Cover Photo: A Valley View School District local (center, back) waves a pride flag behind three anti-civil rights promoters in the front row, including hate group Awake Illinois president Shannon Adcock (center, front).

By Dominic Guanzon

Additional Editing By Nicholas Folkerts

Monday 4/14/25

UPDATE 4/28: Two weeks after this article’s initial publishing, Jim Fisher spoke again at the following VVSD meeting, saying he and Awake Illinois were “watching for the federal agents to descend on this town.” Trans Up Front Illinois once again packed the room and lined up supporters urging the board to remain steadfast. Fisher was the only speaker that night.

ROMEOVILLE – Southern Poverty Law Center-designated anti-trans hate group Awake Illinois was met with an overwhelming response by local parents, students, educators, and civil rights organizations at the Valley View School District 365 (VVSD) board meeting on Monday.

The meeting at John J. Lukancic Middle School was attended by approximately 150 people, most of whom came out with trans rights flags, shirts, and signs. They outnumbered the group from Awake and their supporters 30:1, the former of which is based in a different district centered around Naperville. VVSD covers mostly Bolingbrook and Romeoville.

Awake Illinois announced on Friday, April 11th they had “lodged a federal civil rights complaint against the Illinois State Board of Education & [VVSD], alleging violations of Title IX,” which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education.

The complaint stems from a VVSD parent’s grievance after an alleged bathroom incident involving their daughter and another student, which is expanded upon in the next section. Awake Illinois used the evening to announce they are officially taking this inciting incident to President Trump’s Department of Education in a potential bid to hold hostage the school district’s $22.7 million in federal funding.

“I watched Jurassic Park this weekend,” began Awake ally Jim Fisher. “In the opening scene, the dinosaur eats one of the employees. The next scene shows a lawyer walking around saying [they’re] subject to a lawsuit for $20 million dollars. Imagine that. $20 million is what this school district gets, a year, from the federal government.”

It quickly became apparent federal funding was the heart of the threat. “If you follow the federal government laws, then the money comes to you. But if you do not follow the federal government laws, such as taking away women’s rights, then you don’t get the money.”

Awake and similar conservative operations have repeatedly and erroneously conflated trans rights and gender fluidity with the taking away of women’s rights and identity. For instance, during public comment, Awake’s Downers Grove chapter co-chair Laura Hois recounts how she saw a “size 12 or 13 shoe” under a women’s bathroom stall at an Illinois highway rest stop “where there’s no security provided.” This led her to assume there was a man inside, which made her feel uncomfortable.

“I’m a small person!” Hois proclaimed, attempting to victimize herself, but to the explosive cackles of people in line behind her.

This line of attack has been part of a general wave of moral panic over “woke ideology” attacking “the children,” as outlined extensively in Awake’s ongoing podcast series.

Trans rights supporters in line to speak react to Laura Hois’ self-victimizing testimony over seeing large feet in a bathroom stall.

“We do plan to continue filing civil rights complaints with the goal of affecting state-wide policy shift,” said Awake’s founder and president Shannon Adcock at the meeting. “Our concern is for the nearly two million children in K-12 schools.”

Adcock is also the DuPage Chapter Chair of another SPLC-designated hate group known as Moms for Liberty.

Nearly three hours passed until the meeting was concluded, which was live streamed on the VVSD YouTube channel. The public comment section dominated the night, going for two straight hours across over 30 original speakers. It overshadowed earlier agenda items such as a Spanish teacher’s spotlight video and recognition of local winning volleyball and bowling teams. VVSD’s meetings usually last half the time from what the YouTube archive shows.

Chicagoland advocacy group Trans Up Front Illinois called on supporters to “PACK THE ROOM with love and support, remind the school district of Illinois state laws protecting trans kids, and show them that we will not sit silent while they attack children.”

A Community Turns Out For Trans Inclusivity

“We found out about this Friday afternoon,” the org’s Executive Director Ascher McMaher told me. “In a 30-minute period, we received 17 messages, comments, and contact forms…and so we were happy to drive out to make sure that they’re here and supported. Their community is definitely rallying behind them.”

McMaher has been busy traveling to various school districts throughout the Chicagoland area responding to school board meetings, including three this week. They have also been present at Chicago’s Trans Day of Visibility and Hands Off rallies and marches.

A litany of concerned individuals continuously appealed to the board’s humanity.

“Coming out as a young person was really difficult,” said Cameron, a Bolingbrook resident and one of many trans people who spoke with that lived experience. “I was suddenly forced to advocate for myself to everyone in my life for things that were given to everyone else without a second thought…Being a child is hard enough. The school’s job is to make it easier and give support to all students, whatever their struggles may entail.”

