OPRF High School to Star in 'Year in the Life' Documentary Examining Race and Equity

The quest for racial parity at Oak Park and River Forest High School will be the subject of a documentary set to film at the school during the 2015-16 school year.

The miniseries aims to examine race and equity within the school, which has struggled for decades to produce similarly successful outcomes for all students regardless of race, according to the film’s proposal.

Steve James, known for his award-winning films “Hoop Dreams” and ”The Interrupters,” will direct the documentary, and the high school’s film/TV teacher John Condne will produce the film with James and Kartemquin Films, a non-profit organization.

OPRF High School was chosen for this documentary because of its economic and racial diversity and its history of successful racial integration, according to the proposal.

“Today, the school finds itself at a critical crossroads where the level of frustration on the part of everyone may result in some of the most concerted efforts yet,” the proposal states. “It is this community’s history along with their ongoing commitment to address academic and racial disparities that will form the heart of this film.”

Filmmakers plan to follow the stories of individuals, such as an administrator working to reduce racial disparities, a guidance counselor helping low-achieving students, teachers and students of color in Special Education tracks, College Prep tracks and honors tracks and others.

The board of education approved the film agreement in an April meeting.

A letter emailed to parents assured them that student, faculty, and staff privacy “are key elements of the agreement,” and parents can choose to keep their children from being identified by name in the film.

Parents and students are invited to hear flmmakers discuss the documentary and answer questions at 7 p.m. May 18 in the Little Theatre.

Photo: “Oak Park and River Forest High School” by Kmf164 - Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons.

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