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Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Frustrations mount as Red Oak dual language consolidation moves ahead; ‘A lot of mistrust going forward'
The consolidation of Red Oak Elementary School's K-5 dual language program seems all but certain, but it is moving forward in an atmosphere of mistrust and frustration as some parents continue to voice their opposition. According to North Shore School District 112 leaders, the school board is expected to vote on an upcoming proposal for consolidation during a special board meeting on June 26. During a previous special meeting, District Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld was clear that he supports consolidation. The Highland Park-area district has pointed to falling enrollment numbers, especially among primarily Spanish-speaking students, as the primary driver for the move. The program would be consolidated to just Oak Terrace Elementary School. Red Oak parents opposed to the consolidation question the need for what they consider a drastic move, raising concerns about a process they feel has been 'backwards' and left out vulnerable families, and criticizing the district for breaking promises. It's not the first time the school's Spanish and English education program has faced consolidation. In 2022, Red Oak was in a similar situation, with the district concerned about declining enrollment. Various promotional efforts, including those by parents themselves, managed to increase enrollment in the program. Lubelfeld had said in previous communications, including a 2023 video answering parents' questions, that if enrollment remained up, the dual language program would continue at two sites — Red Oak and Oak Terrace elementary schools. Late last year, when consolidation was again raised, strong backlash from families was followed by the district assuring parents that no decisions would be made at that time, and that the district was bringing on consultants to conduct 'a thorough review' of their educational programming. But that review was a source of disappointment for parents when its findings were presented last month during a special board meeting. While many praised the credentials of DePaul University professor Sonia Soltero, who ran the review, they felt she had been purposefully constrained by the district. 'We were told that the consultant would be performing a comprehensive review of the dual language program,' said Red Oak parent David Etlinger. But that didn't happen. 'In fact … the consultant's scope was basically narrowly limited to a yes-no answer on the consolidation question.' During the presentation, Soltero noted her contracted scope of work 'did not include an evaluation or needs assessment' of the program. She provided four sets of recommendations, including reprioritizing English learners, redesigning the dual language programs, a 'culture reset' to revamp the community's negative perception of Oak Terrace and finally a consolidation plan. While parents generally voiced support for the first three recommendations given, and many said they wanted to address those before considering consolidation, Lubelfeld argued it must be decided first. 'Consolidation is the foundational decision that will allow for meaningful progress on those areas,' he said in a statement. Stolero's analysis 'confirmed that consolidation is a sound step, but her report is just one part of the overall recommendation,' Lubelfeld said. 'The core issue remains the ongoing decline in enrollment of Spanish-dominant students, which impacts the sustainability of the current two-site model.' For parents, it feels like 'they've started from the outcome that they want,' and 'worked backward to construct a narrative to support it,' Etlinger said. Soltero's review also raised concerns around busing that took some parents by surprise. Primarily Spanish-speaking students are facing 'long and inconsistent bus rides,' and general 'transportation challenges,' Lubelfeld said. According to Soltero's presentation, 67% of English learners at Red Oak are being bused from Oak Terrace's attendance radius. Lubelfeld also said several Spanish-speaking families have requested placement at Oak Terrace instead of Red Oak for next year, 'due in part to transportation challenges, and the administration is listening to these concerns and needs at a deeper level.' According to Red Oak parent Maria Barraza, she and other parents hadn't heard about busing issues until the district brought it up, even after talking with Spanish-speaking families. 'I feel like (the reason) changes with the board and Lubelfeld depending on what makes sense for them,' Barraza said. According to data presented by Soltero, both Oak Terrace and Red Oak have seen a considerable decline in enrollment in a five-year period, although Oak Terrace has seen more than double that of Red Oak; about 31% compared to Red Oak's 13%. But closing Red Oak is too big a step without looking at other avenues to address declining enrollment, Barraza said. 'Up to this point, we as a parent community wanted to look at the dual language program as a whole,' Barraza said. 