630-795-8425 OR BY EMAIL rschneider@csd99.org. Lets not present getting rid of Gender Queer as censoring our children from sex, she told the school board. Joseph Kucharski, 51, was charged with one count of felony aggravated DUI and felony reckless driving in a crash that injured student Beth Dunlap, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. Downers Grove district sued over freshman's death Time and again no matter what detailed corroboration they provided advisers testified that Trump responded with derision, ultimately pushing those aides aside in favor of the fringe lawyers willing to echo the false allegations, write POLITICOs Kyle Cheney and Nicholas Wu. Sean Casten. Martinez helped Pacione-Zayas get her appointment to the General Assembly, so political insiders expected their endorsements to be aligned . Welcome to Community High School District 99 | District 99 In. JB Pritzker to succeed Janel L. Forde as director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services. Woot woot! 7:30 AM 4.0 & Above Honor Roll Class of 2025 (9th Grade) Syed Ahmad, Hassan Ahmed, Yaireli Alcantar Rodriguez, Madelyn Allen, Audrey Anderson, Saul Arellano, Kendall Arnold, Grace Avila, James Barrios, Isaac Binek, Kassandra . Village Commissioner Bob Barnett shared a heartfelt post on social media in Beth's memory. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service. Members of the Proud Boys a far-right neo-fascist group which has recently latched onto school board protests around the country promoted the meeting on a messaging app commonly used by far-right activists and urged each other to attend, according to screenshots posted to social media. The mother of a Downers Grove North High School freshman who died last month after falling from an inflatable obstacle course at the school's health fair is suing the school district for negligence. People need to understand this should be a bipartisan issue, she told the Daily Herald at the time. DOWNERS GROVE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL. In return for the guilty plea, DuPage prosecutors agreed to drop other counts he was facing in the death of 17-year-old Beth Dunlap. But later that day he told police he was driving 40 to 45 mph. The Sun-Times Patrick Finley answers the biggest questions facing the Bears after the draft: On this International Workers Day, were committed to fighting for a better future for all workers in our city and state, two labor leaders write. But he said that doesnt have anything to do with his complaints. Lightfoot announces $3.1M in grants to strengthen mental health system: The mayor campaigned on a promise to re-open six mental health clinics her predecessor shut down, but her 2020 budget kept them closed. Here are some of the more than 400 bills signed into law and theres more to go: Gov. She was 42. Asks Tribunes Robert Channick. Downers Grove, IL 60516 I was Channel 2 producer for Tim Weigel and Howard Sudberry and we couldnt see the action on the court, so it wasnt until hours later when we saw the last shot after our live coverage was over!, Cynicism aside, what issues do Republicans and Democrats agree on? A Proud Boys contingent ultimately showed up for a board meeting in Downers Grove last Monday where the book was discussed, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. Girlfriend insists her secret visits and conversations with another man dont count as an affair. In the four days before the crash, Kucharski told police, he had only slept about 10 hours, Donahoe said. But then when the Proud Boys, this big intimidating group, came in and made this issue so big, it forced students to look at whats going on., Irvin said several of her classes have discussed the weeks events, she said, and she noticed for the first time a student wearing a Trump 2024 hat as he voiced his dislike of Gender Queer., Students are now getting really caught up in the political controversy in the whole issue, and thats exactly what fuels groups like the Proud Boys, she said. COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 99. Yet students at Downers North and Downers South high schools said they didn't see a big impact on their lives until the parents sought to remove a graphic novel by a nonbinary author from the school libraries over concerns it included a few sexually explicit illustrations a fight that caught the attention of the Proud Boys, a far-right gang Supreme Court 2nd District: Nancy Rotering has been endorsed by Cecile Richards, the former president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund And Elizabeth Rochford has been endorsed by Teamsters Local 916. