Latest news with #OaktonCollege
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's push to allow community colleges to offer 4-year degrees faces uphill climb in Springfield
CHICAGO — Monica Mendoza started working on her early childhood education about a decade ago with the dream of opening a day care in her home. After breaks due to the pandemic and the birth of her third and fourth child, Mendoza, now 38, said she is on track to earn her associate's degree from Oakton College in May. She also wants to earn a bachelor's degree to go beyond working as a teacher's assistant, but she's concerned about the financial and logistical commitments of going to a university farther away from her home in Evanston, she said. Those factors will determine 'where and if I 100% will transfer,' she added. Because she thinks it could help students like her to complete their education without being so stretched financially and otherwise, Mendoza is advocating for a proposal from Gov. JB Pritzker that would allow some community colleges to offer four-year degrees. It would allow students like her to earn a bachelor's degree from their community college, rather than having to transfer. The governor's office and proponents from Illinois' community colleges say the proposal would allow more Illinoisans to access degrees in fields that could use more workers, such as nursing and cybersecurity. But the pitch is facing stiff headwinds in Springfield, where earlier this month it failed to be called for a committee vote ahead of a procedural deadline amid opposition from existing four-year institutions, some of which are facing enrollment and financial issues. Pritzker, who highlighted the plan in his budget announcement in February, and has been promoting it at stops around the state for the past several weeks, said he still has hope the bill could pass. 'It could be done. There is plenty of time left for us to get it done in this General Assembly,' Pritzker said after the bill failed to be called for an expected committee vote. 'It's very important to me to expand educational opportunities and to help industries fill the open positions that they have.' Similar legislation has stalled in the General Assembly in the past, though two dozen states already offer authorization for bachelor's degrees at community colleges, according to a tally from the Community College Baccalaureate Association. The proposal also comes amid a time of overall anxiety in higher education, as the administration of President Donald Trump has moved to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and potentially drastically cut funding that states rely on. Pritzker's administration has touted its initiatives as a foil to Trump's threats to public education. 'We have some really terrific four-year institutions in Illinois that are a vital part of our higher education system, but we need to recognize that there are geographic, financial and accessibility constraints that close off too many students from attending those schools, especially in rural areas,' Pritzker said earlier this month while promoting the legislation at Lewis and Clark Community College in downstate Godfrey. If a community college board chooses to offer a bachelor's degree program, it would need to meet a series of requirements outlined in the law and be approved by the Illinois Community College Board and Illinois Board of Higher Education, according to the bill. Four-year universities argue the bill could diminish progress the state has made on educational access and achievement, according to a statement to reporters from a coalition of Illinois universities including leadership from Chicago State University, Illinois State University and several 'directional' Illinois schools such as Northern Illinois University. The president of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, which includes private schools such as Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and DePaul University, also signed off on the release. The statement, which did not include the University of Illinois system, raised concerns that the proposal could be 'duplicating efforts' to offer certain programs or raise costs. But some students like Madison Albert, who's set to graduate with an associate's degree this year from Lewis and Clark, don't see transferring to a four-year university as a viable option, even while understanding the benefits of having a bachelor's degree. 'If I don't have the means to commute or the funds, that means that I then am just out of luck when it comes to continuing my education?' she asked in an interview. Instead, she said she'll likely stick with an associate's degree, despite knowing that it won't make her as competitive for hiring opportunities. Fuad Hassan, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Illinois Chicago from Gurnee who backs the proposal, is trying to earn a four-year degree on a tight budget, and spends as much time commuting as some college kids do working a part-time job. Hassan started his college education at the College of Lake County in nearby Grayslake. Now, he struggles to study or catch a nap during a nearly five-hour Metra commute, four days a week. 'After that, for a long period of the day, I feel really tired and it's really hard to focus on the studies,' Hassan said, adding: 'I can work hard. I can commute every day. But comparing the dorm cost and food cost, living in Chicago … it's cheaper to stay with my parents.' Illinois community colleges saw a record-breaking surge in enrollment this spring semester, according to the Illinois Community College Board's most recent enrollment report, even as some four-year universities have struggled. 