Stevenson High newspaper to lose adviser

The staff adviser of Stevenson High School's award-winning student newspaper, which has been the subject of controversy in recent months, will leave that post at the end of the school year, officials confirmed Wednesday.

Stevenson High teacher Barbara Thill won't teach journalism classes next year, either, Stevenson spokesman Jim Conrey said. Thill will, however, remain on staff at the Lincolnshire school in the English department.

Thill told students March 20 of her plans to leave the Statesman, said Stevenson junior Pam Selman, the newspaper's news editor. The announcement upset the staff.

"We support her decision, but as a staff we think it's going to be a huge hit for the Statesman and for Stevenson," Selman said. "She's the best adviser that Stevenson had and ever will have."

Plans call for two co-advisers to replace Thill next year, Selman said.

Thill could not be reached for comment.

Thill's decision came about a month after school officials decided a second staff member would oversee production of the Statesman. That move was prompted by what officials said were reporting problems.

Those alleged problems became public after a January edition included a story about students hooking up for casual sex. Officials said the newspaper's reporting troubles predate that issue, however.

David Noskin, director of the communication arts department, now has final approval over the newspaper's content. Thill formerly had final say over the newspaper.

The additional oversight has been criticized by some students and parents as overreaching, but supported by others.

Stevenson High School board President Bruce Lubin did not return interview requests Wednesday. Other board members declined to comment on Thill's resignation.

Thill joined the Stevenson staff in 2003. During her tenure, the Statesman has won two National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Awards, the high school journalism equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize.

In 2007, Thill received the association's highest individual honor for instructors, the Pioneer Award.

Before coming to Stevenson, Thill oversaw the student newspaper at Lyons Township High School in southwest suburban LaGrange. During her tenure there, her students won five Pacemakers.

Last year, the Statesman won several awards from the Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association.

Losing Thill is like a World Series champion baseball team losing its ace pitcher, said Randy Swikle, Illinois director of the Journalism Education Association.

"Barb is an outstanding adviser," Swikle said. "It's frustrating that you have such an exemplary school district like Stevenson losing one of the top advisers in the nation."

Two or three more issues of the Statesman will be published this school year, Conrey said.