Political Quotes

“the announcement was made last week that a high school in my congressional district, Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in Westchester, Illinois, would be closing its doors at the end of this school year. This closure indicates the end of an era in the Chicago western suburbs and for single-sex education due to a record low enrollment in 2004, and a significant drop in the number of people sitting for the entrance exam in January of 2005. The school administration made the difficult decision to close this spring. Since 1961, Immaculate Heart of Mary has offered a rigorous, single-sex, college preparatory education for young women throughout Chicago and the western suburbs. Over 6,000 women have benefited from the education offered by IHM since its inception. Teachers and staff have dedicated themselves to fostering a diverse community aimed towards achieving academic excellence and building a Christian community made up of empowered young women. IHM has been successful both academically and in its extracurricular activities. Athletic successes include a State championship in basketball in 1987. The students of IHM have been involved in many other extracurricular activities such as Model United Nations and Students Against Drunk Driving. In 1996, IHM received the United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Award in recognition of their academic superiority. IHM is the only all-women school in the State of Illinois to receive this award.”