The Aptakisic-Tripp School District is a school district in Lake County, Illinois. It operates four schools and covers grades Early Childhood through 8. Most students live in Buffalo Grove, a northern suburb of Chicago, and some live in unincorporated Prairie View or Deerfield.
| Aptakisic-Tripp Community Consolidated School District #102 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
1351 Abbott Court
, Illinois, 60089United States | |
| District information | |
| Grades | Pre-K-8 |
| Established | 1956 |
| Superintendent | Dr. Lori Wilcox[1] |
| NCES District ID | 1703900[2] |
| Enrollment | 2,547 (as of 2020)[3][4] |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
Schools
editStudents who live within the district's boundaries will attend Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire; Stevenson is its own independent district, Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125.
Elementary
editThere are two K-3 schools, Tripp Elementary School and Pritchett Elementary School, in the district.
Pritchett Elementary School
Dr. Matt Moreland, Ed.D. - Principal
Mrs. Julie Cummings - Assistant Principal[5]
Tripp Elementary School
Mrs. Tina Schenk - Principal
Mr. Kevin Locallo - Assistant Principal[6]
Middle
editThere is one middle school for grades 4–5, which is named Meridian School. Early Childhood is also in Meridian.
Meridian Middle School
Mr. Greg Michels - Principal
Ms. Nicole Milweski - Assistant Principal[7]
Junior High
editThe junior high school, grades 6–8, is named Aptakisic Junior High School.
Aptakisic Junior High School
Mrs. Dana Tamez - Principal
Ms. Michelle Robinson - Associate Principal
Ms. Maggie Bialobrzeski - Assistant Principal[8]
History
editThe district was originally split into the Aptakisic School and the Tripp School during the 19th century and first half of the 20th century. Due to the growth of the city of Buffalo Grove, the schools united into one in the 1960s. Along with a united district came a brand-new school. By the 1970s, the school was unable to handle the growing city and the school was torn down and the Aptakisic School replaced it. By 1981, grades K-5 began going to the new Pritchett Elementary School. In the late 1980s, Tripp Middle School was built serving grades 3–5, at which point Pritchett Elementary served only grades K-2. Aptakisic School was then a junior high serving grades 6, 7, and 8. By 1994, Meridian Middle School was built to handle grade 5 and 6, while Tripp Elementary School became an elementary school serving K-4, alongside Pritchett.[9]
Expansion during 2017-2018 brought many changes. The district office that was a part of AJHS building moved to a neighboring building. The old district office was redesigned to be the sixth grade classrooms. A new wing was built for music, art, Spanish, band and orchestra. An Early Childhood wing was built for Meridian. Fourth grades from Tripp and Pritchett were moved to Meridian. Sixth grade moved to AJHS from Meridian. Tripp and Pritchett became K-3 schools. All projects were funded by a $18 million bond, approved in 2018 by the Board of Education.[10]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, D102 remained remote in operations and utilized online technology to facilitate learning. In July 2020, it was announced that students would remain in fully remote learning at least through Oct. 5 of that year.[11] For the 2021–2022 school year, the district began operating in a hybrid capacity, with some classes fully remote, some virtual, and some a mix of the two.[12]
In 2023, a new wing designated specifically for STEM was built.[13]
Controversies
editStabbing incident
editIn May 2005, a student of Aptakisic was charged with the stabbing of another former student in a French classroom.[14] She was eventually sentenced with 5 years of probation, after making an apology in court.[15]
Name change
editIn 2012, Aptakisic changed its mascot from Chief Aptakisic to the Eagles, due to the potential for issues of racial sensitivity and backlash.[16]
John Vastis suspension and arrest
editIn August 2014, a former public speaking teacher at Meridian Middle School (John C. Vastis) was arrested by ICE and Homeland Security on charges of receiving child pornography and persuading a minor to produce pornographic images of himself.[17] He was put on unpaid suspension following the accusations. In January 2017, Vastis was formally sentenced to 13 years for one count of accessing child pornography with the intent to view.
According to investigators, Vastis did not engage in sexually explicit interactions with his former students.[18] Vastis has formerly been recognized for his excellence in teaching, receiving a Golden Apple Teaching Award in 1997. Vastis is incarcerated at FCI Ashland and set to be released on March 18, 2028.[19]
Board of Education
editThe following is the Board of Education as of 2023:[20]
Jordan Sklansky - President
Pelleg Graupe - Vice President
Vera Gaskill - Secretary
Deepa Ajmire - Board Member
Justin Parker - Board Member
Melissa Rose - Board Member
Jordan Salus - Board Member
In Fiction
editAdam Levin's 2010 novel The Instructions is set at Aptakisic Junior High School.[21]
References
edit- ^ District 102 Superintendent
- ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Aptakisic-Tripp CCSD 102". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
- ^ "2020 D102 Report Card" (PDF). 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ Aptakisic-Tripp CCSD 102 Illinois School Report Card
- ^ "Pritchett Elementary School". D102. 2023-08-05. Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ "Tripp Elementary School". D102. 2023-08-05. Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ "Meridian Middle School". D102. 2023-08-05. Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ "Aptakisic Junior High School". D102. 2023-08-05. Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ "HISTORY OF D102". d102.org. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 celebrates completion of $24.9 million in building renovations". Chicago Tribune. 2018-08-24. Archived from the original on 2019-06-27. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ "Dist. 102 Moves To Remote Learning Plan". Journal & Topics. 2020-07-29. Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ "Back To School: Buffalo Grove 2021-22 School Calendar". Patch. 2021-06-29. Archived from the original on 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ Gazette, Lake County. "Buffalo Grove planning commissioners recommend junior high additions". Lake County Gazette. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ^ "Girl, 12, charged in attack on pupil". Archived from the original on 17 December 2021.
- ^ "Girl, 12, gets probation in stabbing". Chicago Tribune. 2005-08-25. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ "Aptakisic Junior High drops Indian mascot". TribLocal. 2012-04-03. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ "United States of America v. John C Vastis" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2017.
- ^ "Former Suburban Middle School Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years for Possessing Child Pornography and Encouraging Underage Boys to Produce Sexually Explicit Images of Themselves". Archived from the original on 25 June 2017.
- ^ "Federal Bureau of Prisons: Inmate Locator".
- ^ "Board of Education". D102. 2023-08-05. Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ "Holy Warrior". The New York Times. 2010-11-05. Archived from the original on 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2023-08-05.