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Joseph Kucharski, accused of running a red light and striking and killing a 17-year-old Downers Grove North junior, enters the courtroom at the DuPage County courthouse in Wheaton on March 15, 2019. Fax: 630-795-8499, Administrative Service Center The name of the female student has not been released, and the family has chosen to make the funeral private . Man charged with DUI in death of Downers student ordered back to jail The Senators wrote a letter urging Calhoun to maintain a strong presence in Chicago after the May 5 announcement. Authorities say Kucharski was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he drove in the wrong lane and ran a red light on Feb. 19, 2019, striking Dunlap as she crossed Main Street at Grant Street in front of the school. Fax: 630-795-7199, Copyright 2017 Community High School District 99, Anonymous Alerts (opens in a new window) (opens in new window), Community High School District 99 Contact Page, Community High School District 99 Event Page, Live MP3 (opens in new window) (opens in new window), Community High School District 99 Web Store (opens in new window), Show sub menu for Student Support Services. They also didnt appear to wear Proud Boys regalia or clothing with the groups signature black and yellow colors. A few pages that include illustrations of sexual acts have drawn the bulk of the ire, while other students, parents and community members see the book as a vital tool for youth discovering their identity and any efforts to ban it as censorship. | Screen grab from Casten ad. JB Pritzker, who has continued to tamp down talk that he might run for president one day, is speaking at the New Hampshire Democratic Convention this weekend, according to a report there. "Those who. Pennington was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, where he died four days later of traumatic brain injury. Downers Grove North student Beth Dunlap taken off life support; charges 'It is wholly inadequate': Family disappointed after driver gets 7 Robert A. Clifford, an attorney for the Heberts, said he plans to file a separate emergency injunction in DuPage on Wednesday to prevent the school from discarding medical records that may show other students being injured on the slide. Kucharskis negotiated plea did not include an agreement on a sentence, which will be decided at a March 6 hearing before Judge Liam Brennan. DOWNERS GROVE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL. But administrators will review the book once again since two formal challenges have been filed, he said. Using a new type of DNA analysis DuPage County prosecutors say they've identified her attacker as Bruce Lindahl, who died in 1981. Mass resignations, moral difference as Shields Township sheds staff: The township supervisor, assessor and entire assessors office staff have resigned two trustees and the clerk threatened to but have not, by Patchs Jonah Meadows. It just freaks me out that hes just out here doing this to people, she said. Here's What Downers Grove Moms Really Want For Mother's Day! She was 17. Pierret said she had been surprised by students togetherness and supportiveness so far this school year as they grappled with the return to in-person learning during the pandemic. Pascente currently serves as CMS chief of staff. State Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas is endorsing Anthony Joel Quezada for the Cook County Commission 8th District seat on Chicagos Northwest Side. 6301 Springside Avenue 5 . NW Side restaurant burglarized 4 times in 5 weeks, owners say: VIDEO, Trump team in defamation, battery trial requests mistrial, Paying more despite good credit? August 13, 2022 / 10:16 AM 4436 Main Street Downers Grove, IL 60515 Phone: 630-795-8400 Fax: 630-795-8499. Inclusion matters to young people, he told the school board. Police say she was in the crosswalk when she was hit and had a "walk" signal. On a police-squad video that was played, Kucharski questioned why the windshield of his car was damaged, said he had been driving 20 mph, and that the sun had gotten in his eyes. Phone: 630-795-7100 Will County court records show he was charged with misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct and disorderly conduct in that case for allegedly aggressively pulling his vehicle into a crowd of protesters before displaying the knife and yelling obscenities at protesters. Pierret also questioned why other books that feature sex scenes such as The Handmaids Tale and Angelas Ashes were available in the library but not facing the same criticism. In a series of Twitter messages, Delatorre confirmed to the Sun-Times that he and other Proud Boys attended the meeting. He told police he had been taking the drug to help him sleep, and he did not have a prescription for it. Activist Candice Quinerly, one of the listed victims in a charging document, told the Sun-Times that Kraemer initially drove past her group and yelled, You all are going to die.. Car, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, and motorcycle accidents are all a common occurrence, despite improvements in vehicle safety features, road design . Politics have never caused division in the