“It doesn’t matter if you have funding, if you don’t have students who live to adulthood,” said VVSD parent Jessica Parks.

“I am also encouraged by the fact that there are so many more of us than there are of them,” said local Patty Droogan. “They have not dealt with the citizens of Bolingbrook.”

Trans rights supporters came ran the gamut of backgrounds in terms of age, sexual orientation, race, sex and gender identity.

Another throughline from the supporters was their thanks to the school board for holding firm amidst Awake’s actions.

Pat, a Willowbrook resident who grew up in Bolingbrook, related their son’s “I want to thank [the board] for the progress that you’ve made…Unfortunately, we weren’t as evolved back then, when it came to LGBTQIA+ issues. When [their child] came out in eighth grade, I ended up getting a phone call. They were taken away by an ambulance with four staples right along the hairline – [they were] shoved into a locker display.”

He continues, explaining how the poor environment forced his family to move to Hinsdale. “Freshman year, that’s when the bullying started. They went to an adult, who said ‘maybe if you weren’t different this wouldn’t happen.’ I’ve seen the changes [the board has] made, and I just wanted to say thank you, and for god’s sake, don’t go backwards.”

Robert, who was wearing a hoodie with the words “Proud Dad” in trans flag colors, spoke with me prior to the meeting. “Growing up, I got bullied a lot, but the teachers, the staff were always there to help me out. And every Bolingbrook school that I was in. I wanted that same love and acceptance for my own kids. And I have four now that are all in the system, and when I heard what was happening tonight, I canceled every plan I had. My ex-wife is coming to support our daughter.”

He continued. “Normally, [school board meetings] are very boring…you know, how do you want your tax dollar spent? I’ll gladly argue tax reform with you, but I will not give up the rights of my child.”

When one of the about five anti-trans Awake supporters began making religious appeals and false equivalencies, the crowd verbally shot back, but quickly settled into mostly-silent waving of flags and turning around to face away from the speaker.

“Should an alcoholic who suffers from alcoholism…walk into a bar and go ‘Hey! Accommodate me! Get rid of all the alcohol in this building because I can’t handle it emotionally,’” he said, apparently unaware that every bar offers water and soda. “Should [a diabetic] demand that that restaurant get rid of all sugar to accommodate that person?” he continued, in a plea that appeared to connect with no one.

Hundreds of locals supporting trans youth turn away and/or wave flags as a man at the lectern spouts religious-based, anti-trans rhetoric.

For her part, hate group Awake Illinois’ Shannon Adcock attempted to paint herself as a simple, concerned activist. “I’m not here to define anybody,” she began, despite her purpose that night being to lodge a complaint that would attack the gender identity spectrum and roll it back to the male/female binary.

She also tried rhetorical reversals, making herself out to be the victim.  “And I don’t hate anybody…It’s not easy for me to stand here. I don’t come here as a hobby. I have to make arrangements for my children, to not be home, if my husband is not there because of threats.” This, again, despite coming out to another school district’s meeting to denigrate the identity of queer and trans children throughout that district.

The public comment section ended with a local man discouraging the school board from buying a video board for the Bolingbrook High School.

A man, who identified as gay when he was at the lectern, holds up quotes from his speech as hate group Awake Illinois’ Shannon Adcock speaks.

For their part, the school board stayed neutral, showing little reaction to any of the speakers, attempting to calm down verbal outbursts from the trans rights crowd, but also trying to keep Awake and their supporters on track and within a reasonable timeframe. An overflow room with a live stream of the meeting on projectors was also available, but not used.

Security officers and police were present, though no escalations took place. This could be partially attributed to McMaher, who was present a half hour before the meeting to pass out pamphlets advising supporters to “navigate the situation with kindness and grace,” and “express gratitude” to the school board for enforcing Illinois law. 

“A boy, dressed in boy’s clothing”

On March 20th, 2025, James “Jim” Ellard Fisher, whose sarcastically-stated pronouns are “DEI is dead/Trump is our president,” filed a grievance (which has since been submitted as “Exhibit A” in the Awake IL complaint) to relevant members of the Valley View School District leadership. The letter details a November 4th, 2024 incident at Bolingbrook High School, where his daughter attends.

According to Fisher, “a boy, dressed in boy’s clothing” allegedly viewed Fisher’s daughter through bathroom stall door cracks while the daughter was using a toilet in the “multi-use bathroom labeled ‘Girls Bathroom.’”

It should be noted throughout Fisher’s grievance, he continuously refers to the offending student as “boy.” However, no sources can be found to confirm the preferred gender identity the student goes by, which could potentially shed light on why they were there in the first place. The names of all minors have been redacted, likely for their safety.

The grievance goes on, documenting a series of escalations over a period of five months, including emails, phone calls, a school board meeting appearance, and an attempt at outreach to Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11).

