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Zoning change defies village policy

Posted in 220, Barrington High School, Board of Education, Daily Herald, Deception, District 220 referendum, Land Use, Letters to the Editor, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Transparency, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 9, 2025| 2 Comments »

Courtesy WalnutGroveBarrington.org

Daily Herald Letters to the Editor

I am writing to express concern about the Barrington 220 proposal to expand the “Lincoln Lot,” a parking lot originally planned for residential parcels along Hager Avenue.

In September, the district initiated the Special Use Planned Development process with the Lincoln Lot included, seeking to rezone R-6 residential lots to P-L institutional zoning to allow a use otherwise prohibited in a residential neighborhood. After significant community concern, the district withdrew the Lincoln Lot from its submission — an implicit acknowledgment that the proposal did not comply with the village’s zoning requirements.

Both Chapter 11 (Planned Developments) and Chapter 3 (Special Uses) of the Village of Barrington Zoning Ordinance make clear that flexibility in zoning is granted only when a proposal protects surrounding neighborhoods and provides meaningful public benefits. Chapter 11 requires that a Planned Development preserve the value of surrounding residential areas, remain compatible with neighborhood character and provide benefits that accrue to the village — not merely to the applicant. The Lincoln Lot meets none of these standards.

Replacing long-standing homes with an asphalt parking facility would increase traffic, noise, lighting and stormwater runoff while permanently altering the character of a stable residential street.

Chapter 3 further requires that a special use not adversely affect surrounding properties and remain in harmony with the intent of the zoning ordinance. The district’s need to rezone these properties — and its withdrawal of the parking lot — makes clear that it could not meet these criteria.

It is also important to note that the district has already authorized the purchase of these residential parcels, despite withdrawing the Lincoln Lot from the application. This, combined with the district’s ability to resubmit the parking lot as a separate application, makes it essential that the village consistently enforce the standards of Chapters 11 and 3 to protect neighborhood stability and property values.

Wende Dau
Walnut Grove
Website – WalnutGroveBarrington.org

Related: “Paving paradise?: Historic Barrington neighborhood opposes District 220’s plan to buy land for parking”

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Barrington village board passes welcoming resolution

Posted in 220, BACOG, Daily Herald, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Immigration, Politics, School Districts on November 26, 2025| 2 Comments »

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Barrington’s village board passed a resolution affirming the village is a welcoming community.

The board’s decision clarifies the village’s compliance with Illinois’ TRUST Act, Trustee Brian Prigge said. The state law prevents police agencies from assisting federal agents with immigration enforcement efforts.

“It is effectively synonymous with an ordinance, as the enforcement in the ordinance would not have any real teeth to it,” he said.

But residents who spoke at Monday’s board meeting spoke in favor of an ordinance along the lines of those passed by Wheeling, Evanston and Oak Park.

The resolution states the village does not support the use of any village-owned or operated properties or assets for immigration enforcement purposes.

It also declares its support and appreciation to people in the Barrington community who continue to work to foster safety and respect for all.

More here.

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Fire destroys vacant barn in Barrington Hills

Posted in BCFPD, Daily Herald, VBHPD on November 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

 

Courtesy of Northern Illinois Fire Ground Photography

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Investigators are searching for the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant barn Saturday afternoon in Barrington Hills.

The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District responded to the blaze in the 1700 block of Dundee Road (Route 68) at approximately 2 p.m., Fire Chief Scott Motisi said.

Firefighters arrived in less than six minutes and found smoke and fire coming from all sides of the 40-foot-by-40-foot multistory barn, the fire district reported.

After confirming the barn was unoccupied, firefighters extinguished the blaze then conducted search and salvage operations, with Cuba Township crews assisting with a backhoe.

Read more here.

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Paving paradise?: Historic Barrington neighborhood opposes District 220’s plan to buy land for parking

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington High School, Board of Education, Daily Herald, Deception, District 220 referendum, Ethics, Land Use, Politics, Real Estate, School Districts, Transparency, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 15, 2025| 1 Comment »

506 W Main St, Barrington, IL 60010 | Zillow

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

A Barrington neighborhood with a rich history is gathering petitions to stop Barrington Area Unit District 220’s plans to buy four properties to provide parking for its new auditorium.

The district approved contracts in August to buy 502, 506 and 510 W. Main St. and 112 N. Hager Ave. at a cost of $985,000. Closings are expected next month, and the district is asking for village board zoning approval.