school setting before, said Tabitha Irvin, a Downers North junior. You can unsubscribe at any time and can contact us here. "You will be greatly missed but never forgotten," said Coach McGuire. Please note if you are requesting an official transcript to be sent directly to you, you are required to submit a photo ID to the registrar. District 99, DGN - Activities | DGN Activities Her courage and fight over the last week is a true representation of the Beth's competitiveness. The Casten family requests privacy, and we will be issuing no further comment during this heartbreaking time.. One expert offers tips to brew the perfect cup at home. "Beth was sassy, fun, spunky, feisty, and a fierce competitor. Didnt do anything else. Elmhurst Police Department (Pioneer Press) Elmhurst police are investigating the death early Saturday of a 17-year-old Downers Grove youth who died as a result of . WFXT. A Fox 32 poll shows Dan Brady defeating John Milhiser in the Republican Secretary of State race. Protesters attend a Downers Grover high school board meeting on Nov. 15. She suffered severe head and brain trauma, and died five days later. JB Pritzker just gave $55,000 to Patrick Hynes in his bid for Lyons Township assessor. TODAYs QUESTION: Who was the 20th century Illinois Republican governor who likely would have become president had it not been for opposition from the Chicago wing of his party at a presidential nominating convention? Inside Biden's new mortgage fee rules. Fax: 630-795-7199, Copyright 2017 Community High School District 99, Anonymous Alerts (opens in a new window) (opens in new window), Community High School District 99 Contact Page, Community High School District 99 Event Page, Live MP3 (opens in new window) (opens in new window), Community High School District 99 Web Store (opens in new window), Show sub menu for Student Support Services, Community High School District 99 Facebook Page (opens in new window) (opens in new window), Community High School District 99 Twitter Page (opens in new window) (opens in new window), Community High School District 99 Flickr Page (opens in new window) (opens in new window), Community High School District 99 Instagram (opens in new window) (opens in new window), Community High School District 99 Youtube Page (opens in new window) (opens in new window), Find the 2nd Semester Late Arrival/Early Dismissal Request Form, Schedule an Online Appointment with my Counselor, Complete the Block Day Early Release Permission Form, Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC), Nominate a Classmate for Alumni Award of Excellence, Counselor at North High School in Downers Grove honored with the 2023 Operation Snowball Adult Excellence Award, DGN Students Recognized for Excellence in French Language, Science Teacher at North High School in Downers Grove Receives National Award, Little North Stars Academy Now Enrolling for 2023-24 School Year, DGN Boys Basketball Team to Compete in Final Four Tournament, Gina Wych Named New DGN Fine Arts Department Chair. 8:00 AM, 7:40 AM Were all in this together and each of us only for a short time. Downers Grove South HS track coach arrested on child porn charge She added that Dunlap's family said her injuries were "unrecoverable" and is in the process of making "final arrangements.". There is no fee for an unofficial transcript and a $5 cash fee for an official transcript. While the case moves forward in the court system, Dunlap's family, teammates, coaches and classmates will continue to honor her. More such items were found when they searched his hotel room. Hank Thiele, addressing the topic before people shared their views, said Gender Queer met the districts requirements for inclusion in its library, and it was not part of any class required reading. Serve Your Community in a Uniformed Service, Downers Grove Area: 4 Newest Houses To Hit The Market. Then it became clear queer teenagers could benefit from the relatable story. Terry Newsome, a Darien resident who said he has a son and daughter at Downers South, said his concerns about Gender Queer are not homophobic. "As hard as this loss is for all of us, I believe that she would want us to be strong and take care of each other," she said. or phone 630-795-8425. The school board did not plan to discuss or vote on any items regarding Gender Queer the book was solely brought up during the public speaker portion of the meeting. District 99 Students Earn Awards at FCCLA State Competition. A Downers Grove South High School track coach is facing child pornography charges, accused of using messaging apps to get explicit photos and videos from girls from out of state. Democrat Anna Valencia has been endorsed by the Latino Leadership Council in her bid for Illinois secretary of state. A few pages that include illustrations of sex acts have drawn the bulk of the ire, while other students, parents and community members see the book as a vital tool for youth discovering their identity and efforts to ban it as censorship. Dunlap was a "fierce competitor and a strong person," Principal Janice Schwarze told the student body. Main Office Naperville man pleads not guilty to charges in Downers Grove North He wrote, "Hug the ones you love a little longer. Complete DuPage County, IL accident reports and news. South Carolina Gov. I will be speaking against child porn in my kids [sic] school. Brian Vandenberg, a former general counsel at the American Medical Association, has been awarded the Dr. Jacqueline A. Bello Friend of the AMA Foundation Award for his work with underserved populations and advancing health equity. 