Long-time Principal at Hickory Point School to Retire

Cory Hehn has put District 27 kids first for 30 years.

Cory Hehn has made the kids at Hickory Point School a large part of her life. The Glenview resident has been in District 27 for 30 years first as a teacher and then as the principal at one of the system's two elementary schools for 15 years. Now she's planning to hang it all up; Hehn will retire at the end of the school year. Patch asked Hehn what it's been like in District 27 and what she's looking forward to when she retires. What will you Miss about your Job? I will miss the kids and all their smiles and hugs and watching them grow each day.  I will also miss our awesome Hickory Point staff and the great families I have worked with all these years. What Won't you Miss about your Job? Paperwork! When I look at the mess on my desk every …

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The Week Ahead in Northbrook

Music from Brahms to rock and school's out for the summer.

Big week ahead in Northbrook. Here's what's on the docket: Chamber Music Festival The North Shore Chamber Music Festival will feature works of Brahms, Stravinsky, Mendelssohn and more during its three days of concerts, June 6, 8 and 9 at the Village Presbyterian Church, 1300 Shermer Rd., Northbrook. The renown Pacifica Quartet - currently the quartet-in-residence at the University of Illinois and regular performers during the University of Chicago Presents Chamber Music series - will play each day. Each night will offer two performances, at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and each with a different program. Single tickets are from $20 to $40 per performance, $10 for students and seniors get 20-percent off. Tickets for all six performances will be from…

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Weigh in on District 27 Language Program

District 27 is weighing whether foreign language should be an after-school program. But should first through fifth-graders be able to take it during the school day? Answer the poll and let us know what you think.

Poll: Should D27 Make Foreign Language Part of School Day?

The District 27 administration and PTA Council is gathering information on whether foreign language should be an after-school program for first through fifth graders. But should it be part of the regular school day, like math and social studies?

The District 27 PTA Council voted Wednesday to move forward with investigating whether foreign language, probably Spanish, could be offered after school as a fee-based program. When Northbrook Patch reported this, reader Lee, wrote in the comments: "Rather than making it an extra-curricular activity, why don't they just incorporate it into the day?" And Bob wrote: "Nearly every similarly situated nearby district and town has some program already." So we're putting the question to you. Please vote in the poll below and elaborate on your answers in the comments section.

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District 27 May Offer Foreign Language as Extracurricular in Fall

Spanish would be the most likely offering in a fee-based program at Hickory Point and Shabonee schools.

Foreign language, most likely Spanish, could be offered as a fee-based, after-school program to first through fifth graders in Northbrook District 27 next fall. After gauging parent interest, the District 27 PTA Council voted Wednesday morning to move forward and look at, along with school district officials, four vendors that could teach language as much as twice a week starting in October. District officials also want to see if there may be any conflicts with other after-school offerings at Hickory Point and Shabonee elementary schools, where the programs will be provided. As many as 800 students could be eligible to sign up, district officials. It is uncertain when results of additional work will be ready for further consideration. Also…

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Bob

4:00 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

The D27 admin said they didn't want parental input on putting foreign language in the curriculum. I think they scrambled to put together that study through a Google search and didnt have time for input. Nearly every similarly situated nearby district and town has some program already. I would be wary of a weird pushback by the admin. on this happening - notice the "could" and "maybe" quotes after…   more ›

Board Appoints New Principal at Wood Oaks

Rob McElligott, former assistant principal at Old Orchard Junior High School in Skokie, will take over for departing principal Marc Schaffer in July.

Wood Oaks Junior High School’s new principal comes by way of Skokie, but he’s no stranger to Northbrook. Rob McElligott, who currently serves as assistant principal at Old Orchard Junior High School in Skokie, will take the place of outgoing principal Marc Shaffer in July. Before he became assistant principal, McElligott spent ten years as a math teacher, five of them at Northbrook Junior High School.  Earlier: Wood Oaks Principal Will Leave District This Year “Having worked at Northbrook Junior High School, I am aware of the commitment to quality education that both the students and parents of this community possess,” he said in a press release.  Before he became a teacher, McElligott served in the U.S. Navy, where he taught advanced math…

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D. 28 Considers Spanish Language Instruction Starting in First Grade

Board of education will review proposal for foreign language instruction Thursday.

Elementary school students in Northbrook School District 28 could soon be practicing Spanish along with their multiplication tables.  On Thursday, Superintendent Larry Hewitt will present the board of education with a proposal to extend the school day in order to add 30 minutes of world language instruction. That proposal is based on the work of two district committees. The Commission on Learning Time, a group of roughly 20 parents, teachers and board members, has studied how to structure the school day since October, while the district’s world language curriculum committee has studied instituting foreign language instruction at the elementary level for a year and a half, according to Hewitt.   Both committees have recommended adding a …

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Jennifer Fisher

3:41 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Thanks for the clarification, Pat and Colleen.   more ›

District 27 Board to Vote on Downsized Budget

Initiatives taken in 2007 pay dividends in helping to cut costs at the 3 schools in Northbrook.

Members of Northbrook's District 27 school board will vote on a proposed $22.9 million balanced budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year Thursday.  After the district closed Grove School in 2008 to help reduce costs, its operating budget has decreased by 1.9 percent from the prior year. Overall, the total budget decreased by 11.39 percent from the prior year due to the completion of construction projects at Shabonee and Hickory Point elementary schools. “The majority of the budget reductions are due to overall staff reductions, maintaining a 0 percent increase on supplies and material, and continued cost containment effort,” said Kimberly Arakelian, assistant superintendent of finance and operations. The staff reductions come from the district…

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