Both Elgin hospitals receive “A” ratings for patient safety
The Leapfrog Group recently awarded both Advocate Sherman Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin with “A” ratings for excellence in patient safety on its fall 2025 patient safety report card.
Leapfrog analysts evaluate publicly available data across 22 different safety measures to assign grades based on how well about 3,000 hospitals across the United States are protecting patients from harm, according to a press release from Advocate Health. Measurements include the hospital’s ability to prevent errors, accidents, injuries and infections. Grades are issued each fall and spring.
“We are honored to be recognized by The Leapfrog Group for our unwavering commitment to patient safety and quality care,” Dr. Scott Rissmiller, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for Advocate Health, said in a news release.
In a separate news release, Maria Suvacarov, St. Joseph Hospital’s chief nursing officer, said, “Patient safety is paramount and our first priority when caring for our patients. Our community expects that they are in safe hands with caregivers who consider their welfare first and foremost.”
For more information about the hospital grades and to find tips for staying safe in the hospital, go to HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
School District U-46 converting emergency phone lines from analog to digital technology
School District U-46 will be replacing outdated analog phone service lines with digital technology.
As part of the consent agenda at its Monday, Nov. 17 meeting, the Board of Education approved paying Lingo Communications $336,911.76 for the project.
According to meeting documents, the transition is needed because the old technology is being phased out nationwide, making it increasingly expensive to maintain. Digital lines will provide a more reliable, cost-effective, and scalable communication system with enhanced features.
The project targets the 113 emergency lines the district has that are still analog, technology operations manager Naul Conejo, said in an email. Office staff members have desk phones that already use digital technology.
The new lines are expected to be in place by September 2026.
School District U-46 renews contract for holding graduations at NOW Arena
School District U-46 will continue to hold graduation ceremonies for its five high schools at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates in 2027 and 2028.
At its Monday, Nov. 17, meeting, the Board of Education approved a $250,384 two-year agreement with the arena to continue holding the graduations there.
U-46 has been holding graduation ceremonies at the NOW Arena for over a decade. According to a meeting memo, the 2027 ceremonies will be held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, May 29, and the 2028 ceremonies will take place the Saturday after Memorial Day, June 3.
College of DuPage receives grant of more than $300,000 to train EV technicians
The Illinois Community College Board recently awarded College of DuPage $334,428 to support ongoing training for electric vehicle technicians.
The grant is provided from the board’s Rev Up EV Community College Initiative, according to a news release. The funding will enable the college to expand hands-on learning opportunities in advanced manufacturing and clean energy technologies to prepare students for the growing EV field. The funding will support students pursuing automotive service technology degrees or certificates, specifically the College’s Electric Vehicle Technology certificate.
To learn more about the college’s certificate program, go to catalog.cod.edu/programs-study/automotive-service-technology/electric-vehicle-technology-certificate/.
Group of students and faculty urges Illinois Board of Higher Education to support better funding of colleges
Some students from Illinois universities and members of the University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 spoke during the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s quarterly meeting at Elgin Community College on Wednesday, Nov. 12, urging the board to support legislation that would provide more equitable funding to higher education.
The speakers claimed that the state owes its public universities at least $1.4 billion, including $25 million in unreleased funds, according to a news release. That lack of funding has shifted costs onto families while slashing programs and staff.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, the group of six also presented the IBHE with what they said were thousands of signed postcards demanding the board support fair funding legislation.
“Illinois has systematically underfunded our higher education system, making college unaffordable for many and driving nearly half of our high school graduates out of state to seek a degree,” Keith Nyquist, a Northern Illinois instructor and UPI member, said in the release. “It’s time for the IBHE to do its part and support the Equitable Funding Bill to ensure that all our state’s universities can meet the needs of the students and communities they serve.”