'How can we make such a big decision of closing a school when, truly, I think there are other factors of the dual language program that need to be looked at before considering closing a school altogether.' Barraza echoed a sentiment Cathy Curran, head of the Red Oak PTO, has shared several times throughout the controversy. Barraza said she's not fundamentally opposed to consolidation, if it's the necessary step that will best benefit the community's families. But she's not convinced yet that there's been enough planning by the district. There's also confusion around what a consolidation would look like, and how Oak Terrace will be able to absorb the additional student population, Barraza said. How does the district plan to address class sizes, and support students, teachers and families? Etlinger shared Barraza's concerns. Parents don't know 'what the high-level goals of the program are, who the key stakeholders are,' he said. 'We don't know what target class sizes are. We don't know what special services are required. We have a lot of information that we don't know.' Lubelfeld said they have 'preliminary plans' in place outlining the next steps if the board approves consolidation. A task force — including administrators, dual language staff and parents — will be created to 'help guide the consolidation process.' And then there's the controversial topic of Oak Terrace's reputation, which was raised during Soltero's review. It's 'generally viewed as less desirable' and 'faces higher scrutiny,' Soltero said in her presentation. Some parents pushed back against what they considered a false narrative of a divide between the two schools, with Eltinger saying the dual language community was 'very strongly united.' Still, other parents seemed to share concerns about its reputation. In a statement, parents of the Oak Terrace PTO said they were 'proud' to be part of a 'deeply committed' school community that fosters an 'inclusive, respectful, and nurturing environment where every child is given the opportunity to succeed.' 'Comments suggesting that Oak Terrace is a 'less desirable' school do not fit with our or our children's experiences,' the statement said. 'Furthermore, they are disheartening to the dedicated teachers, staff, students and families who contribute so much each day.' Lubelfeld, responding to Soltero's recommendations, said that Oak Terrace is 'a strong school with talented staff and a welcoming community. We see any future work related to school climate and culture as building on those existing strengths.' Central to the entire issue are the Spanish-speaking families, but because of various technical and language barriers, some parents worry they've been left out. Barraza, who lives in a bilingual household herself, has been part of outreach efforts by the Red Oak PTO. She said the district has come up short regarding communicating with these families. In several PTO meetings held specifically for Spanish-speaking families, Barraza described a general sense of confusion. She criticized the district for a general lack of engagement with the community, especially with Spanish-speaking families, throughout the process. 'That's where the tension lies between the superintendent, and the school board and the parent community,' she said. The loss of Red Oak's dual language program will mean the end of a community built around it, Barraza warned. She said some Spanish-speaking families have shared they might not continue in the dual language program for various reasons, including some who don't feel Oak Terrace is 'equipped to handle a whole population of children at their school.' That will be devastating for the children moving from a dual language to a monolingual setting, she said. 'Language is so connected to our culture,' Barraza said. 'I think that's going to be such a disadvantage to them, just because the culture piece is not going to be there.' Etlinger also warned it would send a poor message about the broader community. 'It's going to be very hard to tell English learners and members of the Hispanic community that they're welcome in our community if they're being segregated in one school,' Etlinger said. Parents say mistrust towards the district also stems from a $114 million referendum the district passed in 2022. Etlinger said Lubelfeld had indicated Red Oak would likely face consolidation without the money, and Red Oak families pushed for the referendum with the understanding that their school would be receiving funds for renovations. With the referendum passed, Lubelfeld had previously said Red Oak would receive improvements using cash reserves after work on several other schools was completed. 'It's really disheartening to go from, 'yes, your school is going to be one of those schools that's going to be renovated,' to 'your school is closing,'' Barraza said. It was another broken promise, Etlinger argued. Despite the passed referendum and parents' efforts to keep enrollment up at Red Oak, they are still on the 'brink of closure.' Etlinger said parents who speak out against consolidation are, 'directly dismissed as not representing the community.' If consolidation moves ahead without addressing concerns over transparency, he said many parents, teachers, staff and children, 'will feel that they did not have a real voice in this process.' 'There's going to be a lot of mistrust going forward,' Etlinger said. 'It's going to be very difficult to trust future decisions made by the board and our administration.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Red Oak man arrested and charged with murder after his mother was fatally shot
