Before we get to the news from the most recent Board meeting, first let's get into all of the great recognitions from last night!

There were several things to celebrate, with multiple groups being honored at this meeting. 

Young Authors Winners

The Board recognized our Young Author Award winners. Twelve students were celebrated after winning the annual contest to showcase their creativity and explore the limitless possibilities of storytelling. 

Spotlight on Emerson Middle School

It was Emerson Middle School’s turn to spotlight their school and tell the community all about the great things happening there. Emerson administrators Dr. Samantha Alaimo, Tessa Shulman, and Maria Soulias had some help spreading the message…and by some, there were more than a dozen Emerson students who each shared something they were passionate about at their middle school. 

It was a fun way to see what makes Emerson unique through the eyes of the Eagles themselves! You can listen to their presentation here.

D64 Special Olympics

We are incredibly proud to recognize our District 64 Special Olympics Team, who competed in the Track

and Field Spring Games on April 16th at Prospect High School. We had 12 students representing D64.

Karen Hess and Miranda Conley coached this group, and they all showcased athleticism, sportsmanship

and teamwork. 

Here is a list of our students who competed: Kimberly Crouch, Simone Harris, Julia Banek, Ben Wilk, Audrey Ness, Isaac Spiewak, Nabil Ihmoud, Anna Wolf, Aidan Domin, Chloe Brown, Mica Brown, Josh Thurman.

In recognition of longtime Superintendent Dr. Raymond E. Hendee, Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 dedicates the area where Board meetings are held as the Hendee Professional Development Wing.

Dr. Hendee worked in District 64 for decades and was the superintendent of schools from 1970 to 1990.

Learn more about the project and dedication on our website.

The District 64 Board of Education held a regular meeting on Thursday, May 18th, at the Jefferson Early Childhood Center. 

VIEW MEETING VIDEO

Thank you so much to all of the students and staff from all the above groups for showing up and allowing us to celebrate you!

Recognition of Tenured Teachers

The District and the Board recognized our teachers who, at the beginning of next year, will obtain tenure in District 64. 

“I always think that it's appropriate on the night that we celebrate students that we remember and recognize our staff members who have made all that possible,” said Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Joel Martin.

The following is the teacher tenure list for 2022-23: Stephanie Barbera, Julie Benigno, Emma Cashman, Elizabeth Davis, Kathryn Doyle, Kate Glassgow, Justin Gustafson, Elizabeth Hertzog, Alyssa Hirsh, Monica Jaworowski, Meghan Kumon, Natalie Murtaugh, Julie Powell, Kirsten Schramm, Erika Tanaka, and Jennifer Ullrich.

Appointment of Assistant Director of Student Services

Motion approved

The District 64 Board of Education voted to appoint Elisa Leporini as the new Assistant Director of Student Services, effective July 1st. Leporini is already very familiar with D64 and the program because she has served as a Special Education Coordinator in D64 since 2020. 

Prior to accepting her current position, Ms. Leporini was the Assistant Director of Student Services in East Aurora District 131 for three years. From 2014 through 2017, Ms. Leporini served as the Assistant Principal at Madison School in Morton Grove District 69. Before moving to administration, Ms. Leporini worked as an Early Childhood Case Coordinator/Social Worker for four years in District 69.

Presentation & Adoption of 6-8 Math Curriculum

Motion approved

Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning Dr. Lori Lopez led a presentation on the 6-8 math curriculum. You can view this presentation here. 

The Middle School Math Review was conducted by Dr. Lopez, Department Chairperson Jess Caplis, Department Liaison Christie Thielen, and teacher representatives from both Emerson and Lincoln, including: Jackie Behof, Michelle Jones, Kendra Hutchinson, Melissa Milostan, and Abbie Shah. Consultative support was also provided by Amy Sacor, Channels of Challenge Grades 4-5 and Tracie Thomas, K-5 Math Curriculum Specialist.

Committee members piloted several resources over the course of last spring and this school year and

ultimately selected Carnegie Middle School Math Solution and Desmos Math Core Extension for adoption. Carnegie Middle School Math Solution partnered with Desmos Math Core Extension will enable teachers to address the rigorous Illinois Learning Standards at the middle school level and the needs of learners who require both support and extension.

The adoption of Carnegie Middle School Math Solution and Desmos Math Core Extension as

recommended by the 6-8 Math Review Committee will cost $325,056.

Presentation & Adoption of Elementary Social Studies Curriculum

Motion approved

Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning Dr. Lori Lopez led a presentation on elementary social studies curriculum. You can view this presentation here.

The K-5 Social Studies Review Committee was launched in fall 2019 and paused due to the pandemic and scheduled curricular work in the area of K-5 Math. Committee work continued in spring of 2022 and continued through this past school year. Dr. Lopez and Dina Pappas, District 64’s K-5 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist, co-facilitated this initiative and committee members include: Sara Born, Tony Belmonte, Julie Chalberg, Sean Degman, Kerrie Fuller, Lisa Germanowski, Kristie Harvalis, Tracie Heffelfinger, Andrea Hetzke, Joan Hoffman, Paula Houmpavlis, Kim Kaniecki, Suzanne Kaplan, Meghan Keefer, Nikki Kelsey, Katie Kennedy, Katie Kreisel, Erin McCoy, Susie Malagoli, Caroline Meredith, Kevin Michael, Meg Philippsen, Erika Tanaka,Carly Thornton, Peggy Weller, Ivona Wypych.