'The pandemic had a profound effect on enrollment and Illinois community colleges continue to aggressively recruit and retain students as enrollment rebounds,' the report said, adding that the state 'is outpacing growth nationally.' Four-year universities have warned of dwindling enrollment that could worsen with demographic changes. While fall enrollment at Illinois public universities grew by 1.6% this school year, half of the 12 schools tracked saw a drop-off, according to a report from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, which supports the legislation. The greatest of those decreases was at Western Illinois University, which saw a more than 10% change in year-over-year enrollment. The school made local headlines last year as dozens of faculty and staff were laid off amid that university's enrollment and financial issues. The governor's proposal includes some guardrails against siphoning off students from their local universities, according to its proponents. It says community college boards must be able to demonstrate the programs wouldn't 'unnecessarily duplicate' already-available four-year offerings in the same district, though few specifics are outlined in the bill's text. The intent is to fill workforce gaps in local communities and help students who otherwise wouldn't get a four-year degree, said Jim Reed Jr., executive director at the Illinois Community College Trustees Association. Some fields found to have workforce needs that could be met by the proposal include cybersecurity and manufacturing with automotive technicians and quality control roles, Reed said. Many students expected to participate would be considered 'nontraditional,' older students, he added. The change wouldn't directly cost the state, he said, and the cost for students' third and fourth years would be capped at 150% of the community college's typical tuition, according to the bill. While the governor has focused on rural communities in advocating for the legislation, the bill's current text suggests any community college in Illinois could potentially be eligible if they can show the need and demand for a program. A spokesperson at the City Colleges of Chicago declined a request for comment. Negotiations on the bill continue. State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, the bill's House sponsor, said that the discussions include 'setting up a framework for how these programs are going to run throughout the state,' including keeping the door open for regional differences in how issues like commute times are calculated, for example. The state could provide 'rubrics' or otherwise more clearly show how it would make decisions about whether offerings are duplicative to provide more certainty to different regions about what programs might be likely to develop, she said. 'Everybody cares about getting this right,' Katz Muhl said. A proposal to allow community colleges to offer nursing degrees, led by now-Deputy Gov. Andy Manar, failed in 2017. Manar, then a state senator, at the time accused public universities of lying in their testimony and failing to negotiate provisions of the bill. Reed and others also testified in favor of legislation like this year's proposal at a state Senate subject matter hearing last year, but it was never called for a vote. At that hearing, some lawmakers raised concerns about increased costs in tuition or taxes to pay for the change. Mendoza, the Oakton College student, may soon be starting a different kind of educational journey: Her oldest daughter, a 16-year-old at Evanston Township High School, is starting a college search of her own, starting to dream about schools while also beginning to look at grants and scholarships, Mendoza said. It's a milestone opportunity but also adds to the family's list of potential higher education costs, she said. 'We all love for her to spread her wings and just do what she wants,' Mendoza said. 'It's kind of difficult when I'm also pursuing a career.' ---------- Tribune reporter Jeremy Gorner contributed to this report from Peoria. ____
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. JB Pritzker's push to allow community colleges to offer 4-year degrees faces uphill climb in Springfield
Monica Mendoza started working on her early childhood education about a decade ago with the dream of opening a day care in her home. After breaks due to the pandemic and the birth of her third and fourth child, Mendoza, now 38, said she is on track to earn her associate's degree from Oakton College in May. She also wants to earn a bachelor's degree to go beyond working as a teacher's assistant, but she's concerned about the financial and logistical commitments of going to a university farther away from her home in Evanston, she said. Those factors will determine 'where and if I 100% will transfer,' she added. Because she thinks it could help students like her to complete their education without being so stretched financially and otherwise, Mendoza is advocating for a proposal from Gov. JB Pritzker that would allow some community colleges to offer four-year degrees. It would allow students like her to earn a bachelor's degree from their community college, rather than having to transfer. The governor's office and proponents from Illinois' community colleges say the proposal would allow more Illinoisans to access degrees in fields that could use more workers, such as nursing and cybersecurity. But the pitch is facing stiff headwinds in Springfield, where earlier this month it failed to be called for a committee vote ahead of a procedural deadline amid opposition from existing four-year institutions, some of which are facing enrollment and financial issues. Pritzker, who highlighted the plan in his budget announcement in February, and has been promoting it at stops around the state for the past several weeks, said he still has hope the bill could pass. 