The Brief A 58-year-old Red Oak woman, Stephanie Easter, was found dead from a gunshot wound on Sunday. Her 20-year-old son, Dwight Xavier Jones Jr., has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with her death. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Ellis County Sheriff's Office. RED OAK, Texas - Deputies from the Ellis County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the 100 block of Ridge Oak Drive in Red Oak following a report of a deceased individual on Sunday around 12:05 p.m. What we know When deputies arrived, they found a 58-year-old woman, Stephanie Easter, from Red Oak, Texas, who had sustained an apparent gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation was promptly initiated by the Criminal Investigations Division, where, based on evidence collected from the scene, investigators developed probable cause to charge the victim's biological son, Dwight Xavier Jones Jr., a 20-year-old, with murder in connection with the shooting death. Jones was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Wayne McCollum Detention Center, where he is awaiting arraignment. What's next This case remains open and active. Investigators are continuing to follow up on all aspects of the case, and additional updates will be provided as necessary. What you can do Anyone with information that may assist in this case is strongly encouraged to contact Case Agent Jeremiah Banks with the Ellis County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 972.825.4929. The Source Information in this article was provided by Ellis County Sheriff's Office.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- CBS News
Son, 20, allegedly kills mother in Red Oak, authorities say
A Red Oak woman is dead after her son allegedly shot and killed her, according to the Ellis County Sheriff's Office. Authorities said Dwight Xavier Jones Jr., 20, is facing a murder charge in the death of his biological mother, Stephanie Easter, 58. Ellis County Sheriff's Office Deputies responded around 12:05 p.m. Sunday to the 100 block of Ridge Oak Drive, where they found Easter dead from an apparent gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff's office said in a news release Monday. Jones was taken into custody without incident and is being held at the Wayne McCollum Detention Center. He is awaiting arraignment. "Investigators continue to follow up on all aspects of the case, and additional updates will be provided as necessary," Sheriff Brad Norman said. The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Case Agent Jeremiah Banks with the Ellis County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at (972) 825-4929.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘It's a miracle': Madison couple recalls when tree narrowly falls on them during storm
MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — Tuesday, May 20, was a stressful and scary night for many across the Tennessee Valley. The Weather Authority confirmed at least two tornadoes touched down in the region, with the National Weather Service still surveying areas that were damaged. It's a night that one couple on Glenmore Drive in Madison won't forget. Bill and Diane Nicholson said they feel lucky to have made it through the storm without a scratch. 'It's a miracle,' Bill said. Man accused of cashing forged check at Decatur business 'Very thankful and just the outpouring from friends and families been awesome,' Diane said. The couple said that when the storm struck, they were watching TV in their living room. 'We had been sitting on the couch,' Diane said. 'I mean like inches away from where the ceiling collapsed later on,' Bill added. Diane said they got lucky that the tree stopped short of the living room. 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. 'Had it penetrated the living room ceiling, it would have been right on top of us,' she said. She said that at first they didn't quite realize what had happened. 'It was just this uproarious, boom, you know, that came through the house,' Diane said. 'I thought maybe lightning had hit.' However, it wasn't lightning. It was an 80 foot tall Red Oak tree that fell on their house. It split part of it in two. The guest room took the majority of the hit from the tree. Bill said the entire room was gone when they opened the door to the guest room. 'It's like all the joists were collapsed and all the insulation in the attic was all over the place,' he said. Bill told News 19 that he doesn't think they took a direct hit from the confirmed Madison tornado. However, he believes they were struck by an outer band of the tornado-warned storm. He said the tree fell on their house around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The couple left their home for the night shortly after. 'We were in a state of shock, absolutely,' said Diane. '[We] just didn't know what to do first.' When the couple returned to their home Wednesday morning, they discovered that other parts of the ceiling had collapsed. The couple spent Wednesday packing their belongings. They told News 19 that in addition to the tree damage, there was a lot of water damage. The Nicholsons said repairs could take six months to a year. 'It was like a freak stroke of bad luck,' Diane said. 'But I don't know, goodwill, come out of it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
North Shore D112 wrestling with dual language programs' future; ‘We're not here to be liked'