4436 Main Street A Naperville man has pleaded guilty to a count of aggravated DUI and reckless homicide in a mid-day crash that killed a 17-year-old high school student just steps from Downers Grove North High School. Hank Thiele, the districts superintendent, didnt respond directly when asked whether he was alarmed that Proud Boys members and associates attended the meeting. The endorsement is raising some eyebrows since Clerk of the Court Iris Martinez is endorsing Natalie Toro for the same seat. The groups Telegram channel, however, includes multiple recent posts that appear to be homophobic and transphobic. The district canceled classes for five days as the deal was negotiated, by Tribunes Tracy Swartz. She was also the boys' volleyball . DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. -- A girls track coach at Downers Grove South High School has been charged with paying two minors to produce child pornography, according to the U.S. attorney's office.. . The only place I had access to information and stories about transgender people was in media mainly, in books.. Gwen Casten, featured in a political ad for her father, Illinois Rep. Sean Casten, died Monday, June 13, 2022. This is why we must have this book in our schools library. Amended as of January 26, 2022 Congratulations to the following students named to Downers Grove North High School's Honor Roll for first semester of the 2021-22 school year. Dunlap was hit by a car while crossing Main Street outside of the school Tuesday morning. Police said Dunlap was legally crossing in a marked crosswalk just steps from her high school when she was struck. Pamela Maurer cold case: Suspected serial killer, Bruce Lindahl Wednesday at 10 a.m. DGN Spring Musical: CHICAGO -teen edition! Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and Sen. Tammy Duckworth met yesterday with Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun to discuss Boeings recent decision to move its global headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Va. The Proud Boys have recently joined school board protests around the country,appearing at a North Carolina meetingagainst mask mandates and forcing another in the state to move its meetings online, similar towhat happened at a meeting in Oregon. 4436 Main Street Kucharski, who is out on bond, told the judge that he is residing at a sober living center and attending or chairing up to three Alcoholics Anonymous meetings a day. Schranz volunteers with Youth Outlook, a suburban-based nonprofit that supports LGBTQ youth, and said she sees Gender Queer and similar books as an opportunity for a child who may be exploring or questioning [their identity] to take a look and look at more information.. Former President Donald Trump, senior adviser to Chicagos mayor Beniamino Capellupo, Illinois Policy Institutes comms director Melanie Krakauer, retired teacher Fred Klonsky, Lazard Frres & Co. Midwest Advisory chairman Peter Thompson, comms consultant Celeste Wroblewski, and Booth School of Business comms director Casey Reid. Administrative Service Center 6301 Springside Avenue Downers Grove, IL 60516 Phone: 630-795-7100 Fax: 630-795-7199 ELMHURST, Ill. (CBS) Police are investigating the death of a Downers Grove teen who fell at a parking garage in Elmhurst Saturday morning. EXCLUSIVE: Pence-worlds final takedown of Trumps Jan. 6 bid to remain in power revealed in his lawyers memo, by POLITICOs Betsy Woodruff Swan and Kyle Cheney, Jan. 6 panel makes case election fraud claims were Trump vs. Team Normal, by POLITICOs Kyle Cheney and Nicholas Wu, Bogus: Barr details Trumps disturbing election lies, via VIDEO, Trumps revenge tour and battleground Nevada: What to watch in Tuesdays primaries, by POLITICOs Zach Montellaro, How Trump radicalized Tom Rice, by POLITICOs Ally Mutnick, House Dems ready to accept Senate gun deal if it can stay intact, by POLITICOs Sarah Ferris and Jordain Carney. Rep. Litesa Wallace has been endorsed by Amalgamated Transit Union and the National Organization for Women PAC. A teacher who had been standing next to Dunlap at the light was so devastated by the crash that she had to take a medical leave of absence that school year, and ultimately quit permanently, Downers Grove North Principal Janice Schwarze testified.