'It could be done. There is plenty of time left for us to get it done in this General Assembly,' Pritzker said after the bill failed to be called for an expected committee vote. 'It's very important to me to expand educational opportunities and to help industries fill the open positions that they have.' Similar legislation has stalled in the General Assembly in the past, though two dozen states already offer authorization for bachelor's degrees at community colleges, according to a tally from the Community College Baccalaureate Association. The proposal also comes amid a time of overall anxiety in higher education, as the administration of President Donald Trump has moved to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and potentially drastically cut funding that states rely on. Pritzker's administration has touted its initiatives as a foil to Trump's threats to public education. 'We have some really terrific four-year institutions in Illinois that are a vital part of our higher education system, but we need to recognize that there are geographic, financial and accessibility constraints that close off too many students from attending those schools, especially in rural areas,' Pritzker said earlier this month while promoting the legislation at Lewis and Clark Community College in downstate Godfrey. If a community college board chooses to offer a bachelor's degree program, it would need to meet a series of requirements outlined in the law and be approved by the Illinois Community College Board and Illinois Board of Higher Education, according to the bill. Four-year universities argue the bill could diminish progress the state has made on educational access and achievement, according to a statement to reporters from a coalition of Illinois universities including leadership from Chicago State University, Illinois State University and several 'directional' Illinois schools such as Northern Illinois University. The president of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, which includes private schools such as Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and DePaul University, also signed off on the release. The statement, which did not include the University of Illinois system, raised concerns that the proposal could be 'duplicating efforts' to offer certain programs or raise costs. But some students like Madison Albert, who's set to graduate with an associate's degree this year from Lewis and Clark, don't see transferring to a four-year university as a viable option, even while understanding the benefits of having a bachelor's degree. 'If I don't have the means to commute or the funds, that means that I then am just out of luck when it comes to continuing my education?' she asked in an interview. Instead, she said she'll likely stick with an associate's degree, despite knowing that it won't make her as competitive for hiring opportunities. Fuad Hassan, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Illinois Chicago from Gurnee who backs the proposal, is trying to earn a four-year degree on a tight budget, and spends as much time commuting as some college kids do working a part-time job. Hassan started his college education at the College of Lake County in nearby Grayslake. Now, he struggles to study or catch a nap during a nearly five-hour Metra commute, four days a week. 'After that, for a long period of the day, I feel really tired and it's really hard to focus on the studies,' Hassan said, adding: 'I can work hard. I can commute every day. But comparing the dorm cost and food cost, living in Chicago … it's cheaper to stay with my parents.' Illinois community colleges saw a record-breaking surge in enrollment this spring semester, according to the Illinois Community College Board's most recent enrollment report, even as some four-year universities have struggled. 'The pandemic had a profound effect on enrollment and Illinois community colleges continue to aggressively recruit and retain students as enrollment rebounds,' the report said, adding that the state 'is outpacing growth nationally.' Four-year universities have warned of dwindling enrollment that could worsen with demographic changes. While fall enrollment at Illinois public universities grew by 1.6% this school year, half of the 12 schools tracked saw a drop-off, according to a report from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, which supports the legislation. The greatest of those decreases was at Western Illinois University, which saw a more than 10% change in year-over-year enrollment. The school made local headlines last year as dozens of faculty and staff were laid off amid that university's enrollment and financial issues. The governor's proposal includes some guardrails against siphoning off students from their local universities, according to its proponents. It says community college boards must be able to demonstrate the programs wouldn't 'unnecessarily duplicate' already-available four-year offerings in the same district, though few specifics are outlined in the bill's text. The intent is to fill workforce gaps in local communities and help students who otherwise wouldn't get a four-year degree, said Jim Reed Jr., executive director at the Illinois Community College Trustees Association. Some fields found to have workforce needs that could be met by the proposal include cybersecurity and manufacturing with automotive technicians and quality control roles, Reed said. Many students expected to participate would be considered 'nontraditional,' older students, he added. The change wouldn't directly cost the state, he said, and the cost for students' third and fourth years would be capped at 150% of the community college's typical tuition, according to the bill. While the governor has focused on rural communities in advocating for the legislation, the bill's current text suggests any community college in Illinois could potentially be eligible if they can show the need and demand for a program. A spokesperson at the City Colleges of Chicago declined a request for comment. Negotiations on the bill continue. State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, the bill's House sponsor, said that the discussions include 'setting up a framework for how these programs are going to run throughout the state,' including keeping the door open for regional differences in how issues like commute times are calculated, for example. The state could provide 'rubrics' or otherwise more clearly show how it would make decisions about whether offerings are duplicative to provide more certainty to different regions about what programs might be likely to develop, she said. 