Residents of the Walnut Grove neighborhood told Barrington village board members Monday they oppose the rezoning from single-family residential to public lands.

The residents have collected more than 150 signatures, and several plan to speak at the District 220 school board meeting Tuesday.

They say the district’s plans endanger a neighborhood with deep roots in Barrington’s history — some of the homes date back to the Great Depression and include Sears kit homes built by Barrington High School shop students.

“There is always an ongoing conversation in our community about having enough parking at the high school,” not only for students and staff during the school day, but for after-hours activities, District 220 Superintendent Craig Winkelman said at the Aug. 19 school board meeting.

During the recent referendum, as the district was considering expanding the auditorium, the district received feedback about adding parking to accommodate the increased seating, he said.

However, Walnut Grove residents who voted for the recent referendum that made the auditorium possible say they were blindsided by the district’s decision. They worry about future land acquisition on their block and are a decline in property values.

Residents suggested the district use about 10 acres of buildable land it owns.

Read more here.

Related: The August 19, 2025 District 220 Board of Education meeting agenda included: “Consideration and Approval of Resolution Approving contract for purchase of 502, 506, 510 W. Main St. and 112 N. Hager Ave. (Nearly $1M total) properties.”

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District 300 school board member removed as president but avoids censure for Charlie Kirk post

Posted in 300, Board of Education, Daily Herald, Politics, School Districts on October 3, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Nancy Zettler | Courtesy District 300

By Alicia Fabbre | Daily Herald

A member of the Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300 school board who made a controversial comment on social media after Charlie Kirk’s death was stripped of her board president seat Thursday but avoided a formal censure.

Board member Nancy Zettler sparked a firestorm when she wrote in a Sept. 10 Facebook post that her initial reaction to Kirk’s murder was karma.

The school board held a special meeting Thursday night to consider possible action against Zettler. Board members voted 5-1 to remove her as board president. However, the board refused to vote on a measure to censure her.

Moments before the vote, Zettler said the district will get through the controversy regardless of what happened to her. She added that she remains steadfast in her support of District 300 students.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said.

Residents packed a special meeting of the Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300 school board on Thursday night. | Alicia Fabbre/For the Daily Herald

A packed crowd attended Thursday’s meeting, where the board heard nearly two hours of public comment.

Read more here.

Related: “Parents call for Algonquin-based District 300 board president to resign after social media post about Charlie Kirk death”

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Why the Daily Herald is ending commenting on online stories

Posted in Daily Herald, Letters to the Editor, Politics on October 1, 2025| 1 Comment »

Daily Herald | Posted September 30, 2025

Today, the Daily Herald is joining a growing list of media outlets that no longer allow website commenting on stories.

Why are we stopping now?

The comment section was intended to be a tool to spur dialogue among our readers. Sometimes it succeeded in doing that.

Over time, however, it has become increasingly negative, with comments crossing the line into hate speech, bullying and name-calling. Too much time was being devoted to moderating the comments so that readers with thoughtful and relevant commentary could still have their views heard. For those well-meaning readers, there are other ways to weigh in on content and issues of the day.

Commenting is still allowed on stories posted to Facebook and other social media outlets.

We also welcome letters to the editor at fencepost@dailyherald.com.

Thank you for reading.

Source

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Double diploma: Students will be able to get Harper College degree while in high school

Posted in 220, Barrington High School, Daily Herald, Education, Harper College, Property Taxes, School Districts on September 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Harper College in Palatine is teaming with three Northwest suburban school districts to launch a program next year that will allow students to earn an associated degree while still in high school. | Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

By Christopher Placek | Daily Herald

When they walk across the stage at graduation, some members of the Class of 2028 at three Northwest suburban school districts will receive not only their high school diplomas, but associate degrees too.

Harper College and the three districts — Northwest Suburban High School District 214, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 and Barrington Area Unit District 220 — are launching the College Now dual degree program, which will have motivated high schoolers taking college-level coursework on the Palatine community college’s campus starting in the fall of 2026.

“Harper College is proud to stand with our high school partners in creating meaningful opportunities for students to accelerate their higher education journeys,” said Harper President Avis Proctor. “College Now underscores our shared vision of affordability, access and excellence in education.”

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 Superintendent Judith Campbell, from left, Northwest Suburban High School District 214 Superintendent Scott Rowe, Barrington Area Unit District 220 Superintendent Craig Winkelman, and Harper College President Avis Proctor have inked a partnership that will allow select high school students to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and associate degree. | Courtesy of Harper College

Starting this week, the three high school districts will host information sessions for students and families to learn more, with initial applications from interested sophomores due Oct. 15. Should they meet the program’s qualifications for grades and attendance, they’ll be notified of acceptance within the week.

