R. Christian Smith – Page 50

Dev Patel, center, speaks with other cricketers during tryouts in Naperville for the Breybourne Cricket Club in late March. The future Breybourne Stadium in Oswego, planned to be the new home of the club, could eventually hold up to 24,000 fans. (Troy Stolt / For The Beacon-News)

As Chicago teams look to build new stadiums, suburban cricket squad gets quick approval of its future home in Oswego

May 13, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

While professional sports teams in Chicago are taking a look at new stadiums, and facing roadblocks along the way, a professional cricket team in the far west suburbs got quick...

Cynthia Martinez, an eighth-grade history teacher at Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy in East Aurora School District 131, was recently named by the Kane County Regional Office of Education as its Educator of the Year for Kane County. (Martin Pinnau)

East Aurora eighth-grade teacher named Kane County Educator of the Year

May 10, 2024 at 2:51 p.m.

Cynthia Martinez, an eighth-grade history teacher at Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy in Aurora, said she wants to give her students the education she wishes she had.

Michael Zeman, pictured here with his family, was unanimously approved to be the new principal of Longwood Elementary School by the Indian Prairie School District 204 Board on Monday. (Indian Prairie School District 204)

Michael Zeman to be new principal at Longwood Elementary School in District 204

May 9, 2024 at 3:18 p.m.

The Indian Prairie School District Board of Education also voted unanimously to approve the hire of Patrick Raleigh as the assistant principal of Gregory Middle School.

The Indian Prairie School District 204 office is at the Crouse Education Center at 780 Shoreline Drive in Aurora. The District 204 Board of Education this week received an update on the district's plans concerning artificial intelligence. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Indian Prairie School District 204 to add AI to curriculum

May 9, 2024 at 2:44 p.m.

The district is planning to incorporate discussions of AI into its curriculum at all grade levels and give high school students access to AI tools like Microsoft Copilot next school...

Instead of spending $18 million in federal relief funds on a new public health building, a Kane County committee is proposing using much of those funds to make needed improvements and upgrades to key systems like the heating, ventilation and cooling systems at the county's Sheriff's Office and jail. (R. Christian Smiith / The Beacon-News)

Instead of funding new health building, Kane County considers improving existing facilities

May 9, 2024 at 9:54 a.m.

Millions in federal pandemic relief funds through ARPA were previously being considered for a new public health building, and officials are now rushing to find ways to spend the funds...

Rachael Mahmood is embraced by her fifth-grade students at Georgetown Elementary School in Aurora on Thursday after Mahmood was told she had been selected as Illinois Teacher of the Year. (Stacey Wescott / baiduhai)

Fifth-grade teacher at District 204 school in Aurora named Illinois Teacher of the Year

May 2, 2024 at 2:55 p.m.

Rachael Mahmood, a fifth-grade teacher at Georgetown Elementary School in Aurora, has been selected as the 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year.

According to the final draft of a new facilities plan, Kane County could be consolidating all of its core government functions at the current Kane County Judicial Center near St. Charles over the next decade and beyond. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Engineering firm says Kane County should plan to consolidate onto single campus, with Aurora and Elgin satellite offices

May 1, 2024 at 3:11 p.m.

Engineering and construction firm Wight & Company recently presented the final draft of its Kane County Facilities Master Plan to the Kane County Board Committee of the Whole.

Laurie Hannula shares the story of her son's life-changing experience as part of the Kaneland High School track and field program with the Kaneland Board of Education before a packed crowd at Monday night's board meeting. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

After community outcry, Kaneland School District commits $1.1 million to rebuild track

April 30, 2024 at 3:48 p.m.

After a significant push by Kaneland High School parents, students and alumni, the Kaneland Board of Education has agreed to replace the track.

The Rush MD Anderson Cancer Center sign was unveiled Friday at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

With new partnership, Rush Copley in Aurora aims to become ‘destination cancer program in the western suburbs’

April 26, 2024 at 6:26 p.m.

New partnership announced between the Rush University System for Health and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Members of the Kane County Board Finance Committee decided Wednesday not to vote on a proposal for a sales tax referendum and instead agreed to send the issue to a subcommittee to explore. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Kane County further delays sales tax referendum decision

April 26, 2024 at 12:52 p.m.

A potential Kane County sales tax referendum hit another roadblock at the Wednesday meeting of the Kane County Finance Committee, where committee members decided not to vote on the issue...

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