WeConnect
invest in our reporting
essential news. essential voices.
growingcommunitymedia.org/donate
Growing Green 2023
Vol. VII No. 21
MAY 24, 2023
Big picture. Local action on climate
SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE!
Alternative school planned for 30-acre St. Joseph campus
Broadview Library’s back
Westchester had hopes for taxpaying development By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
The former St. Joseph High School campus in Wes tchester has been purchased for $8 million, with plans for it to be the home of an alternative school run by West40, a state funded entity which is an intermediary between the state board of education and 38 public school districts and three co-ops in western Cook County. The school, targeted to serve vulnerable students, is projected to open in Fall 2024. The ‘landmark project,’ as Dr. Mark Klaisner, executive director for West40, calls it, has been a long time in the works as the agency has been working with several state agencies to design a state-of-theart school for at-risk students, such as foster students and those who might have social-emotional concerns. “We are looking at an intensive, small population to support kids that don’t have services elsewhere,” Klaisner said, adding the student population will be approximately 40 students. West40 also plans to provide additional services for the community. “There are a lot of possibilities that we are working with … we don’t want to duplicate things that other people are doing but we want to be a service-minded organization that provides services for our kids who are See ST. JOE CAMPUS on page 7
Sara Janz
Mayor Katrina Thompson and Broadview Public Library team cutting the ribbon on May 20, 2023. More photos on page 8.
Residents celebrated the reopening of lower level, which flooded in 2021 By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter
On Saturday, the Broadview Public Library, 2226 S. 16th Ave., reopened the doors to its renovated lower level in a celebration that gathered hundreds of residents, library administrators and Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson. While the library’s renovation was completed in 2020, restrictions related to COVID-19 and flooding on the lower level that happened in 2021, prevented users from accessing the lower level of the building, executive director Jack Bower said in a phone interview. In the meantime, users could visit the first floor and other areas in the library. Saturday’s event marked the reopening of this space,
which features a large community room, three study rooms, a maker space and office space for the library’s staff. In these spaces, Broadview residents will be able to enjoy year-round programming for children and families, including the upcoming summer reading series. Library board trustees attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the front of the building, with remarks from board members like Willy Akins, former board president Eric Cummings and Mayor Thompson. Family activities allowed residents to explore the library, create crafts and participate in a range of fun activities including face-painting, a raffle and an exhibition of reptiles in the community room, along with refreshments and food. On April 17, the library also returned to its pre-pandemic hours of operation. It is now open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.