Initial classes would begin in the fall of 2026, with high school juniors spending mornings at Harper taking college courses such as Biology, Introduction to Psychology and Ethics, then returning to their high schools in the afternoon to take additional college-level classes like Composition and Algebra.

By senior year, students would take most all classes at Harper, but still be able to participate in extracurricular activities at their high schools.

Should they earn a C grade or better in all courses, students will receive an associate of arts degree from Harper.

Read more here.

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Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington hosting annual Art in Nature Festival

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, Daily Herald, Education, Entertainment, FPDCC on September 4, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The 15th annual Art in Nature Festival returns to Crabtree Nature Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. Visitors can enjoy plein air painting, live music, art activities and food. | Courtesy of the Forest Preserves of Cook County

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Outdoor painting, live music, art activities and food can be enjoyed at the 15th annual Art in Nature Festival at Crabtree Nature Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.

Crabtree Nature Center, at 3 Stover Road in Barrington, is one of six nature centers operated by the Forest Preserves of Cook County and offers a variety of art classes, nature programs and other activities throughout the year.

Attendees can view and purchase plein air paintings, which feature artists painting the landscapes of the nature preserve.

“We will be offering a number of art workshops, including buckthorn dyeing, watercolor painting and paper cutting, to allow people to create artwork that showcase the beauty of the forest preserves,” said Jeff Rapp, director of Crabtree Nature Center.

In addition, there will be honey sales, animal encounters and a presentation by travel blogger Melissa Schwartz in the center’s classroom.

More here.

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Ding In Her Own Words – CONFLICTED!

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Daily Herald, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, The Chicago Way, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on August 19, 2025| 2 Comments »

In 2021 Erin Chan Ding first campaigned for a position on the Barrington 220 Board of Education (BOE). At that time she created a website “ERIN CHAN DING for 220.” Curiously, some might say suspiciously, the Website for Ding’s 220 campaign has been scrubbed from the internet and one must use a special search engine to attempt to find the deleted files. Ding, as we’ve previously reported, recently won re-election to the BOE and, shortly following that win, announced that she would be running in the Democratic Primary for the chance to be the Democratic candidate in the 2026 election for State Representative of the 52nd District ~ a partisan political position.

Ding’s scrubbed BOE website says several things about the conflict this run poses to her current position on the BOE and demands, in her own words, that she either immediately resign from her BOE position or forego her run for the 52nd District.

As some may recall, Ding set off a hot bed of controversy when, during the 2021 BOE campaign, she accepted the endorsement of the Barrington Education Association (BEA), 220 teacher’s union, and a donation from the BEA’s political action committee, IPACE. Ding, realizing the controversy in bringing partisan politics to what she took an oath to be a non-partisan position, explained why it was okay for her to accept the BEA endorsement and IPACE donation in 2021:

Each of us… candidates running for the … BOE are political candidates in a municipal election. What we are NOT supposed to be is partisan, affiliated with a particular political party. It is my commitment, if elected as a school board member, to maintain independence and making decisions and be free of influence from political parties and special interest groups. I will be accountable only to our community.

I have heard there’s been misinformation going around that has conflated the … BEA with a Political Action Committee, or PAC… The BEA is the union that represents more than 700 teachers and educational professionals in Barrington 220… this year, the BEA specifically stated it would endorse candidates with integrity, teamwork, a heart for racial and social equity and a sense of service over self… I am honored to have received one of four BEA endorsements.

The BEA is affiliated with a statewide organization called … IPACE, a nonpartisan, pro-education organization to which BEA members … can voluntarily contribute. IPACE regularly donates to pro-education, pro-public school candidates.

Because I was endorsed by the BEA, IPACE offered a contribution… to my campaign fund, Friends of Erin Chan Ding. Before accepting the donation, I researched IPACE to ensure it was strictly non-partisan and concluded that it is, as according to its website, recommendations for contributions… “are not determined by partisan politics.”

Our local BEA officers are also clear that I am not and will not be beholden to the teachers union or to any special interest groups.  I have not and would never accept partisan donations that will compromise my ability to offer excellent stewardship to our community.

