ELECTION RESULTS AND COVERAGE at vfpress.news
APRIL 5, 2023
Vol. VII No. 14
D209’s query on St. Joe’s campus raises concern Survey ‘just another PR stunt’ by superintendent, says school board member By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ
Westchester to review political signs ordinance FREE
Staff Reporter
In a survey sent out to district families, Proviso Township High School District 209 asked a simple “yes or no” question in an attempt to gain feedback on a quickly proposed plan to possibly purchase the St. Joseph High School campus. However, more information is needed before residents can arrive at a proper answer, said board members. St. Joseph High closed its doors at the end of the 2021-22 school year due to a decrease in enrollment and financial issues that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The high school had served the community for 61 years. According to the survey, if purchased, the building would be renovated to serve as the new home to Proviso Math and Science Academy with the current building being sold to outside investors. “Your input is crucial, valued, and appreciated,” read the survey, which asked “Should PTHS purchase the former St. Joseph High School building,” and solicited optional additional feedback. According to school board member Amanda Grant, Superintendent James L. Henderson brought up the idea during an executive session meeting in March. “This is a pure political stunt,” Grant said. “There was no board discussion, it was an idea that was menSee ST. JOSEPH on page 6
PHOTO: TODD A. BANNOR
Multiple candidate signs for the election are displayed in front of a Westchester home.
Trustees relax enforcement after 69 residents received warnings By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter
Amid a contested election in Westchester — with multiple candidates running for positions in Westchester’s village government, district school boards, park district and library — the village administration started enforcing and ordinance that regulates temporary political signs on private property.
Village President Nick Steker said in past weeks that the village received complaints from residents as the number of political signs on display heavily increased, prompting the village to canvass all properties and issue warnings to those who violated the ordinance (18.58.100). Last week, Westchester issued 69 warnings to residents for violations, including having more than four signs on their yard. Village officials said they stopped canvassing all properties in the village after receiving a cease-and-desist letter. The issue was later discussed at last week’s Village Board of Trustees meeting, which ultimately decided to relax enforcement of the ordinance — except for signs placed on parkways — and reversed the warnings issued to
residents. Village officials said the warnings targeted the number of signs not specific candidates’ signs. According to the village, the affected candidates included Daniel Maldonado, Kevin McDermott, Greg Hribal, Edward Lezza and Tracy Jennings. Seventeen other candidates in trustee, clerk, school board and park district races were also affected. At last Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Trustee Jennings said his campaign was targeted due to a confusing interpretation of the ordinance related to his signs’ size. Jennings is the only candidate using signs that are 2-by-3-feet long, but as they have content on both sides, the village deemed See SIGN DEBATE on page 9