Last class of Lincoln-Way North High School graduates

FRANKFORT – What might be the final chapter of Lincoln-Way North High School came to a close Wednesday as the last class of seniors graduated.

The closing of North – a roughly 8-year-old school constructed to meet projected student growth that never came – has been an issue that has left residents angry and sad. A group of parents have sued the Lincoln-Way board to prevent the closure.

One resident at the last week's board meeting even requested Superintendent Scott Tingley and members of the board not attend the graduation ceremony.

Despite the string of controversies and outrage since the fateful decision by the board last August to close North, the graduation ceremony appeared to be calm, with the exception of at least one attendee who raised a sign that said “Resign,” which he eventually had to turn over to security.

Families gathered inside the football stadium next to the high school on a sunny Wednesday evening to watch as students were called to accept their diplomas.

Valedictorian Hannah Goss thanked parents who supported their loved ones throughout their high school career and thanked the teachers for their “contagious passion” that gave students direction.

“We are just beginning,” she said to her fellow students.

While the graduating class will move on to colleges, careers and other opportunities, the remaining student body of North will attend Lincoln-Way East starting in the fall as district officials prepare to go from four schools to three in an effort to bring Lincoln-Way out of its financial crisis.

It was announced Wednesday that memories of North will linger on at East with a display case – featuring photographs and artifacts – to honor student accomplishments.

Kathleen Easton, whose son Donald was graduating, said it’s been a rough year for North students, but also a historic one. They’re the last class to have the privilege of graduating from a beautiful facility, she said.

She said her son has been “up and down” about North’s closing, as he has realized he won’t have a homecoming or a home in North, so to speak.

“I think that’s been very upsetting to him recently,” she said.

Easton said one of her favorite memories of North was the children who would sit on a hill next to the football stadium to watch the games. It was a like a rite of passage, she said.

"The hill is packed and every little kid on that hill wants to be a Phoenix in the football team," she said.

Since the Lincoln-Way board decided to close North after receiving the worst state financial rating, the district has been hit with a series of controversies.

Residents have criticized district officials at board meetings and resisted the decision to shutter North. Many of them formed Lincoln-Way Area Taxpayers Unite and sued the board just before last year ended to prevent the school's closure. The anger escalated last week after news broke of federal subpoenas inquiring into district finances and activities – including those of former Superintendent Lawrence Wyllie. The district also announced the resignation of board member Kathleen Casey, the fourth resignation this year.

North Principal Mark Cohen, who will move on to East as an associate principal, said the list of academic and athletic accomplishments for North students this year were long and impressive.

​The graduating class even heard from Michael Gardner, a former North principal, who told them to never give up and “always give everything that you have.”

“It’s great to be gold forever,” he said.