elgin. An open house-style public hearing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at the downtown Schock Centre of Elgin at which exhibits will be on display and an audio-visual presentation shown on repeat during the meeting to educate residents on the concepts being considered. Project team members will be on hand to provide more information and to answer questions. The exhibits and presentation can also be viewed online at Located in the northwest corner of Cook County, the project site involves portions of the city of Elgin and the villages of Bartlett and Streamwood. The area being studied extends along Route 20, ending at Poplar Creek to the west and just east of Route 59 to the east. Traffic studies show anywhere between 1,600 and 2,465 vehicles use that section of Route 20 in each direction every hour. Those numbers are expected to increase between 28% and 38% by 2050, according to IDOT. A five-year analysis done between 2016 and 2021 showed there were 739 crashes — one of which was fatal — within the area being evaluated. IDOT expects to finish the first phase of engineering and environmental study later this year. There are four possible ways to improve the roadway and the intersection with Shales for which officials want public feedback. They are construction of: A single point urban interchange, which would reduce the number of intersections, thereby cutting down the opportunity for crashes. It would include a new north-south connector roadway linking Villa Street to Bluff City Boulevard with a roundabout. A roundabout west of Shales Parkway at the Route 20 eastbound ramps and new interchange ramps on both Bluff City Boulevard and Shales Parkway. It would include a new north-south connector roadway linking Villa Street to Bluff City Boulevard with a second roundabout. A split interchange with local access to Shales Parkway and an updated Villa Street alignment. It would include a new roadway connecting Shales Parkway directly to Gifford Road. A diverging diamond interchange with a new north-south connector roadway linking Villa Street and Bluff City Boulevard. Anyone unable to attend the hearing can submit comments by email to info@ via the project website at or by mail to Illinois Department of Transportation Bureau of Programming, Attn: Lori Brown, 201 W. Center Court, Schaumburg, IL 60196-1096. All comments received by May 30 will become part of the official public record, officials said. IDOT has several projects in the works in addition to the Shales/Route 20 intersection. The Route 31 bridge over Route 20 is being replaced, and several bridges along Route 20 are under construction. The agency is also planning to replace the Route 20 bridge over the Fox River.
