Nicholas Fortino, Ryan Holden and Avanthi Obadage were three of 16,000 semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

The Geneva District 304 school board heard from parents both praising the district for how it was handling a return to in-person learning and criticizing that volunteers were not allowed back into the school buildings.

Northern Illinois University’s freshman class has grown by 12%, while overall enrollment dipped by 3%, largely attributed to pandemic-related retention challenges, said university officials of the 10-day enrollment data released Thursday. “There is so much joy at having the students back,” said NIU President Lisa Freeman.

The St. Charles School Board is looking at ways to let constituents say what is on their minds besides just at board meetings.

St. Charles Dist. 303 officials are defending the actions of a St. Charles North High School nurse after she made an unvaccinated student quarantine after he told the school he was in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

Johns Shields Elementary School families were notified in a newsletter Monday morning that children would be required to be masked while outside at recess. As of now, this is the only school in the district that will require masks while outside at recess.

School board votes at Monday’s meeting to hire community engagement consultant.

Like other school districts across the state, St. Charles School Dist. 303 is experiencing a bus driver shortage. The National Association for Pupil Transportation, which represents school bus drivers, has said the pandemic is partly to blame because older drivers have to consider the health risk.

Some school districts and teachers unions in Kane County are stating their support for the governor’s vaccine mandate for teachers and staff to reduce the spread of COVID-19.