North Shore School District 112 held a marathon four-hour special board meeting Tuesday to discuss a recently completed study on the district's dual language programs, ending with Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld imploring the board to make a decision on the potential consolidation of Red Oak and Oak Terrace elementary schools' programs. Lubelfeld has warned that the district is facing an 'enrollment crisis,' as the population of majority Spanish-speaking students declines in the area. 'We're not going to start a process and spin our wheels until we understand what the board wants us to do,' Lubelfeld told the assembled board members. The district faced backlash last year from parents with students in the dual language programs who were upset about the news of Red Oak potentially closing, and its program being consolidated into Oak Terrace. Some questioned the need for such a move, and said the decision was being rushed. Discussions were delayed while the district gathered input, with Lubelfeld saying any recommendations by the board would be halted until next year. The district worked with Hanover Research K-12 and Sonia Soltero, a DePaul University professor with an extensive resume in the field of dual language education, to put together a report on the district's dual language programs, which was presented Tuesday. The report found a divide between those surveyed who were in favor of and in opposition to consolidation, with minimal middle ground. According to the report, participants felt there was a divide between the two schools, with little coordination or collaboration, and the report found Oak Terrace was generally viewed as 'less desirable.' As enrollment of Latino students declines, attrition rates for higher grades become a greater issue, the report said. The decline in Latino students, English learners and low-income students is four to five times higher than overall enrollment, it said. Participants noted social stratification 'along income and racial/ethnic lines' leading to 'unequal access to resources and opportunities,' and 'dominant voices' overwhelming discussion and drowning out the perspectives of Spanish-speaking parents. Transportation challenges were also highlighted, with some students being bused to Red Oak despite living in the Oak Terrace area, requiring hour-long rides. Low-income families without personal vehicles struggled to get their kids to and from school if they were late, during emergencies or for after-school activities, creating barriers for participation. Soltero provided four sets of recommendations, including reprioritizing English learners, redesigning the dual language programs, a 'culture reset' to revamp the community's negative perception of Oak Terrace, and a phased consolidation plan, although some board members said they would prefer to 'rip off the Band-Aid' if they are to move ahead with consolidation. Lubelfeld continued to recommend consolidation, a stance he admitted was unpopular, but emphasized was necessary for the continuation of the dual language program. A final decision won't be made until a future school board meeting. District officials expect the topic to come to a full school board meeting in a few months after board members have had time to consider the options. Red Oak's 2025-26 school year will not be impacted if the board were to recommend consolidation, officials said. The parents who spoke during Tuesday's meeting were largely in support of Soltero's first three recommendations, but repeated their opposition to closing Red Oak, calling for the exploration of other avenues. Red Oak Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization President Cathy Curran, who praised parts of the presentation, said she still had concerns over the district's process. The meeting had several tense moments, and Curran said 'both sides' were 'a little guilty' of unproductive comments. She emphasized the need for constructive discussions moving forward. During the meeting, there was a back-and-forth between a parent and the board, and Lubelfeld's closing comments were critical of some community members whom he described as moving goalposts. He emphasized afterwards that he was 'committed to the proper process.' 'I'm focusing on the children. The adult issues don't concern me,' Lubelfeld said during the meeting, emphasizing he has been discussing the need for consolidation for several years. 'You don't have to like that. We're not here to be liked.' While Curran said the presentation had been helpful, she felt the report had been constrained in scope from the beginning. At this stage, she said, there isn't 'a true understanding or evaluation of the program or its effectiveness.' Mirroring comments she made in October, Curran said parents are not necessarily opposed to consolidation, and she recognizes the concerns regarding the falling enrollment of Spanish-dominant students that the district has attributed to several issues, including a decrease in affordable housing. But, she said she wants the 'process in which we make this decision' to be done in a 'good-faith manner.' Curran called for greater two-way communication between the district and parents. She also hopes the board will present its decision-making process when making its official recommendation to show it has 'truly evaluated' the situation. Closing a school is a big step, and there are still 'a lot of questions' she wants answered. Any decision also has to prioritize English language learners, while balancing the rest of the dual language program, Curran said. 'A decision like this is not reversible, and so I do really think the district needs to get it right and consider all these different questions,' she said. Lubelfeld said he is committed to transparency and open communication. 'We are committed to messy leadership, even when it's difficult and upsets people,' he said. 'We are here for the children, we're going to continue to lead and help inspire each child every day.'
