Manley Joins Cappel, Avelar Meeting with Area Superintendents

Crest Hill, Ill. – Members of State Rep. Natalie Manley’s office (D--Joliet) joined Rep. Dagmara

“Dee” Avelar (D--Romeoville) at a meeting with area superintendents hosted by Illinois Senate

Education Committee Chair Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D--Shorewood).

“Senator Cappel’s regular meetings with area superintendents are a necessary part of our

responsibilities as legislators to understand the reality of what’s happening in our local

classrooms,” Manley said. “This also provides a critical forum for discussions about how to

address real life circumstances that legislation may be able to address.”

The superintendents in attendance included Dr. Keith Wood, Valley View School District 365;

Dr. Karla Guseman, Joliet Township High School District 204; Dr. Glenn Wood, Plainfield

Community Consolidated School District 202; Dr. Rob Schiffbauer, Minooka Community High

School District 111; Rachel Kinder, Ed.S., Minooka Community Consolidated School District

201; Dr. Andalib Khelghati, Oswego Community Unit School District 308; and Dr. Robert

McBride, Jr., Lockport Township School District 205.

Discussions revolved around the state budget, and unfunded mandates, particularly concerning

likely federal funding cuts, and how school districts may prepare and respond to uncertain

funding.

Other topics included early childhood education, including how the K-2 demographic is

changing, particularly post-Covid, which has changed the entire educational system.

“Reaching children at their earliest stages of education is key to providing long term, quality

education,” Manley said. “Thank you to all the area superintendents who take time to have these

important discussions with us, legislators.”

Pictured: Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, Illinois Senate Education Committee Chair, hosted

a meeting with State Rep. Natalie Manley’s staff, Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, and area

superintendents, Crest Hill, IL, June 24, 2025