Big Hearts of Fox Valley helping to provide winter coats to local children Big Hearts of Fox Valley recently held a coat drive to to collect new adult sized coats for older kids. Courtesy of Jennifer Mobley
Big Hearts of Fox Valley has grown way beyond their wildest dreams.
It all started when the Mobley family (Minor, Jennifer, Ethan, and Nicole) first brainstormed ways to reach local families during the holiday season.
They knew firsthand that not all families had the ability to buy presents for their children and they wanted to find a way to help.
Seven years later, with help from their board of directors, executive committee, St. Charles Unit District 303 staff, and a generous, supportive community filled with such big hearts, they now reach hundreds of families living within St. Charles and portions of Wayne, Wasco, Elburn, West Chicago, South Elgin, Campton Hills, and unincorporated Kane County.
Updated 2/17/2021 6:56 PM
Despite a recommendation from district administrators to hire a firm to better address the needs of an increasingly diverse student population, the St. Charles Unit District 303 school board continues to debate the subject and hear from the community on both sides of the issue.
At Tuesday s learning and teaching committee meeting, the board listened to a presentation from representatives of Deep Equity, a company that trains school staff on equity, diversity and inclusion. Deep Equity which also has worked with Batavia High School, Elgin Area School District U-46 and West Chicago Elementary School District 33 was chosen by district administrators over two other firms and would be paid $119,000 for its services.
Updated 2/11/2021 7:37 PM
Angry about a string of decisions made on behalf of students in St. Charles, notably regarding plans for in-person learning, a group called D303 Move Forward has begun a campaign to recall all but one member of the St. Charles Unit District 303 school board.
Because there is no statute enabling a recall of locally elected officials, the organization is asking the board members to resign and is following state regulations for recalling the governor. Once the group finishes collecting signatures, the petition will be filed with the Kane County recorder s office and submitted to the election board for a hearing.
The Daily Bean is back.
The coffee shop at the St. Charles Public Library is the result of a collaboration between library officials and the St. Charles Unit District 303 Transition Services team, which helps students with special needs between the ages of 18 and 22 adjust to more independent lifestyles.
The shop had been closed for much of the school year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it reopened on Jan. 19 for the first time since November with the library open to the public and District 303 returning to at least partial in-person learning for all its students.
The library is temporarily located at the Haines building at 305 S. Ninth Street while a new $18.6 million facility is built at the southeast corner of Main Street and Fifth Avenue.
Updated 1/27/2021 6:30 PM
Creating equitable spaces among the schools in St. Charles Unit District 303 was a common theme in a report unveiled by the committee tasked with developing the district s first facility master plan in 13 years.
The Findings and Needs update presented to school board members at Monday s business services meeting was based on recommendations and committee tours of eight district schools. A team comprised of parents, students, staff and community members created a vast list of needs based on the condition of learning and community spaces as well as the physical condition of the campuses.
We realize this is your first opportunity to see this information, District 303 Superintendent Jason Pearson said of the committee update. What you re seeing is a result of some really thoughtful conversations that they ve had together as a group.