W E D N E S D A Y
August 27, 2025 Vol. 46, No. 9
1980 - 2025
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J URNAL WJ45
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of Oak Park and River Forest
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Why did Shah resign? By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
See SHAH RESIGNATION on page 10
Page 8
Teacher contract talks in D90 stall as mediator called in
Lack of ’mutual trust and mutual confidence,’ she said in letter Dr. Ushma Shah resigned Aug. 15 as superintendent of Oak Park Elementary School District 97 due to a “confluence of reasons,” according to her resignation letter which Wednesday Journal obtained Monday via a Freedom of Information Act request. The letter, addressed to the D97 Board of Education, stated a central reason “is that we do not have the level of mutual respect and mutual confidence that I need in order to continue in this role.” Further, she said that the board had made it clear immediately following its Aug. 12 regular meeting that it “will move forward with what I understand to be punitive action that will further set us back in terms of trust and collaboration. “The board has informed me that the direction you have outlined with your outside legal counsel will not be revised and is non-negotiable.” Shah did not respond to a Wednesday Journal text Monday seeking further insights about what potential punitive action was to be meted out. The district provided what it termed its only statement on the matter after
U.S. News puts OPRF in the Top 100 High Schools
Two negotiating sessions planned for this week By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
PROVIDED
River Forest School District 90 teachers have been working without a new contract since Aug. 15, but the co-presidents of the River Forest Education Association say it and the district remain “far apart” in collective bargaining negotiations. The two sides have enlisted a mediator to move the process forward. Joint mediation sessions were scheduled for Monday and Wednesday. In prepared responses to Wednesday Journal on a set of questions concerning the status of negotiations, RFEA co-presidents Lauren Baiocchi and Cindy Crannell, both district
Dr. Ushma Shah
See D90 CONTRACT on page 11
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