Aptakisic Junior High School

The Aptakisic-Tripp School District is a school district in Lake County, Illinois. It operates four schools and covers grades Early Childhood through 8. Most students live in Buffalo Grove, a northern suburb of Chicago, and some live in unincorporated Prairie View or Deerfield.

Schools

Students who live within the district's boundaries will attend Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire; Stevenson is its own independent district, Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125.

Elementary

There are two K-3 schools, Tripp Elementary School and Pritchett Elementary School, in the district.


Pritchett Elementary School

''Dr. Matt Moreland, Ed.D.'' - Principal

''Mrs. Julie Cummings'' - Assistant Principal



Tripp Elementary School

''Mrs. Tina Schenk'' - Principal

''Mr. Kevin Locallo'' - Assistant Principal

Middle

There is one middle school for grades 4–5, which is named Meridian School. Early Childhood is also in Meridian.


Meridian Middle School

''Mr. Greg Michels'' - Principal

''Ms. Nicole Milweski'' - Assistant Principal

Junior High

The junior high school, grades 6–8, is named Aptakisic Junior High School.

Aptakisic Junior High School

''Mrs. Dana Tamez'' - Principal

''Ms. Michelle Robinson'' - Associate Principal

''Ms. Maggie Bialobrzeski'' - Assistant Principal

History

The district was originally split into the Aptakisic School and the Tripp School during the 19th century and first half of the 20th century. Due to the growth of the city of Buffalo Grove, the schools united into one in the 1960s. Along with a united district came a brand-new school. By the 1970s, the school was unable to handle the growing city and the school was torn down and the Aptakisic School replaced it. By 1981, grades K-5 began going to the new Pritchett Elementary School. In the late 1980s, Tripp Middle School was built serving grades 3–5, at which point Pritchett Elementary served only grades K-2. Aptakisic School was then a junior high serving grades 6, 7, and 8. By 1994, Meridian Middle School was built to handle grade 5 and 6, while Tripp Elementary School became an elementary school serving K-4, alongside Pritchett.

Expansion during 2017-2018 brought many changes. The district office that was a part of AJHS building moved to a neighboring building. The old district office was redesigned to be the sixth grade classrooms. A new wing was built for music, art, Spanish, band and orchestra. An Early Childhood wing was built for Meridian. Fourth grades from Tripp and Pritchett were moved to Meridian. Sixth grade moved to AJHS from Meridian. Tripp and Pritchett became K-3 schools. All projects were funded by a $18 million dollar bond, approved in 2018 by the Board of Education.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, D102 remained remote in operations and utilized online technology to facilitate learning. In July 2020, it was announced that students would remain in fully remote learning at least through Oct. 5 of that year.
For the 2021-2022 school year, the district began operating in a hybrid capacity, with some classes fully remote, some virtual, and some a mix of the two.

Controversies

Stabbing incident

In May 2005, a student of Aptakisic was charged with the stabbing of another former student in a French classroom.
She was eventually sentenced with 5 years of probation, after making an apology in court.

Name change

In 2012, Aptakisic changed its mascot from Chief Aptakisic to the Eagles, due to the potential for issues of racial sensitivity and backlash.

John Vastis suspension and arrest

In August 2014, a former public speaking teacher at Meridian Middle School (John C. Vastis) was arrested by ICE and Homeland Security on charges of receiving child pornography and persuading a minor to produce pornographic images of himself. He was put on unpaid suspension following the accusations. In January 2017, Vastis was formally sentenced to 13 years for one count of accessing child pornography with the intent to view.

According to investigators, Vastis did not engage in sexually explicit interactions with his former students. Vastis has formerly been recognized for his excellence in teaching, receiving a Golden Apple Teaching Award in 1997. It is unknown currently whether Vastis is still incarcerated.

Board of Education

The following is the Board of Education as of 2023:

Jordan Sklansky - President

Pelleg Graupe - Vice President

Vera Gaskill - Secretary

''Deepa Ajmire'' - Board Member

''Justin Parker'' - Board Member

''Melissa Rose'' - Board Member

''Jordan Salus'' - Board Member

In Fiction

Adam Levin's 2010 novel ''The Instructions'' is set at Aptakisic Junior High School.

References

External links

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Buffalo Grove, Illinois
School districts in Lake County, Illinois
School districts established in 1956
1956 establishments in Illinois

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