In the initial escalation, Bolingbrook High School Principal Dr. Jason Pascavage allegedly responded that the offending student in question had a “private IDP – Individual Development Plan,” and Dr. Pascavage attempted to compromise with Fisher’s daughter by offering “single use staff bathrooms if she felt uncomfortable being in a girls bathroom.”

The following day, Principal Pascavage points Fisher towards the Illinois Department of Human Rights’ Guidance on Protection of Students in Illinois Section III-B-1, which states:

“A student must be permitted to access restrooms or bathrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms that align with their gender-related identity and without having to provide documentation or other proof of gender,” and that, “the discomfort or privacy concerns of other students, teachers, or parents are not valid reasons to deny or limit the full and equal use of facilities based on a student’s gender-related identity.”

The section also affirms Dr. Pascavage’s alleged follow-up actions in the IDP (“developing and implementing a policy that allows students to use facilities that align with their gender-related identity”) and the compromise (“providing other options for any student – regardless of gender-related identity – who desires more privacy in school facilities”).

According to the Awake Illinois complaint, VVSD Superintendent Dr. Keith Wood also cited Illinois Executive Order 2019-11 and the Illinois Human Rights Act. Both of these include specific gender-affirming clauses.

As Fisher’s documentation continues, he notes Dr. Pascavage allegedly informed him that “gaps in all bathroom doors at [Bolingbrook High School] have been covered by strips of material.” Fisher would thank the school board in a public meeting for the work done within three weeks, but would still cite issues with the “boy that now floats through the girls’ bathrooms,” before holding up the children’s book “Time to Pee!”

At the end of Fisher’s grievance to VVSD, he states a 34-point list of “Proposed Resolutions.” In his first, he implicitly threatens the school district’s $22.7 million in federal funding, likely hinting at Awake Illinois’ current actions, mirroring his appearance at the April 14th school board meeting.

Other points include:

“7. The President Trump official 2024 picture, labeled “President of the United States, Donald Trump” should be posted in every gateway of all WSD buildings

…

12. Flag poles at all VSD sites doubled in height.

13. God bless America shall be sung before each board meeting immediately after the pledge of allegiance.

14. Fire

a. Tom Fink, head of security

b. Keith Wood, VVSD superintendent

c. Two DEl staff members

15. Remove all DEl banners and educational content from VVSD”

In point 29, Fisher suggests forming a “USA VVSD women’s rights committee,” in which he proposes himself as a voting member “or a parent of a hs [sic] female straight student.”

Hate group Awake Illinois’ Shannon Adcock appeared to distance herself from Fisher’s 34-point list, stating “that’s not our list, that is the list of a district parent in the grievance that was filed that was attached as an exhibit,” while not acknowledging Fisher was sitting directly to her left for a majority of the meeting.

Mr. Fisher has made a number of public complaints at the board meetings, including joining a series of anti-mask parents during the COVID pandemic and that a Spanish teacher wore a mask while teaching his daughter, asking “how can you teach Spanish with a mask on?”

Awake Illinois Gets Involved 

On April 6th, 2025, Awake Illinois, an SPLC-designated hate group, filed a civil rights complaint to the US Department of Education, accusing the Illinois State Board of Education and VVSD of violating Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which “prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.”

Gender identity was not covered under the legislation, and as such does not appear in the law. In 2024, President Biden’s DoED finalized the Title IX rule to include sexual orientation and gender identity. On January 9th, 2025, however, a federal judge struck down those rules, reverting Title IX back.

Lack of Democratic initiative on the issue throughout the Biden administration allowed Trump’s inauguration day Executive Order to exploit the opening. The EO’s “defense” against “GENDER IDEOLOGY EXTREMISM” practically cemented the anti-trans direction in which Title IX would go. Hate group Awake Illinois would further capitalize on this by directly citing the EO in their complaint.

“Back to Jurassic Park,” Jim Fisher continued at the April 14th meeting, trying to force the metaphor further. “Question for the students: Why can’t anyone sue Jurassic Park for Title IX violation? Because all the dinosaurs are female!” 

The room erupted into silence, the crowd trying to figure out if a joke had been attempted.

“I will expect the federal government to be involved in future discussions,” Fisher later ended.

In the face of this, Asher McMaher was prepared to continue their advocacy. “These parents who are scared and worried, they should know that no matter what, we’re going to stand up with them and show up. As I said in the last Deerfield [school board] meeting, when trans kids are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back. Or we stand in the back and watch a school board meeting.”

CORRECTION: Replaced the word “podium” with “lectern” since I just learned the difference between the two.

This article will be edited to add videos from social media as they are posted.

A local parent is congratulated by upcoming speakers for giving testimony at the Valley View School District school board meeting.

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