Good Friday morning, Evanston, and happy Earth Day.
At a special school board meeting at Evanston Township High School on Thursday evening, the District 202 Board of Education officially announced that current ETHS Principal and Assistant Superintendent Marcus Campbell will succeed Eric Witherspoon as superintendent, effective July 1. Campbell is set to become the first Black male superintendent in the high school’s 139-year history.
In their comments during the meeting, many board members said they had received “overwhelmingly positive” feedback from the Evanston community about the possibility of Campbell becoming the next superintendent.
Campbell has worked at ETHS in a variety of roles since 2001, and has been Principal and Assistant Superintendent at the school since 2013.
New COVID-19 cases in suburban Cook County, Chicago and the state increased again in the last week, while new cases in Evanston remained flat. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 remain at relatively low levels, and Cook County remains in the “low” risk level.
There was a total of 210 new COVID-19 cases of Evanston residents in the week ending April 20, compared to 208 new cases in the week ending April 14. The seven-day average of new cases was 30 for the week ending April 20, compared to 29.7 for the week ending April 14.
In honor of Earth Day, we are running a pair of guest essays on Evanston and climate change:
The past, present and future of Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan. Libby Hill writes that CARP will be the topic of a special order of business at Monday night’s City Council meeting. “This is an opportunity to learn firsthand about any progress toward fulfilling the plan’s goals and to learn about next steps.”
Climate change is an emergency. Let’s act like it. Wendy Pollock advocates for the City Council to pass a Climate Emergency Resolution on Monday. “Yes, we need to demand change at the state and federal level and in the business and financial sectors. But there are many things cities like Evanston can do, right here and right now.”
Elsewhere on the RoundTable website
Doggone runaway captured: Roey is safe. After nearly a week of dodging traffic on busy thoroughfares such as Main Street and Dodge Avenue, missing labradoodle Roey, who broke off his leash while with an Evanston pet sitter on April 14, was recovered safe and sound. More than 200 people of all ages participated in the search for Roey.
Gardener vs. rabbit. If your yard has begun to feel like a bottomless salad bowl for bunnies, you are not alone in your frustration. The rabbit population explodes in the spring, leaving many tormented gardeners with ruthlessly nibbled plants and an Elmer Fudd-like determination to eliminate the enemy at all costs. But a few simple strategies can help protect vulnerable plants.
Levy Lecture: Dark money casts shadow over American politics. Julie Strauss, a local lecturer on American politics with a doctorate in American history from Northwestern, presented a virtual Levy Lecture on the history of campaign finance laws and how they’ve evolved in our political system, as well as the significant consequences.
Heavy traffic anticipated between Green Bay and Foster due to gas giveaway this Saturday. The City of Evanston and the Police Department are warning of anticipated heavy traffic on Saturday, April 23 due to a gas giveaway event at the Mobil station at 1950 Green Bay Road. A March 24 gas giveaway cost approximately $2,600 in taxpayer money to facilitate, the city says.
Bird watching returns to Canal Shores this Sunday. Every Sunday morning from April 24 to May 29, Canal Shores will host bird watching walks, weather permitting. As of May 21, 2021, bird watchers had seen 187 species of birds on the course.
ETHS baseball: Kits finish off Highland Park in suspended game. Charlie Kalil delivered a two-run double to give the Wildkits some breathing room in the top of the seventh inning, and Mason Denlow pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the save Wednesday as Evanston extended its winning streak to eight games with a 10-7 triumph at Highland Park.
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Around the web
Video-recorded fight at Evanston middle school leaves teacher hurt, parents demanding action. NBC 5 news has obtained cellphone video of the fight at Haven earlier this month that sent music teacher Amber Evey Schmidt to the hospital.
Chicago area’s air pollution is among the worst in the U.S., new analysis finds. The American Lung Association’s 2022 State of the Air report says the Chicago metro area ranks 16th in smog pollution among U.S. cities. “If you live in Cook County, the air you breathe may put your health at risk,” the report reads.
ETHS student activists lead first Climate Justice Conference. Student activists in Evanston from groups like E-Town Sunrise, Students Organized Against Racism and the Emerge Leadership Program helped organize an all-day conference on climate justice. About 50 students attended the Wednesday morning workshops, and between 200 and 300 came to an afternoon panel with city politicians about local environmental policy.
Majority of Americans want masks for travelers, a new poll finds. A new poll found 56% of Americans favor a face covering requirement for travelers, compared with 24% opposed and 20% who had no preference. Interviews for the poll were conducted Thursday to Monday, shortly before a federal judge in Florida struck down the national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit.
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