Story by Kevin Woodard
A group of parents in Fairbury are starting a private school in their area to provide parents a choice when it comes to where their children can attend school. Dismayed at actions taken by government during the COVID crisis they are taking matters into their own hands for the sake of their children and other children in the vicinity.
Briana Ray is a parent like many others that are concerned with their children’s education. Though her daughter is not yet in school she was unhappy with actions taken by Illinois state government and the Prairie Center School District.
When COVID first hit in March of 2020 no one knew what to expect. Children were sent home to continue their education remotely. Remote learning was the norm for the 2020/2021 school year. Approaching the fall of 2021 schools prepared to reopen with children required to wear masks.
That summer Ray and other parents began contacting the School Board and attending Board meetings. They were concerned about masking children and were looking for alternatives.
Unfortunately it didn’t take long to realize that they were in a race against time that they didn’t believe they were going to win. It appeared the decision had already been made. They didn’t really have a choice.
Their eyes were opened to how school systems work and how they are controlled by government. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and his governmental overreach had tied the hands of school boards across the state. Upon advice from their attorneys, based on concerns regarding liability, they didn’t dare not follow the Governor’s illegal mandates. School administration and teachers had no choice but to follow the rules. After all, they are government too.
Ray and her group began looking at other options. They investigated home schooling. They invited a parent who homeschools her children to come to talk to their group which now was made up of about 20 people.
Then, in March, Ray learned about “Pastor Randy” from the Awake Illinois Facebook page.
According to the Awake Illinois website. “This grassroots organization was launched by everyday parents and citizens in May 2021. During the pandemic year, many of us ” awakened” to the issues affecting our communities, our children, and our liberties. Awake Illinois chartered the first chapter in Naperville, Illinois and is now expanding through all four corners of the state.”
“Pastor Randy” is Pastor Randy Blan, Senior Pastor of Families of Faith Ministries in Channahon, Illinois. He is also Headmaster of Families of Faith Academy and he is Founder and President of the GRACE Association.
Blan first joined what was then First Baptist Church of Channahon in 2000 for an internship. The church started a school in 2005. In 2011 they built a new facility and in 2012 they moved into that facility rebranding themselves as Families of Faith Ministries and Families of Faith Academy.
In 2020, despite Governor Pritzker’s mandates, they refused to close their church or school. Furthermore they refused to wear masks. They never had an outbreak of COVID. They were sued by Pritzker. But nothing came of it.
During COVID the Academy noticed that new children coming into their school were as much as two years behind both educationally and socially. They contemplated starting another school. In Romeoville 300 families showed up to discuss the possibility and a church that was no longer going to use a facility gave it to the group. In St. Charles, Illinois 150 families showed up resulting in 850 children registered. St. Charles is looking for facility.
Other communities were interested too. And out of all that interest the Gratefully Reclaiming A Conservative Education (GRACE) Association was born.
Today GRACE is planning to open schools in Naperville, Romeo and Wooddale this fall. GRACE is also targeting openings in St. Charles, Lincolnway/New Lenox, Rochelle, Sterling and Fairbury for the fall.
In Fairbury Ray’s group is trying to find a facility. They are not only looking in Fairbury but are also considering Pontiac or Chenoa.
GRACE assists parents interested in starting schools by hiring teachers and providing furniture. It also provides their curriculum which is drawn largely from the home-schooling curriculum Abeka. That curriculum is made readily transparent by being available before school starts.
Ray wants to be clear about her groups motivation and stated, “We are not unhappy with our schools, board or teachers but we don’t appreciate government overreach that ties not only our school leader’s hands but also parent’s hands because we don’t have school choice.”
Cities 92,9 reached out to Prairie Central School District Superintendent Paula Crane for her thoughts regarding these activities in Fairbury. Crane said. “I do very much support public schools. I strongly believe we have the most to offer for most kids. I also respect parent’s choice. Everyone has to make the best choice for their family and their children.”
GRACE is also talking with others about starting schools in Hanover Park, Oswego, Aurora, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Chicago, Arlington Heights, and Lombard/Villa Park.
“Pastor Randy wants parents to know that they, “need to recognize the incredible loss of learning their kids have experienced during Covid and that our state has a no fail policy and regardless of where they are at they are being moved along.”
Al Crespo, Director of Communications and Logistics for GRACE, added that, “We are giving parents hope.”
That’s why the parents keep coming to GRACE. And on May 4th 15 to 20 mothers from Bloomington, including an influencer pulling together resources, are going to Channahon,
COVID has changed our world in so many ways. Not all of them were bad. One of the brightest outcomes may be a rekindling of parental interest in education and particularly in the area of providing more choices for parents when it comes to deciding where their children should attend school.