Over the weekend, music lovers were treated to a great performance and some special guests. Washington, Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Maine South bands performed at the 5th-12th grade progress concert.

These musical extravaganzas were not just performances; they celebrated the progress these young musicians had made over the course of their journey through the instrumental music program. The annual Progress Concerts highlight the impact of a well-rounded music education program, emphasizing not only technical skills but also the development of creativity, discipline, and teamwork.

We kept Superintendent Dr. Ben Collins busy as he revisited his instrumental music roots by playing a drum set on the We Will Rock You orchestra finale and xylophone with the Lincoln Symphonic Band. Lincoln band director Mrs. Hutter had a costume change and came out as Taylor Swift and The Emerson Symphonic Band “Rick-rolled” the audience.

Band and Orchestra students across District 64 showcased their exceptional musical talents at the annual D64 Band and Orchestra Solo & Ensemble Festival. The Band Festival took place on February 13 and the Orchestra Festival took place on March 5. The events were both held at Lincoln Middle School and we had over 350 events with over 400 students participating!

This annual event is a testament to the dedication, passion, and hard work of our budding musicians. It provides a platform for students to challenge themselves, grow as musicians, and celebrate the joy of making music together.

The District 64 Board of Education held a special meeting on Wednesday, March 6th, at Franklin Elementary School. 

The District Administration presented an updated and refreshed Master Facilities Plan to the School Board. After mindful consideration, the admin team removed several items that significantly reduced the estimated cost. The Board agreed that the items presented will go to the Community Task Force for further discussion and vetting. 

At this point, the plans for each school continue to be very fluid as we research more, gather data, and have important conversations. The plans are still in the beginning stages and will be updated frequently. 

“In the grand scheme of things, 25 years from now, we want people to say they did it right. They put it in the right spot, as opposed to walking around the schools, and a lot of times we’re like, ‘why is it like this? Why is this here?” said Superintendent Dr. Ben Collins.

There was a significant discussion about the needs at our elementary schools. Highlighted was the fact that many of our elementary buildings have spaces where multiple staff members share the same space. For instance, at Franklin, occupational therapists and a psychologist share the same space, two social workers share a space, four special education teachers share the same space and have to utilize the hallway, and three English Language (EL) teachers utilize the same room and have to pull students into the hallway as well. 

“So on paper, we, of course, can have four adults in one classroom,” said Franklin Principal Kristin Williams. “But when you start to see each adult having five kids, now we’re talking 20 students, and all of the groups are working on something different.”

“At times, too, we are working with students with varying needs,” said Williams. “We might be working with a population of students who are easily distracted. We might have a population of students who are trying to acquire English, and we could maybe grow at a more rapid rate if we could hear better, understand the lessons better, and have fewer distractions.”

There was also an update on the facility plans for the middle schools. As with everything, it’s important to note that all of this is contingent on funding that we don’t have right now. The planning has centered around updating the classrooms to fit the needs of 21st-century learning.

Read more at D64.org.

Upcoming Board Meetings

The following are the next Board meetings:

• March 21, 2024 - 7 p.m. - Hendee Rooms at Jefferson
• April 18, 2024 - 7 p.m. - Hendee Rooms at Jefferson

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.

You’re invited to a conversation about our District’s facilities and the progress being made on the updated Master Facilities Plan.

Date: Wednesday, March 13th

Time: 9:00 - 10:30 am

Place: South Park Rec Center

Address: 833 W Talcott Road, Park Ridge, IL

To give us an idea of how much coffee to bring, please RSVP. Community members are encouraged to bring their own mugs.

Please Register For The 2024-2025 School Year!

The registration deadline is quickly approaching. You can find the steps on how to enroll at d64.org.

The deadline to register your child for the 2024-2025 school year is noon on Friday, March 22nd. We are offering an early bird discount on families’ school fees if they complete registration, as well as pay fees before noon on Friday, March 22nd. For any families who do not register by this date, you’ll receive a records release as we’re assuming you’re going to another district. 

• It is important to note that to take advantage of the discount, you will need to have the registration forms filled out and submitted by Monday, March 18th. This allows our staff time to verify documents and send out invoices so you can pay them by noon on Friday, March 22nd. You can find our fee list for 2024-2025 here, and it shows what fees would be before and after the deadline.

Lincoln Middle School is proud to present the production of Disney Frozen Jr! 

Tickets are $6 online or $8 cash or Zelle at the door! 

More info is on our website.

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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