The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: New superintendent of Decatur Public Schools speaks about her priorities and background

Brian Moline and Farrah Anderson
 
Franklin Grove Elementary School in Decatur.

Franklin Grove Elementary School in Decatur. Decatur Public Schools District 61

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217 Today: Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022

Today's headlines:

New Decatur Public Schools superintendent Rochelle Clark.

Photo Credit: Decatur Public Schools District 61

  • A legislative state commission declined Tuesday to extend the school mask mandate rules.

  • The process to appoint a new “watchdog” to keep tabs on Illinois lawmakers hit another snag Tuesday.

  • A new bill would allow investigators at the Department of Children and Family Services to carry and use pepper spray for self defense. The measure comes after the deaths of two DCFS investigators during site visits.

  • Childcare providers have to send children with COVID-19 symptoms home to keep the staff and other students safe according to Brenda Eastham, the director of operations at the Child Care Resource Service in Urbana.

In today's deep dive, we'll hear a conversation with Rochelle Clark, the new superintendent of Decatur Public Schools.

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Tim Shelley, Alex Degman, Maggie Strahan and Emily Hays