'Everybody cares about getting this right,' Katz Muhl said. A proposal to allow community colleges to offer nursing degrees, led by now-Deputy Gov. Andy Manar, failed in 2017. Manar, then a state senator, at the time accused public universities of lying in their testimony and failing to negotiate provisions of the bill. Reed and others also testified in favor of legislation like this year's proposal at a state Senate subject matter hearing last year, but it was never called for a vote. At that hearing, some lawmakers raised concerns about increased costs in tuition or taxes to pay for the change. Mendoza, the Oakton College student, may soon be starting a different kind of educational journey: Her oldest daughter, a 16-year-old at Evanston Township High School, is starting a college search of her own, starting to dream about schools while also beginning to look at grants and scholarships, Mendoza said. It's a milestone opportunity but also adds to the family's list of potential higher education costs, she said. 'We all love for her to spread her wings and just do what she wants,' Mendoza said. 'It's kind of difficult when I'm also pursuing a career.' Tribune reporter Jeremy Gorner contributed to this report from Peoria.
Chicago Tribune
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Gov. JB Pritzker's push to allow community colleges to offer 4-year degrees faces uphill climb in Springfield
Monica Mendoza started working on her early childhood education about a decade ago with the dream of opening a day care in her home. After breaks due to the pandemic and the birth of her third and fourth child, Mendoza, now 38, said she is on track to earn her associate's degree from Oakton College in May. She also wants to earn a bachelor's degree to go beyond working as a teacher's assistant, but she's concerned about the financial and logistical commitments of going to a university farther away from her home in Evanston, she said. Those factors will determine 'where and if I 100% will transfer,' she added. Because she thinks it could help students like her to complete their education without being so stretched financially and otherwise, Mendoza is advocating for a proposal from Gov. JB Pritzker that would allow some community colleges to offer four-year degrees. It would allow students like her to earn a bachelor's degree from their community college, rather than having to transfer. The governor's office and proponents from Illinois' community colleges say the proposal would allow more Illinoisans to access degrees in fields that could use more workers, such as nursing and cybersecurity. But the pitch is facing stiff headwinds in Springfield, where earlier this month it failed to be called for a committee vote ahead of a procedural deadline amid opposition from existing four-year institutions, some of which are facing enrollment and financial issues. Pritzker, who highlighted the plan in his budget announcement in February, and has been promoting it at stops around the state for the past several weeks, said he still has hope the bill could pass. 'It could be done. There is plenty of time left for us to get it done in this General Assembly,' Pritzker said after the bill failed to be called for an expected committee vote. 'It's very important to me to expand educational opportunities and to help industries fill the open positions that they have.' Similar legislation has stalled in the General Assembly in the past, though two dozen states already offer authorization for bachelor's degrees at community colleges, according to a tally from the Community College Baccalaureate Association. The proposal also comes amid a time of overall anxiety in higher education, as the administration of President Donald Trump has moved to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and potentially drastically cut funding that states rely on. Pritzker's administration has touted its initiatives as a foil to Trump's threats to public education. 'We have some really terrific four-year institutions in Illinois that are a vital part of our higher education system, but we need to recognize that there are geographic, financial and accessibility constraints that close off too many students from attending those schools, especially in rural areas,' Pritzker said earlier this month while promoting the legislation at Lewis and Clark Community College in downstate Godfrey. If a community college board chooses to offer a bachelor's degree program, it would need to meet a series of requirements outlined in the law and be approved by the Illinois Community College Board and Illinois Board of Higher Education, according to the bill. Four-year universities argue the bill could diminish progress the state has made on educational access and achievement, according to a statement to reporters from a coalition of Illinois universities including leadership from Chicago State University, Illinois State University and several 'directional' Illinois schools such as Northern Illinois University. The president of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, which includes private schools such as Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and DePaul University, also signed off on the release. The statement, which did not include the University of Illinois system, raised concerns that the proposal could be 'duplicating efforts' to offer certain programs or raise costs. But some students like Madison Albert, who's set to graduate with an associate's degree this year from Lewis and Clark, don't see transferring to a four-year university as a viable option, even while understanding the benefits of having a bachelor's degree. 