Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Police presence in SD 103 Lyons to hire officer liaison for middle school By Steve Metsch The Lyons School District 103 board approved a plan to have a police officer liaison stationed in George Washington Middle School, but it wasn’t a slam dunk. The hiring was approved by 4-2 vote with board member Sharon Anderson…
SD 103 trio opts out Board members will not seek re-election By Steve Metsch When voters cast ballots for the Lyons School District 103 board of education, they will not see three familiar names. Longtime board members Sharon Anderson, Marge Hubacek and Shannon Johnson have decided to not seek re-election. The three represent the board…
Back to the future Former SD 103 Supt. is new Washington principal By Steve Metsch Carol Baker is returning to Lyons School District 103 in a different position than the one she left. The former superintendent will be the principal of George Washington Middle School and will be the assistant superintendent starting on July 1….
Silva returns to SD 103 New Robinson principal expected tonight By Steve Metsch A familiar face is being brought back to be the principal of one school and a new principal is expected to be hired today for another by the Lyons School District 103 board. The board is holding a special meeting at 6…
Voters should reject failed leadership in Lyons School District 103 In a heated election contest in the west suburban Lyons School District 103 where controversy, scandal and excessive spending dominate the board majority’s focus, voters need to take an active role in sweeping out the failed leadership and electing new trustees to restore the educational…
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SD 103 boots two principals One resigns under pressure, 14-year vet not renewed By Steve Metsch and Ray Hanania Two principals in Lyons School District 103 will be looking for new jobs. At Monday night’s committee of the whole meeting, the school board accepted a letter of resignation from Lincoln School Principal Tara Kristoff, and…
Principals under fire in SD 103 Teachers have “no confidence” in Molina By Steve Metsch The jobs of two principals in Lyons School District 103 appear to be in jeopardy. Tara Kristoff, the Lincoln School Principal, has been on paid administrative leave since Feb. 14. Al Molina, in his 14th year as principal at Robinson…
Second time works at SD 103 Hammond educator hired as new superintendent By Steve Metsch Kristopher Rivera, the newly hired superintendent of Lyons School District 103, has spent his entire career working in the larger Hammond, Ind., school district. Lyons, however, is going to be a good fit, he said. The school board obviously agrees,…
Residents deserve answers from school officials, not a snub Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan criticized the Lyons School District 103 board and its chairman Marge Hubacek for violating the Open Meetings Act when she denied parents the ability to speak at a meeting on October 22, 2019. Hubacek, seeking to silence criticism of the hiring…
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District 103 School Candidates launch Facebook Page The candidates for School District 103 launched a new Facebook Page, Parents for Student Excellence, to promote their candidacies and to also promote issues and events related to the controversy-plagued School District 103. School District 103 serves 2,400 students living in Brookfield, Forest View, Lyons, McCook and Stickney….
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Lyons SD 103 board fires teacher Application, not attempted murder charge, costs job By Steve Metsch It didn’t have the overflow crowd of just two months ago, when news broke about Andres Rodriguez’ background. No elected officials showed up demanding changes be made. No Chicago TV reporters made breathless reports from “an embattled west suburban…
PTO Prez joins Lyons SD 103 board Tom Weiner judged best of eight candidates By Steve Metsch As the newest board member, Tom Weiner said his main focus is making sure Lyons School District 103 continues “moving in the right direction.” Weiner, 57, on Dec. 10 was selected by the board to serve the remaining…
Lyons SD 103 board boots member Shipbaugh, absent since June meetings, removed By Steve Metsch Coleen Shipbaugh, a member of the Lyons School District 103 since 2015, was booted for failing to attend meetings since June. She was removed by the regional school superintendent who, according to an interim superintendent, has the authority to do…
Hubacek board scuttles voices of parents and public The outrageous indifference to the needs of School District 103 by the dictatorial board majority led by Marge Hubacek prevented parents and taxpayers from expressing their concerns about the board majority’s poor decisions. Hubacek illegally blocked the parents from speaking limiting to only five the number who…
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Controversy in Lyons SD 103 Hiring teacher charged in shooting fuels outrage By Steve Metsch Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty and other elected officials are calling for sweeping changes at Lyons School District 103 after it was learned a sixth-grade teacher who has been charged with attempted murder was hired in August. Getty, the father of…