Based on our analysis and program pilot, committee members recommend the adoption of TCI Social

Studies Alive! at grades 2-5. At grades K and 1, committee members recommend an expanded pilot in 2023-24 to determine whether to move forward with Inquiry Journeys or Social Studies Alive!

The total cost of this resource adoption for grades 2-5 is $224,325.

Discussion & Review of Five-Year Master Facility Plan

District 64 Chief School Business Official Dr. Adam Parisi and Director of Facility Management Tony Bersani, and Wight & Company reviewed an updated five-year facility plan with the Board of Education. This conversation will help to prioritize projects for the summer of 2024 that will be discussed at the June 15, 2023, regular Board Meeting.

Consent Agenda

Motion approved

Bills, Payroll, & Benefits

Approval of Financial Update for the Period Ending March 31, 2023

Approval of 2023-2024 Student/Parent Handbook (policies & specific sections)

Second Reading & Approval of Policies 4:165 Awareness & Prevention of Child Sexual

Abuse & Grooming Behaviors

Approval of Consolidated District Plan

Destruction of Audio Closed Recordings (none)

• June 22, 2023 - THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED

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.

Our 8th grade students at Emerson and Lincoln had the opportunity to participate in Career Day this week! We had some terrific guests who shared a little about their career fields. Career Day helps students think about a variety of careers in order to jumpstart planning for the future. Getting to hear from professionals is such a treat!

Students also completed an online interest inventory as part of the process.

Math is all around us, even on a ranch! It was great hearing from Jodi of HopeWell Ranch explain to students at Lincoln Middle School how important math is and how it's used every day at her ranch! 

Some of the examples that were talked about included:

Cowboy (a fitting name for a horse) is 15.2 hands tall, and a hand is four inches. How tall is Cowboy? 60.8 inches to the withers or 5 feet. Oh, and he weighs 1,000 pounds.

How much do horses eat? Better break out the calculator! At the ranch, four horses will go through about 1,000 pounds of hay in about four days. So how many pounds of hay per day does one horse eat? 62.5! HopeWell Ranch goes through around 300,000 pounds of hay annually.

The bunnies get much less hay. They eat little hay balls. Most bunnies they have are around 12 pounds. Next year, they're hoping to get a Flemish Giant...a rabbit that is THREE TIMES bigger than the ones they currently have. Flemish Giants can get to about 35 pounds.

We appreciate everyone who has already registered their child for the 2023-2024 school year, and if you still need to, you can still get it done before the June 1st deadline!

To answer some frequent questions:

• Health forms are not required to complete registration.
• Student fees and tuition do not need to be paid when registering. We encourage families to pay their student fees as soon as possible and would like payments by September 1st.

Please go to our registration page and follow the instructions to register your child for the 2023-2024 school year. 

The end of the year is right around the corner and there's no shortage of fun and exciting things happening around the buildings. Over at Field Elementary School, they had their Staff Spirit Week, while the students tried to figure out what was next! From college shirts to tie day and capping it off with jean jackets it was a fun week!

Our team over at Jefferson once again answered the call and made lunches for those in need! Meals were delivered to shelters across Chicagoland.

Support the D64 Band Orchestra Parents Association (BOPA)!

See attached for a flyer!

Dine to Donate at Lou Malnati's Park Ridge!

20% of proceeds go to the D64 Band Orchestra Parents Association (BOPA)

Monday, May 22, 2023

from 11:00am - 10:00pm

Lou Malnati's Park Ridge from 11:00am - 10:00pm

650 N Northwest Hwy

Park Ridge, IL 60068

847-292-2277

*Must mention fundraiser at time of order to ensure credit towards fundraiser*

Includes online and app ordering. Use code GRPRSFUND23



• Please check the receipt for “fundraiser” item, if you do not see “fundraiser” on your receipt, please see or call a manager. For online orders, it will be indicated after you enter the promo code
• For questions or concerns please email [email protected] 

We would like to invite your student to join the District 64 Instrumental Music program next year! As a 4th grader next year, your child is eligible to join Orchestra and students going into 5th grade 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!

If you already registered your child for the 2023-2024 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 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 11. 

Are you making summer plans? Thinking about Worlds of Wonder? You can register now online. WOW offers students a unique opportunity for summer learning and fun. Our summer program emphasizes creativity and critical thinking in a challenging and rewarding environment. 

Classes for students who have completed K-3 will be held at Washington Elementary School, while classes for students who have completed 4-7 will be held at Lincoln Middle School. 

• Session 1: June 14th - June 30th (No School Monday, June 19) 
• Session 2: July 5th - July 20th (No School Monday, July 3rd and Tuesday July 4th)

You can find all the Course Descriptions, Info, and Registration Links for WoW here on our website.

District 64, Emerson/Lincoln, and their PTOs have partnered to find two 8th graders at each school who have had a positive impact on the school to be awarded the Judith Snow Ethical Leadership Award. The recipients will be awarded $250 to spend as he or she chooses. The winners will also be recognized at the end-of-the-year celebrations and have their names on permanent display at the school. 

Do you know an 8th-grade student that has demonstrated ethical leadership? If so, visit d64.org/judith-snow-awards. The deadline to have your application and recommendations submitted is May 26th, 2023.

Do you want a job driving school buses? Lakeview Bus Lines is hiring!

• Up to $25/hour
• Weekly pay, benefits, 401K
• go to www.sunrisebus.com/careers or call (708)-234-5555 to apply

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

Email Dr. Eric Olson, Superintendent or contact members of the Board of Education via email links.

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 | 847-318-4300 | [email protected]

#engageD64