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Park Junior High teachers ask board to consider naming auditorium for longtime music teacher
Summary
Teachers, staff and a paraeducator urged the La Grange School District 102 board during public comment to consider renaming Park Junior High's auditorium for Kelly Paich, citing three decades of service directing music, chorus and the school musical.
Dozens of Park Junior High teachers, staff and community members asked the La Grange School District 102 board during the meeting's first public-comment period to consider renaming the school's auditorium for music teacher Kelly Paich.
"I'm Vicky Namikas. I teach Spanish here at Park Junior High, seventh and eighth grade," said Vicky Namikas as she introduced a written proposal that school staff intended to leave with the board. Namikas described Paich, a Park graduate, as “Park's general music teacher for 30 years” and said she has been the school's chorus director for the same period.
The request was supported by several other staff members who spoke in succession. Joy Mazela, a Spanish teacher and La Grange Park resident, told the board Paich had directed 27 of the school's musicals and had overseen ensembles that at times involved about 100 students. Christine Boyd, the French teacher, said teachers had submitted a formal proposal to Superintendent Chris (last name not specified) asking the board to consider appointing a special committee to review naming the space.
Paraeducator and backstage technical director Michael Janus described Paich's work in the theater program and the time she and volunteers spent preparing productions. Lisa Bernstein, an LA teacher, said Paich had created “a place to feel comfortable, to feel safe, and a place to belong” for students over decades.
Speakers noted other local acknowledgments of Paich's work, including an annual Michelle West award the teacher has presented since 1998 and a 2025 La Grange Business Association District 102 educator recognition. Several speakers highlighted the connection between Paich's work and community events—performances at the La Grange Park tree lighting, Memorial Day ceremonies and district graduations.
No formal agenda action to rename the auditorium was taken during the meeting. Board members did not vote on the request during the public-comment period; speakers said they had submitted a written proposal and asked the board to consider convening a committee to review naming the auditorium.
If the board chooses to act, the speakers asked for a process that would include teacher and community input. For now, the request remains a public-comment appeal that the board may refer to staff for follow up or place on a future agenda.
