Thornton Township officials, hoping to help residents laid off since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, plan to lobby county, state and federal governments for funds to retrain jobless workers.
Thornton Township Supervisor Frank Zuccarelli said the township needs grants to reverse its employment woes. The recent closing of the Acme Metals steel mill and other businesses in the township has left many families struggling to make ends meet, he said.
“Amid all the business mergers and fallouts, it’s time for us to begin retraining the workforce in Thornton Township,” Zuccarelli said. “We must offer alternative job opportunities for people who have been laid off and for those who want to redefine their careers.”
Thornton Township serves as a social service safety net for 17 south suburban municipalities, Zuccarelli said.
“In our township, social service is our top priority, which includes job security,” Zuccarelli said.
Candidate backing: With the March 19 primaries less than a month away, candidates are working fast and furiously to line up endorsements.
Among the south suburban politicians receiving endorsements recently were state Rep. Robert Ryan (D-Lansing), who is running in the newly created 29th District, and Calumet Township Trustee Robert Rita, a Democratic candidate in the new 28th Illinois House District.
Ryan won the backing of the Illinois Committee for Honest Government and the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois. Rita, meanwhile, received the endorsement of Local 150 of the Operating Engineers Union and Palos Hills Mayor Jean Moran.
Job hunt: Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 has narrowed its search for a new superintendent to two candidates, including Robert Wilhite, the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Interviews with the two are to be held this month, district officials said. The district’s school board could name the new superintendent this month or early next month. However, if the interviews with the two candidates prove to be unsatisfactory, the board can begin the search again.
The name of the second candidate has not been revealed. Altogether, 23 people applied for the job.
The new superintendent of the Calumet City-based school district will replace Supt. Doug Long, who is retiring June 1. Long has been superintendent since 1995 and before that was principal of Thornton Fractional North High School in Calumet City.
Besides Calumet City, District 215, which also includes Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, serves students from Burnham, Lansing and Lynwood.
