Whalen Family RPS Journey
Meadow Ridge (2021 - 2024)
During this time, I spoke up to the school administration regarding masking. I believe families deserve to be heard and policies deserve thoughtful, transparent consideration.
Between April 2023 and February 2024, I again advocated on behalf of families regarding an academic calendar that pushed the school year into mid-August and increased early-release days from 8 to 18. I met with Assistant Superintendent Mike Ramm to better understand Rockford’s teacher collaboration and professional development model while sharing concerns about the impact on working families. After more than a year of dialogue, I helped deliver a petition with over 400 signatures to the School Board resulting in a more balanced academic calendar.
In 2024, I spoke publicly about the redistricting process, particularly one neighborhood not being moved to Parkside, and the need for grace with in-district transfers for families forced to change schools.
Parkside Has My Heart (2024 - 2025)
After redistricting, I chose an in-district transfer to Parkside to keep my son with his friends. He had already attended Summer BAC there for three years and loved the school.
During this time, I was part of the original Parkside Parent Pack, which later became Organize Parkside (OP). Together, we:
- Collected over 1,000 petition signatures
- Participated in numerous media interviews
- Ran a sustained social media campaign
- Attended countless meetings—School Board, PTO, and public forums
- Helped prepare four formal presentations opposing the closure of Parkside
- Recorded and published PTO meetings on YouTube
- Sent more than 10,000 emails advocating for transparency and community voice
On March 10, 2025, during public comment at a School Board meeting, I stated plainly that decisions without community trust would cost Rockford students, families, and future support. Those concerns were not hypothetical.
Valley View & Looking Forward (2025 - Current)
Valley View staff have been welcoming, and I am grateful for my son’s teacher and school community.
Since March 2025, Rockford Public Schools has lost 238 students, multiple teachers have resigned, and the district proposed a $230 million bond.
In response, I helped form Transparency for RPS Taxpayers, where I served as Chair and a public spokesperson. Our work contributed to:
- Historic voter turnout
- The first failed school bond in Rockford since the 1990s
- Meaningful governance changes, including:
- Public comment moved before action items
- Later Board meeting start times
- Removal of the five-hour advance sign-up requirement for public comment