(Click on any image above to enlarge)

Clearly, Ding recognized the import of being nonpartisan in her position on the BOE during her 2021 and 2025 campaigns for BOE. Yet, at the same time she was taking her oath of office to be a nonpartisan member of the BOE on April 22, 2025, pledging that she would:

…refuse to surrender (her) responsibilities to special interest or partisan political groups… avoid any conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety which could result from (her) position, and shall not use (her) Board of Education membership for personal gain or publicity…,

Ding had already begun her quest for a partisan political position, using her BOE membership to bolster her candidacy (indeed her time on the BOE provides her only cited credentials on her social media and Erin for Illinois pages). Additionally, in a flagrant showing of impropriety, Ding posts D220 educators, whose discipline and contracts she votes on, as endorsers of her partisan run for the 52nd.

Then, sometime following the several posts that the Observer has put out regarding Ding’s blatant conflict of interest in remaining as a BOE member at the same time she is actively campaigning and raising funds for a partisan political position (see “Ding’s D220 Deception” and “Ding Doubles Down”), Ding scrubbed the internet of her very own acknowledgment of the impropriety of her serving on the BOE under these circumstances.

BOE President Ficke-Bradford has similarly acknowledged the impropriety of Ding remaining on the BOE under these circumstances where she unceremoniously, without Ding’s presence and without a public vote of the BOE, removed Ding from all of her BOE committee assignments.

Since pushing forward with her campaign for a partisan political position, Ding has

  • Affiliated with a particular political party;
  • Accepted partisan donations*, compromising her ability to offer excellent stewardship to our community;
  • Failed to maintain independence; and
  • Failed to remain free of influence from political parties and special interest groups.

In further affront to her BOE oath, Ding has also partnered with Barrington Area Dems (BAD) to promote her run for the 52nd District. BAD has posted a fundraiser being thrown by them for Ding and other local Democratic candidates, commenting on Ding as a “current School Board member” and “a dual-elected District 220 Board of Education member” with a “commitment to equity and inclusive school communities.” Ding even ‘liked’ the post from her personal “luvpiggies” instagram account:

The next regular meeting of the BOE is scheduled for this evening. This is a good opportunity for the public to remind Ding, Superintendent Winkelman, and the Members of the BOE, that the oath of office taken by each is not to be taken lightly. It is our belief that Ding is unfit to serve any longer on our Board of Education and it’s time for the Regional and D220 Superintendents and the BOE to take action in removing her.

D220 Superintendent: cwinkelman@barrington220.org

D220 Board of Education: stwang@barrington220.org, dclopton@barrington220.org, baltshuler@barrington220.org, sbradford@barrington220.org, lcollisterlazzari@barrington220.org, echanding@barrington220.org, hsrivastava@barrington220.org

Dr. Michael Karner Lake County Regional Superintendent of Schools: Mkarner@lake.k12.il.us

*Ding’s Erin for Illinois disclosures show $3,000.00 in donations from Friends of Josina Morita, the Democratic Committee formed to support Democratic Candidate Josina Morita for Office of Cook County Commissioner for the Democratic Party. These contributions were not made by Morita in her personal capacity, but specifically made from her Democratic Committee. https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?ID=NC181bT0yRx6vp8tMkKtSg%3d%3d

Related: “District 220 Board of Education meets this evening (07.15.25)” “Ding Doubles Down,” “Ding’s D220 Deception,” “Chan Ding running in Democratic primary in 52nd,” “Three (3) Democratic candidates queued to run for the IL 52nd District House seat in 2026”

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Ding’s conflicted status confirmed

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Daily Herald, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on July 22, 2025| 9 Comments »

Recently reelected District 220 Board of Education member and now candidate Erin Chan Ding poses with 220 Board of Education Vice President Barry Altshuler (giving thumbs up) for a photo at her June 18th launch of her Illinois State Rep campaign.

The District 220 Board of Education (BOE) met last Tuesday, and BOE President Sandra Ficke-Bradford began her presentation by addressing the elephant in the room (the elephant wasn’t actually in the room, as Member Erin Chan Ding was absent from the July 15 BOE Meeting) stating:

“As many are aware, District 220 Board Member Erin Chan Ding has declared her intent to run for State Representative of the 52nd District, and it’s within Erin’s right to do so, and Erin is aware of the Board policies and the laws that are in place.

We have consulted with our counsel, um, to confirm that merely running for an office, um, for political office, while refraining from engaging in any prohibited political activity while acting as a Board member or on School District property does not constitute a violation of the Board’s Code of Conduct. Erin and all Board Members are aware of the policies the Board does have in place.

