For those who still think the contract between a school district and its faculty only comes down to pay and benefits, Oak Park's District 97 elementary schools has pioneered another priority.

With the headlines focused on the full-bore ascendency of Democrats in Illinois, attention rightly turns to new Governor J.B. Pritzker and the swearing-in Monday of an all-Democratic roster of state constitutional officers.

For well over a decade the duties and the staff of Oak Park's village clerk have gradually been diminished. The process has occurred under multiple village boards and at least two managers.

Oak Park has a new police chief and he is a familiar face and presence in our village.