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TTHS D205 works with Village of Phoenix to place resource officer at Thornton

It’s part of a larger effort to ensure officers are placed at all district schools, officials said.

By Amethyst J. Davis

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Education & Youth

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November 30, 2024

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The district approved an intergovernmental agreement with Phoenix to allow a police officer from their department to be stationed at Thornton Township High School in Harvey last month.

Village officials approved “their part” on their end the night before, Superintendent Nathaniel Cunningham, Jr. said. The goal is to have school resource officers staffed at Thornton in Harvey, Thornridge High School in Dolton, and Thornwood High School in South Holland.

Two years ago, the district considered a similar agreement with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The school board approved an IGA with the Sheriff, however, the county backed out of the talks. At the time, the reason why wasn’t made clear to district officials.

Cunningham, Jr. also took the time to acknowledge breast cancer awareness month in his monthly superintendent’s report and unique challenges for Black and Brown communities.

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The board approved two sets of September executive meeting minutes and bills between September 11 and October 8.

Author

Amethyst J. Davis

Amethyst J. Davis is responsible for spearheading the growth and development of the HWH, including outlining the editorial trajectory and content. She also produces “The Renaissance Letter,” our biweekly email newsletter, edits content, and fact-checks stories prior to publication. Amethyst was an administrator at New York University before launching her journalism career. She was previously a member of the Sounding Board, the community advisory board for Chicago Public Media, which includes WBEZ Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times.

Amethyst is a 2023 Leader of a New Chicago award recipient, as recognized by the Field Foundation and MacArthur Foundation. She was named to Forbes 30 Under 30.

In 2022, Amethyst was a Casey Fellow with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Black News & Views. She is a sought after speaker on community journalism and has given talks at institutions like DePaul University and the University of Kansas. Amethyst is a regular guest on City Cast Chicago.

She was invited by Harvard University to submit a 2023 and 2024 Nieman Lab prediction. Under her leadership, the HWH has become one of the nation’s most-watched hyperlocal newsrooms. The HWH has received national coverage in publications like Poynter, Harvard University’s Nieman Lab, the National Press Journalism Club Institute, and Editor & Publisher.

A Harvey native, Amethyst is a Brooks Middle School (’11) and Thornton Township High School alum (‘15) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from NYU (BA’19). She is an alumna of the Data and Policy Summer Scholar program at the University of Chicago.