Um, that being said, the goal of this Board is to focus on Framework 220 and the daily work of the School Board. Therefore, I will be working with you guys, the Board, um, in the coming weeks prior to our next Board meeting in August to assign other Board Members to the following committee assignments that Erin holds currently. Um, Policy Committee, ED-RED Representative and Legislative Committee. So, if you’re interested in those, please let me know. Um, but we will be making those changes before the next, before those meetings.”

Ficke-Bradford did not ask the other BOE Members if they had any questions or comments relative to the removal of Ding from her committee assignments. Following Public Comment, where a member of the community spoke about the conflicts presented by Ding’s decision to run for a partisan political position, Ficke-Bradford chose to reiterate some of her prior statements adding:

“I just want to touch on, I just want to repeat what I had said earlier, that um, regarding Erin Chan Ding running for um State Representative, um, we did consult with our counsel, and um, we did confirm that merely running for political office, again, while refraining from engaging in any prohibited political activity while acting as a Board Member or on School District property does not constitute a violation of the Board’s Code of Conduct. Um, but I would like to remind the Board, right, that we do have policies that are in place and we should be very careful to make sure that we do not violate the Open Meetings Act. So, thank you for that.”

In watching the video from the July 15th meeting, at 37:52, one can see Ficke-Bradford pointedly look towards Members Altshuler and Srivastava while she reminds the BOE Members of their obligations under the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA). As reported on by The Observer in Ding’s D220 Deception, both Altshuler and Srivastava were present at Ding’s launch party for her run for the 52nd. The Observer further pointed out the potential for an OMA violation in that article, as three Members of the BOE constitute a quorum and Ding’s platform for the 52nd District mostly surrounds her activities on the BOE. So, now Ficke-Bradford has put the entire BOE on notice due to Ding’s decision.

For nearly a month, The Observer has written about the conflict of interest Erin Chan Ding created when she announced her political ambitions weeks after being reelected to the BOE (see “Ding’s D220 Deception” and “Ding Doubles Down”).This past Tuesday evening, apparently without discussion or vote, Ficke-Bradford decided Ding’s position on 3 BOE committees would be eliminated, and not one Member of the BOE or the Superintendent voiced an objection to this decision.

It should be noted that the BOE had a lengthy Closed Session prior to the regular meeting of the BOE, with one of the Closed Session Agenda items being “Self Evaluation.”  School boards can hold closed-session meetings to discuss specific topics legally permitted under the OMA. These sessions are not open to the public, and the topics discussed are specifically limited by the OMA. It’s certainly possible that the BOE and Superintendent Winkelman determined to discuss Ding’s run for the 52nd in Closed Session, as Ficke-Bradford’s statement appeared to be prepared written comments. The Observer, however, cannot identify a legally recognized exception to the OMA and the premise that BOE actions should take place in front of the public which would have allowed for such discussions in Closed Session.

Ficke-Bradford’s choice clearly confirms her belief that Ding’s decision to run for a partisan political position makes her conflicted if she remains on the Board of Education. Further, so long as Ding remains on the BOE, every Board vote will require scrutiny for objectivity and everything Ding says or posts in her Democratic campaign for the 52nd District must also be scrutinized before it’s determined whether or not she should abstain from BOE activities.

The baggage Ding has now burdened our Board of Education with is one taxpayers were not bargaining on when they voted in April. And, if Ding chooses to keep her BOE seat, it will only serve to increase the burden of responsibility on her peers.

We believe that Ficke-Bradford, without calling for Ding to step down, has opened the door for Ding to do the right thing by taking that action on her own and step down before further action must me taken. The removal of Ding from committee assignments is a clear admission that her run for the 52nd District, including her website and social pages that actively advertise her BOE activities as support for her run, constitute violations of BOE policies.

Additionally, we’d like to point out from Ficke-Bradford’s comments, it appears that our BOE believes that the burden should be on the D220 taxpayers, as opposed to the Erin for Illinois Democratic political committee organized and raising funds on behalf of Ding’s run for the 52nd District, for the responsibility for obtaining legal opinions as to whether Ding is conflicted from serving the dual functions of partisan and non-partisan. We suggest to Ficke-Bradford, the BOE, Superintendent Winkelman and the D220 attorneys that this is an irresponsible use of taxpayer money and this burden should be on the Erin for Illinois campaign, not the taxpayer.

Related: “Ding Doubles Down,” “Ding’s D220 Deception,” “Chan Ding running in Democratic primary in 52nd,” “Three (3) Democratic candidates queued to run for the IL 52nd District House seat in 2026”

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