Caucus News

OAKBROOK TERRACE – To prevent residents from being misled by phone scams, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) has advanced an initiative with bipartisan support to outlaw scam call operators from disguising their identity by having a false telephone number show up on caller ID.  

“As technology advances, scammers use creative, deceitful tactics to trick residents into giving them personal information,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By prohibiting automated solicitors from falsifying caller ID, I hope to protect residents from falling victim to telephone scams.”

OAKBROOK TERRACE – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is announcing that school districts in the 24th District will receive an estimated total of $30,551,639 in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Thank you, teachers, administrators, students and parents for your sacrifices over the last year to maintain a safe, beneficial learning environment,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Your efforts have saved lives, and it is a relief to see these investments in our local school districts to help our education system recover.” 

The funding comes as part of the most recent federal COVID-19 relief packages. Schools, students and parents have overcome challenges that no one could have imagined before the pandemic began, including remote and hybrid learning, digital connection issues, new processes for receiving state and federal aid that normally flow through schools, and more.

Local school districts are set to receive the following amounts:

• Western Springs School District 101 -  $1,186,905
• Glen Ellyn School District 41 -  $3,595,263
• Lombard School District 44 -  $3,560,759
• Butler School District 53 -  $219,993
• Maercker School District 60 -  $1,779,838
• Hinsdale Township High School District 86 -  $2,921,792
• Glenbard Township High School District 87 -  $9,065,618
• Community Consolidated School District 89 -  $1,741,161
• Westmont Community Unit School District 201 -  $1,702,453
• Lisle Community Unit School District 202 -  $1,675,038
• Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 -  $3,102,819

The majority of the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, which gives local schools a great deal of flexibility in how they can use the money over the next 3 ½ years. At least 20% of the funding must be used to address learning loss, but beyond that, school districts can use the money to address many different issues and costs. For example, it can be used to better equip schools for safe learning, to prevent layoffs, to address students’ social and emotional needs, to fund summer programs, or to ensure all students have access to reliable Wi-Fi and technology.

The State Board of Education, in collaboration with other state agencies that address education, has produced a guide for local school districts to help them decide how to best use their resources. While the guide and other state-sponsored services are completely voluntary, the state aims to support local districts during this difficult time.

“An end may be in sight; however, our work to eradicate the pandemic is not over yet,” Glowiak Hilton said. “I encourage residents to continue wearing masks and social distancing. We are strongest when we work together to keep our neighbors and communities safe.”

In total, Illinois received nearly $7 billion to support local school districts.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure students experiencing homelessness are aware of available resources, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced an initiative to require higher education institutions to designate one employee to serve as a housing insecurity liaison.

“Our state’s higher education system has a responsibility to fight our youth homelessness crisis and provide students with safe places to live,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Just one trusted employee could prevent homeless students from falling through the cracks by connecting them with aid.”

OAKBROOK TERRACE – As the state’s vaccination plan progresses, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is partnering with the DuPage County Health Department to host a virtual conversation to ensure residents are receiving accurate, up-to-date information about the rollout of the vaccine.

“As we work toward providing a vaccine to all eligible residents, communication between officials and the public is a top priority,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Hearing information straight from experts with the DuPage County Health Department will give residents facts they can rely on as we implement our region’s vaccination plan safely and efficiently.”

The meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, March 29 starting at 6 p.m.

DuPage County Health Department Executive Director Karen Ayala and DuPage County Board member Julie Renehan will lead the discussion and answer pre-submitted questions from audience members.

Residents can register here to receive a link to join the meeting and submit questions. The meeting will also be streamed live on Glowiak Hilton’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/senatorsuzy.

SPRINGFIELD – More survivors of violent crime would be able to keep their home addresses private as participants in the Illinois Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) under an initiative from State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) that advanced Thursday to expand protections for survivors of human trafficking.

“Survivors of violent crime undergo tremendous emotional and mental trauma,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By adding human trafficking to the list of crimes protected by the ACP, we’re offering survivors some peace of mind that their sensitive personal information is safe.”

OAKBROOK TERRACE – To brighten the spirits of older residents who have been isolated from loved ones, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) invites people of all ages to donate valentines to be given out at local long-term care facilities.

“Whether the card comes from the store or is made from paper and crayons, many older residents could use an extra reminder that they are cared for,” Glowiak Hilton said. “I encourage families, students, community members and anyone with artistic talent to send in a Valentine’s Day card to spread love to our older neighbors.”

OAKBROOK TERRACE – Salt Creek Primary School in Elmhurst and Stella May Swartz Elementary School in Oakbrook Terrace have received Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Grants to fund the creation of butterfly gardens at each school, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) announced.

“Creating interactive, educational spaces at our schools will teach children the importance of taking care of their environment,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Butterfly gardens will provide students with a hands-on learning opportunity about many aspects of nature including insects, pollination and native plants in Illinois.”

OAKBROOK TERRACE – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is encouraging K-12 students to create and submit artwork for the annual art contest sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois State Board of Education. This year’s theme is “Art Surrounds Us.”

“Creating artwork allows students to express themselves, be creative and inspire the people around them,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Parents, teachers and friends: Please encourage your young, talented artists to enter. I look forward to seeing the pieces of art submitted to this statewide contest.”

The contest includes four entry levels: grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. A panel of judges selects a winner and three runners-up in each entry level.