Karen Ann Cullotta
chicagotribune.com
Washington, VA, United States
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Past articles by Karen:
Illinois criticized over funding equity for low-income schools
Despite five years of using the state’s Evidence-Based Funding formula, 83% of Illinois students attend an underfunded school, a report says. → Read More
Plan for new South Side high school narrowly passed by Chicago Board of Education, amid both opposition and praise
Proponents say the area is growing and that Chinatown has long needed and wanted a high school of its own. → Read More
Budgeting error lands DuPage County school district in financial distress: ‘We are performing education triage’
District 66 is urging voters to support a property tax increase after years of low tax assessments and problematic budgeting practices have thrown the suburban DuPage County district into crisis. → Read More
Data centers booming in Illinois with addition of $2.5 billion site planned for former United Airlines headquarters
The development is the 8th new data center project to launch in the past year in ComEd’s service territory, which covers northern Illinois. → Read More
Teacher, support staff shortage prompts ‘all hands on deck’ as new school year gets underway
Efforts to ensure Illinois classrooms are staffed, buses are running and school buildings are cleaned is unfolding as a nationwide school employee shortage prompted the White House to announce a new initiative to jump-start hiring. → Read More
Illinois sex ed law puts school districts in center of latest battleground in education culture wars
A new Illinois that adopts sex education standards developed by the New York nonprofit, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, has riled some parents who say the instruction is not age-appropriate. → Read More
Illinois health department urges schools to watch for monkeypox; COVID-19 measures pulled back
Illinois health officials unveiled new monkeypox guidance for schools at a meeting this week with school district administrators to discuss the rollback of COVID-19 measures. → Read More
Long waitlists for after-school care as programs struggle to find workers and demand soars
Parents looking for before- and after-school care for their children are getting waitlisted across the Chicago area as the industry faces a staffing crisis. → Read More
Northwestern names University of Oregon leader as new president
Schill’s appointment comes one month after the prior president-elect, Rebecca M. Blank, announced she was stepping down to focus on her cancer treatment. → Read More
Some Illinois school districts to ditch COVID-19 tests this fall: ‘The demand really wasn’t there’
Some administrators say the weekly COVID-19 testing program is a burden on staff and disruptive for students. → Read More
Schools ‘cautiously optimistic’ about new year, but COVID-19 worries linger. ‘Don’t forget about people with extreme circumstances.’
For the first time since the pandemic began, Illinois students will enter a new school year with no virus-mitigation mandates in place. → Read More
Labor shortage drives fierce competition in Chicago hospitality industry, with cash promises and on-the-spot job offers
As a rebound in tourism drives more hotel stays, a recent survey found nearly half of all U.S. hotels said they are “severely understaffed.” → Read More
Gov. J.B. Pritzker ends COVID vaccine mandates at colleges as he tweaks many statewide pandemic restrictions
The governor's changes come despite growing concerns about new coronavirus variants that appear more able to evade immunity. → Read More
As teacher shortage worsens, Illinois schools cast wary eye on fall reopening
Educators across the U.S. are facing unprecedented hardships that some say are exacerbating critical shortages of school employees. → Read More
Health concerns prompt Northwestern president-elect to step down
Northwestern University President-elect Rebecca Blank said Monday she plans to return to the Madison area for cancer treatment. → Read More
Soaring inflation, spiking gas prices drive renewed interest in Wisconsin resort communities this summer
Rising gas prices and soaring inflation have rerouted budget-conscious travelers away from far-flung destinations, leading them back to old-timey road trips closer to home. → Read More
Illinois school districts review safety plans after Texas shooting
The Uvalde tragedy was a jarring reminder for state educators and law enforcement to update and enhance school safety plans. → Read More
Spiking food and gas prices hit Chicago neighborhoods hard as officials move to curb inflation
Food and gas price increases hit Chicagoans hard as officials move to curb inflation. → Read More
Illinois schools urged to resume COVID-19 saliva screenings in the fall
Schools interested in renewing with SHIELD or beginning a partnership should sign up by July 15 to guarantee testing on the first day of school, IDPH officials said. → Read More
Guns now the leading cause of death for children as firearm-related fatalities soar in U.S. and Illinois
As American Academy of Pediatrics reports firearm deaths increased 28% from 2019 to 2020, parents, educators and experts call for action. → Read More