'If I don't have the means to commute or the funds, that means that I then am just out of luck when it comes to continuing my education?' she asked in an interview. Instead, she said she'll likely stick with an associate's degree, despite knowing that it won't make her as competitive for hiring opportunities. Fuad Hassan, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Illinois Chicago from Gurnee who backs the proposal, is trying to earn a four-year degree on a tight budget, and spends as much time commuting as some college kids do working a part-time job. Hassan started his college education at the College of Lake County in nearby Grayslake. Now, he struggles to study or catch a nap during a nearly five-hour Metra commute, four days a week. 'After that, for a long period of the day, I feel really tired and it's really hard to focus on the studies,' Hassan said, adding: 'I can work hard. I can commute every day. But comparing the dorm cost and food cost, living in Chicago … it's cheaper to stay with my parents.' Illinois community colleges saw a record-breaking surge in enrollment this spring semester, according to the Illinois Community College Board's most recent enrollment report, even as some four-year universities have struggled. 'The pandemic had a profound effect on enrollment and Illinois community colleges continue to aggressively recruit and retain students as enrollment rebounds,' the report said, adding that the state 'is outpacing growth nationally.' Four-year universities have warned of dwindling enrollment that could worsen with demographic changes. While fall enrollment at Illinois public universities grew by 1.6% this school year, half of the 12 schools tracked saw a drop-off, according to a report from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, which supports the legislation. The greatest of those decreases was at Western Illinois University, which saw a more than 10% change in year-over-year enrollment. The school made local headlines last year as dozens of faculty and staff were laid off amid that university's enrollment and financial issues. The governor's proposal includes some guardrails against siphoning off students from their local universities, according to its proponents. It says community college boards must be able to demonstrate the programs wouldn't 'unnecessarily duplicate' already-available four-year offerings in the same district, though few specifics are outlined in the bill's text. The intent is to fill workforce gaps in local communities and help students who otherwise wouldn't get a four-year degree, said Jim Reed Jr., executive director at the Illinois Community College Trustees Association. Some fields found to have workforce needs that could be met by the proposal include cybersecurity and manufacturing with automotive technicians and quality control roles, Reed said. Many students expected to participate would be considered 'nontraditional,' older students, he added. The change wouldn't directly cost the state, he said, and the cost for students' third and fourth years would be capped at 150% of the community college's typical tuition, according to the bill. While the governor has focused on rural communities in advocating for the legislation, the bill's current text suggests any community college in Illinois could potentially be eligible if they can show the need and demand for a program. A spokesperson at the City Colleges of Chicago declined a request for comment. Negotiations on the bill continue. State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, the bill's House sponsor, said that the discussions include 'setting up a framework for how these programs are going to run throughout the state,' including keeping the door open for regional differences in how issues like commute times are calculated, for example. The state could provide 'rubrics' or otherwise more clearly show how it would make decisions about whether offerings are duplicative to provide more certainty to different regions about what programs might be likely to develop, she said. 'Everybody cares about getting this right,' Katz Muhl said. A proposal to allow community colleges to offer nursing degrees, led by now-Deputy Gov. Andy Manar, failed in 2017. Manar, then a state senator, at the time accused public universities of lying in their testimony and failing to negotiate provisions of the bill. Reed and others also testified in favor of legislation like this year's proposal at a state Senate subject matter hearing last year, but it was never called for a vote. At that hearing, some lawmakers raised concerns about increased costs in tuition or taxes to pay for the change. Mendoza, the Oakton College student, may soon be starting a different kind of educational journey: Her oldest daughter, a 16-year-old at Evanston Township High School, is starting a college search of her own, starting to dream about schools while also beginning to look at grants and scholarships, Mendoza said. It's a milestone opportunity but also adds to the family's list of potential higher education costs, she said. 'We all love for her to spread her wings and just do what she wants,' Mendoza said. 'It's kind of difficult when I'm also pursuing a career.'
