Thursday, March 28, 2024

Connect with us:

Jim Masters

Jim Masters
46 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Jim Masters grew up on 191st Street in Lansing. He attended Nathan Hale Elementary, was a member of St. Ann Church, graduated with the first graduating class at Heritage Middle School, and graduated from TF South High School in 1981. Inspired by his journalism teacher Joe Hyde, Jim earned a BA in Journalism from Northern Illinois University. He has more than 25 years of experience as beat reporter, specializing in government, politics, criminal justice, human interest stories, and education.

Memorial Jr. High to host both virtual and drive-thru commencement

Virtual Memorial Day ceremony followed by drive-thru ceremony June 1 BY JIM MASTERS LANSING, Ill. (May 25, 2021) — Memorial Junior High is offering its graduating eighth graders not one, but two, commencement ceremonies this year.The Memorial Mighty Mustangs virtual commencement ceremony, airing on the district’s website, will be held at...

District 158 plans for in-person return to school this fall

BY JIM MASTERS LANSING, Ill. (May 24, 2021) — The words “back to school” will mean so in a physical sense when District 158 students return to the classroom in August. Back to in-person school The District 158 Board of Education made that declaration at its meeting on May 19: they fully...

District 171 fills open teaching positions, approves contract renewals

BY JIM MASTERS LANSING, Ill. (May 20, 2021) — The District 171 School Board filled several open teaching positions at its meeting on May 17.But first, following a brief opening to the meeting and the swearing in of new board member Nicole Thompson, the members adjourned into a closed-door executive...

TF South graduation now a single ceremony on June 23

BY JIM MASTERS LANSING, Ill. (May 18, 2021) – Lansing students and families can forget what they may have heard about Thornton Fractional South High School holding two separate graduation ceremonies on Wednesday, June 23.There will be just one. New phase = one ceremony As of May 14, the State of Illinois...

TF South to hold outdoor graduation ceremonies, District 215 announces free summer programs

Graduation will be two outdoor sessions on June 23 BY JIM MASTERS LANSING, Ill. — Thornton Fractional South seniors can look forward to an in-person graduation ceremony on June 23.On Tuesday, the District 215 Board of Education approved holding an outdoor graduation ceremony on the TF South football field, provided the...

District 158 breaks ground on new Lester Crawl Primary Center

BY JIM MASTERS LANSING, Ill. (April 26, 2021) – Monday’s groundbreaking for the new Lester Crawl Primary Center represents an approximately $14 million investment in the pre-kindergarten education of Lansing School District 158’s kids.Located at 18300 Greenbay Avenue, just across the lawn from Thornton Fractional South High School, the Lester...

District 215 breaks ground on new Cosmetology and Barber Studio

BY JIM MASTERS LANSING, Ill. (April 23, 2021) – It was about a year ago when Thornton Fractional South School District 215 was about to sign a five-year contract with an outside vendor to provide cosmetology and barber school training to students.But school officials thought there was a better way,...

District 171 plans for new parking lots, music lockers, and other improvements

BY JIM MASTERS LANSING, Ill. (April 21, 2021) – The District 171 School Board approved more than $700,000 earmarked for projects both inside and outside the schools at Monday’s meeting. Parking lot repaving District 171 will tear up and repave the parking lots at both Heritage Middle School and Nathan Hale Elementary....

District 158 earns national award for music education efforts

BY JIM MASTERS LANSING, Ill. (April 16, 2021) – School District 158’s music program has really “struck a chord” with the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation, who has honored the schools with its Best Communications for Music Education (BCME) award for the second straight year. NAMM honors schools...

District 215 appoints local pastor and parent Christopher Dodd to School Board

Dodd becomes first Black man on District 215 Board, replaces Michael Bolz By Jim Masters LANSING, Ill. (April 15, 2021) – Thornton Fractional High School District 215 has welcomed Dr. Christopher Dodd to its Board of Education.The board approved Dodd’s appointment at a special meeting April 14. He fills the unexpired...