New Trier Administrators Close School in Honor of Former Principal

administrators met on Sunday afternoon, after the news of Jan Borja's death on Saturday morning. The former Northfield Campus Principal's funeral service, scheduled for Wednesday morning, conflicted with school. The officials decided to close school for the day.

"There’s no precedent for this, and I don’t expect it to happen again, exactly in this way," said Superintendent Linda Yonke. "The impact of Jan and the depth and bredth of her reach in the community is unique and really singular."

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Yonke said that Borja's 40-year career at New Trier was remarkable in its length and in its scope. Borja began as a German teacher, and gradually ascended to the role of principal in 2001. She is credited with leading the transition to an all-freshman campus in Northfield, after several years of community controversy on the subject.

"Every single staff member wants to be at the service," said Yonke, who met several times a week with Borja for administrative meetings. "We want to show the community the respect we’ve had for Jan's leadership and for her as a person."

Northfield Campus Principal Paul Waechtler, who served as Assistant Principal under Borja, echoed Yonke's sentiments in a press release sent on Monday.

“Jan didn’t just help create New Trier’s Northfield Campus," said Waechtler. "She had a positive influence on thousands upon thousands of students, staff, and parents through her roles as a caring and outstanding teacher, adviser, and leader."

The missed school day will be treated like an emergency day, with second semester final exams bumped forward one day and the removal of Grading Day. The end of school remains the same, Friday, June 8.

"I’ve gotten probably 30 emails from parents that were overwhelmingly supportive and sending sympathy," said Yonke. "You know that’s 30 out of 4,000. It is a serious decision to close school for the day, but it’s an unusual circumstance for an unusual, singular person."

The visitation is planned for Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie.

The memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Northfield Campus of New Trier in the Cornog Auditorium, 7 Happ Rd. Some New Trier students will play music at the service, according to Yonke.

In lieu of flowers, people can offer memorials to the Kellogg Cancer Center, c/o NorthShore University HealthSystem Foundation, 1033 University Pl., Suite 450, Evanston, IL 60201 or www.northshore.org/kellogg-cancer-center.

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