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chicago: North suburban schools prepare for potential immigration raids
CHICAGO — North suburban school districts, as well as Oakton College in the north suburbs, are communicating with students about potential immigration raids after President Donald Trump's administration cleared the way, in a reversal of previous policy at the federal level, for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to carry out arrests in areas deemed sensitive, such as schools and houses of worship. Illinois public schools are subject to the Illinois Trust Act, a 2017 law that prevents ICE agents from entering schools unless they have a signed judicial warrant. The law also bars schools from asking about families' immigration status. Kalman Resnick, a Chicago-area immigration attorney, told Pioneer Press that it's unlikely that immigration agents will attempt to detain students in school. 'I don't think it's a priority (for the Trump administration) right now. They're prioritizing people who are already in the process of deportation, either because they either have an outstanding order of deportation, or they have a criminal conviction,' he said. Resnick said a federal judge would have to sign off on a judicial warrant for immigration agents to enter a school. Some undocumented immigrants in the Chicago area have reported feeling anxiety at the possibility of immigration raids. Some are consequently staying home from school, work and places of worship. Resnick said while it is possible for immigration raids to occur while a parent is taking their child to school, anyone can use their right to remain silent. If a student is detained at school, the student has a right to a deportation hearing before a judge where they could request to be released under the payment of a bond, Resnick said. Many north suburban school districts have released statements or plans regarding immigration raids, as follows. According to Oakton College's Communications Manager Ewa Lyczewska, the community college released a statement to its students after President Donald Trump's inauguration saying the school is committed to a safe learning environment. 'Oakton has shared information with… students to make them aware of available resources and support for DACA and undocumented students,' the statement said. The college offered links to resources for undocumented and DACA students on its website. When asked if federal immigration agents can gain access to the college's campuses in Skokie and Des Plaines, Lycwzewka said both campuses are open to the public. She added that Oakton's Police Department will only assist federal agents if they are presented with a valid criminal warrant with probable cause for arrest. During Trump's first term, Skokie's Village Board approved amendments to its Human Relations code that bear similarities to a Welcoming City ordinance. The village also approved a resolution to deny access to immigration agents seeking to enter public schools, universities and healthcare facilities without a warrant. In response to a slew of questions regarding Trump's executive orders, Niles Township High School District 219's Director of Communications Takumi Iseda said, 'D219 continues to align with the Illinois State Board of Education regarding standards for instruction as well as immigration guidance.' Skokie School District 73.5 sent two letters to families from Jan. 21 to Jan. 23 saying the district is adhering to the Trust Act and will take steps to validate warrants. 'We have provided guidance to principals and the appropriate school-based staff regarding student rights and protections, how to handle interactions with ICE or CBP, and how to protect students who may have a parent or guardian who has been detained by ICE or CBP during the school day,' one of the letters said. In addition, the district will use its legal counsel to verify warrants presented to schools in the district. 'Without a signed judicial warrant, no official will be allowed into the school building at any time,' the district's letter said. The letter also gave instruction on how to update students' emergency contacts. Skokie School District 68's Superintendent Scott Grens sent a similar letter to families on Jan. 28. 'Children cannot be denied access to free public education based on their or their families' immigration status. Schools cannot share student information with authorities unless presented with a lawful court order signed by a judge,' it said. In a January letter from East Prairie School District 73 Superintendent Paul Goldberg to families in the district, Goldberg said the school's administration, and if necessary legal counsel, will review court orders. The district also offered resources student support, psychological help and guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education. Evanston Township High School Superintendent Marcus Campbell wrote two letters to families on Jan. 20 and Jan. 27. 