The District 64 Board of Education held a special meeting and an organizational meeting on Thursday, May 1. 

We took a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to four departing Board members for their service to our students, staff, and community. 

Gareth Kennedy

• Board Member 2021-2025
• Finance and Facilities Committee Chair 2024-2025

Phyllis Lubinski 

• Board Member 2021-2025
• Board Secretary 2021-2023
• Policy Committee Chair 2024-2025

Dr. Denise Pearl

• Board Member 2019-2025
• Board President 2021-2025

Demetri Touzios

• Board Member 2023-2025
• Finance and Facilities Committee 2024-2025
• Education Committee 2024-2025

“Being a public servant is an extremely challenging task, and one that should never be taken lightly,” said Superintendent Dr. Ben Collins.

“All four have spent hours in these meetings, community sessions, and in one-on-ones with community members, listening to understand the issues that are most pressing to our school district.”

This Board, which also includes Monica Milligan, Rachel Georgakis, and Matt Doubleday, has achieved notable accomplishments, including passing a referendum with 64% of voters in favor, helping to create a new Master Facilities Plan, and establishing Board committees. 

“There is no way that a thank you can ever be given to pay back the amount of gratitude that you four are owed,” said Dr. Ben Collins. “Our mission is to discover, learn, grow, and care, and having that fully embraced and living through the four of you has been an extremely honoring experience for all of us.”

Additionally, the Board accepted the canvass of the April 1, 2025, election, introducing four new members to the Board. Andrea Cline, Vicki Loise, Beth Rankin, and Kurt Kuempel all took the Oath of Office together on Thursday night.

The newly seated Board elected officers. Matt Doubleday was elected as the Board President. Andrea Cline as the Vice President, and Beth Rankin as the Board Secretary.

(Pictured below left to right: Beth Rankin, Vicki Loise, Andrea Cline, and Kurt Kuempel)

Upcoming Board Meetings

The following are the next Board meetings:

• May 15, 2025 - 7:00 p.m.

Looking to catch up on past meeting highlights? A summary of each meeting is available on our Current Board News webpage.

Please confirm meeting dates and times on the Board meetings webpage.

We would like to invite your student to join the District 64 Instrumental Music program next year! Beginning in 4th grade, your child is eligible to join Orchestra and 5th grade students are eligible to join the band or orchestra! To learn more about the program and the string instruments offered, please see the links below:

Read: Important Information About Instrumental Music

Video Presentation: All About Band!

Video Presentation: All About Orchestra!

We will be hosting another "New Student Night" to learn more about the instrumental music program, rent an instrument onsite, and meet the teachers.

• Tuesday, May 6
• 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. at Emerson

To control numbers, it would be helpful if you follow this schedule:

1. Last Name A-H 4:00 – 5:00pm
2. Last Name I – P 5:00 – 6:00pm
3. Last Name Q – Z 6:00 – 7:00pm

Plan on spending about 30 minutes, depending on wait times. Parents and students should attend together.

If you already registered your child for the 2025-2026 school year but did not select instrumental music, log back into your account to add band/orchestra: Click Here to Add Instrumental Music, click "Forms" on the left, then "Enrollment" at the top and scroll down to instrumental music.

Click here for a video tutorial on how to add band/orchestra to your child’s registration!

The instrumental music registration deadline is August 1. Band/Orchestra teachers will communicate more information via email with registered families the second week of school. Lessons will begin the week of September 8. 

 If you have any questions, please email Erica Faulhaber (efaulhaber@d64.org), Curriculum Specialist for Instrumental Music. 

On Friday, May 23, at 9:00 am, D64 will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation (TMC) meeting. The meeting will be held in the Hendee Rooms at the Jefferson Early Childhood Center at 8182 Greendale Ave., Niles.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the District’s plan for providing special education services to students with disabilities who will attend private and home schools within District 64’s boundaries for the 2025/26 school year. 

If you are the parent of a privately placed or home-schooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability, and you reside or have a child that attends school within the District 64 boundaries. 

If you have questions, please contact Alicia Schmeisser, Director of Student Services, at 847-318-4332 or at aschmeisser@d64.org.

Step into the past and learn about our history! D64 schools have a display featured at the Park Ridge History Center titled "Park Ridge Schools Past to Present - A Legacy of Learning". The exhibit provides an overview of the history of education in our community, showcasing photos and items from the Park Ridge History Center's archives, as well as contributions from our present-day schools.

The History Center will be open on Saturday, May 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at 721 N. Prospect Ave. in Prospect Park. Admission is a suggested $10 donation for adults, while Historical Society members, students, and children can attend for free.

Rainbows for All Children Peer Groups – Fall 2025 Registration

The next season of peer groups will begin after the new school year starts, in September 2025. Please complete this form, (link below), to register your child(ren) and/or to be added to our communications list. This free program meets every Tuesday from 5:30–6:30 PM at Park Ridge Community Church.

You can register by following this link.

Rainbows offers a safe and supportive space for students in 1st–8th grade who are experiencing grief due to the loss of a loved one or a changing family dynamic, (such as divorce, deployment, or separation). Trained facilitators guide children in sharing their feelings and learning healthy ways to cope and communicate.

If you have general questions or are interested in volunteering as a facilitator, please email rainbows64@att.net. Follow on Facebook for updates and resources: 

Comments and questions may always be directed to the Superintendent or Board members through these links:

Email Dr. Ben Collins, Superintendent or contact members of the Board of Education via email links.

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 | 847-318-4300 | news@d64.org

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