W E D N E S D A Y
February 4, 2026 Vol. 46, No. 31
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JOURNAL
BLACK HISTORY
From the West Side with Love Cover and spread photography by KENN COOK JR.
of Oak Park and River Forest
Black History Month
Down to two in District 97
ECHO services begin to shift responses from fire dept.
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Superintendent finalists answer questions in virtual town hall By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
The two finalists for the superintendent job at Oak Park Elementary School District 97 both appeared in a Zoom townhall on Jan. 29 during which they answered identical questions from Carmen Ayala, former Illinois Superintendent of Schools, who is leading District 97’s superintendent search. The vacancy opened when then superintendent Ushma Shah suddenly and unexpectedly resigned in August the week before school began. The two finalists are Terri Bresnahan, who is currently the superintendent of Community Consolidated School District 54 which serves the southern portion of Arlington Heights, and portions of Elk Grove, Mount Prospect and De Plaines, and Angela Dolezal, who is currently the Director of Teaching and Learning for Riverside Elementary School District 96. The two finalists went through a second and final interview on Feb. 2 with the candidates meeting with D97 school board and also a group of parents and district staff. A hiring may be announced as early as next week’s school board meeting. The 10 questions Ayala asked both finalists were drawn from a community
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Program launched a year ago as pilot to provide social service support By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
PROVIDED
Terri Bresnahan and Angela Dolezel survey which indicated which traits or skills were most desired in a new superintendent. Those watching the Zoom town hall were not allowed to ask or submit questions but were asked to fill out a survey about both finalists rating
their answers. The survey data will be reviewed by the school board members who will use it as one factor in their decision-making process. See DISTRICT 97 on page 21
The TheRiver RiverForest ForestPublic PublicLibrary Libraryrecently recentlycelebrated new facility improvements. Thank you to the celebrated new facility improvements. Thank donors made this Turn to page 6. you towho the donors whopossible. made this possible. Turn to page XX. Learn more at RFPLFoundation.org Learn more at RFPLFoundation.org.
Oak Park village trustees reviewed statistics outlining the impact of one of its new social service intervention program one year into the pilot program’s existence. Trustees heard about the operations of the village’s Engaging Community For Healthy Outcomes program, otherwise known as ECHO. Launched in February 2025, the twoyear pilot program was created to provide social service support to people in the at risk community. In year one, the bulk of the program’s work centered on engaging with the village’s homeless population or others experiencing housing issues, people experiencing behavioral health challenges and Oak Park’s senior population, according to the program’s presentation to the board. See ECHO on page 23