'ETHS will not allow any immigration enforcement activities to disrupt the school's learning environment,' Campbell said in his Jan. 20 letter. On Jan. 27, after Trump overturned ICE policy that directed agents to not conduct enforcement operations at schools, houses of worship, hospitals and other placed deemed sensitive, Campbell released another letter to families. 'Federal stances and policies may continue to evolve, but ETHS remains firmly grounded in our core values as both an institution and a community. We are committed to our ongoing work to create safer, more inclusive spaces for all of our students,' it said. On Jan. 21 Evanston-Skokie District School District 65 Superintendent Angel Turner sent out a letter to district families saying, 'All schools are considered safe havens for students and families threatened by immigration enforcement, to the fullest extent permitted by law.' According to her letter, Turner will review all warrants related to immigration enforcement. Nicole Dizon, the director of communications and alumni relations for New Trier Township High School District 203, shared a statement. 'The District has not been contacted regarding current ICE enforcement actions.. state and federal law and School Board policy prohibit the district from disclosing identifying student information, such as a student's or family's immigration status,' the statement said. 'New Trier is committed to providing quality education to students regardless of their immigration status or that of a family member.' Glenbrook High School District 225's Executive Director of Communications Carol Smith said the district is in the process of reviewing the president's executive orders while also following state laws. Glenview Community Consolidated School District 34′s Executive Director of Communications & Strategic Planning Rebecca Latham echoed Smith's remarks. 'District 34 is reviewing the Executive Order while also continuing to follow the state law currently in place,' Latham said. ____
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Afternoon Briefing: Leland Apartments gets reprieve from the auction block
Good afternoon, Chicago. North suburban school districts, as well as Oakton College in the north suburbs, are communicating with students about potential immigration raids after President Donald Trump's administration cleared the way for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to carry out arrests in areas deemed sensitive, such as schools and houses of worship. Here's what north suburban school districts have said regarding plans for immigration raids. And here's what else is happening today. Remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History After a week of uncertainty for Illinois hospitals and clinics over an executive order seeking to end gender-affirming care for minors, the Illinois attorney general issued a statement today saying the state will protect such care. Read more here. More top news stories: Jury returns for sixth day of deliberations in Madigan corruption trial As Cook County's environmental justice policy takes shape, communities voice priorities and concerns The residents of an Uptown apartment building, including many with disabilities, got a reprieve last week when a Cook County judge put off the possible auction and sale of their affordable building until at least the summer. Read more here. More top business stories: New Lenox gun shop owner, business partner argue wrongful asset seizure and forfeiture abuse in federal lawsuit Nonprofit's lawsuit over the federal funding freeze is part of an 'avalanche' of litigation Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan rarely voices his opinion about front-office maneuvering. But he shared a sense of inevitability after the Bulls traded Zach LaVine this week to the Sacramento Kings, continuing a yearlong process of breaking up the team's core. Read more here. More top sports stories: Chicago Cubs acquire pitcher Ryan Brasier in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers Donald Trump to sign executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing Some documentarians settle for breaking your heart. Others struggle to clarify a long-view geopolitical panorama, with a specific subject or conflict as the viewfinder. 'No Other Land' achieves both, and more. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: Column: What classic movies can tell us about our current moment Winner announced for the biggest annual award for architecture A federal judge has ordered a second nationwide pause on President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship for anyone born in the U.S. to someone who is in the country illegally, calling citizenship a 'most precious right.' Read more here. More top stories from around the world: President Donald Trump's Gaza plan has stunned the region. Here's a look at the serious obstacles it faces Guatemala strikes deal with Marco Rubio to accept migrants from other countries deported from the US
