Don't forget that the Park Ridge-Niles District 64 Bond Referendum is on the ballot for our community to vote on. Please visit the Cook County Clerk's website to find all your voter information, including finding your polling place and a look at a sample ballot.

At $89.1 million, the referendum has been significantly downsized after the District listened to community input. The scaled-back request also lowers the estimated tax impact for homeowners and would save taxpayer dollars with about $300,000 annual savings from energy-efficient upgrades.

The referendum focuses on essential, high-priority capital facility improvements at each of the District’s seven aging schools, three of which are nearly a century old, including:

• Lockdown-safe doors
• Additional safety and security upgrades, including fire suppression systems
• HVAC and air quality enhancements
• ADA accessibility updates
• Building infrastructure
• STEM spaces
• Student support spaces
• Exterior repairs

Delaying these changes, many of which are needed due to outdated and inefficient infrastructure, would only worsen the problems and increase the cost due to construction inflation.

If the referendum passes, every District 64 student will benefit from safer, healthier schools that help us attract and retain quality teachers, further supporting the academic excellence we are known for. To learn more about Park Ridge-Niles 64’s referendum, visit www.d64.org/referendum2024.

District 64’s bond referendum will appear on the November 5, 2024 ballot as a question:

"Shall the Board of Education of Park Ridge-Niles Community Consolidated School District Number 64, Cook County, Illinois, alter, repair and equip existing buildings, build and equip additions thereto and improve school sites, including but not limited to improving safety and security; replacing roofs, plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC and air quality systems; updating classrooms and science labs; installing energy-efficient improvements; increasing accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act; and adding space for special education; and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $89,106,629 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?"

Local media outlets recently endorsed the District 64 Referendum, recognizing the needs in our buildings and our transparency in giving the community important facts. 

Chicago Tribune

• “Voters in various jurisdictions in Illinois will see a variety of ballot questions when they enter the polling booth. We’re not weighing in on all of them but here are five where we have a firm opinion. Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 is asking voters to allow it to issue bonds to finance improvements in school buildings. So is Indian Prairie School District 204, focusing on facility and safety needs. Most of the schools in both of these districts are old and improvements clearly are needed."
• Read the full Chicago Tribune story on their website. 

Journal & Topics

• “Park Ridge and Niles already have great schools, teachers, parents, officials, etc. Taking care of the buildings around them for years to come, rather than a costlier band-aid approach, is a worthy cause."
• “...we feel Dist. 64 has done a good job presenting the facts on the referendum that school board members, after thoughtful consideration, voted unanimously in August to place on the November ballot. The district should be applauded for remaining transparent throughout the process and bringing down to $89 million what was an initial figure of $145 million.” 
• Read the full Journal & Topics story on their website. 

In observance of Election Day, there is no school on Tuesday, November 5. All D64 schools and offices will be closed.

Diwali is a Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. It is India’s biggest holiday. The five-day festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness. There are feasts, prayer, fireworks, family gatherings, and charitable giving.

The District 64 Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, November 7, in the Hendee Rooms at the Jefferson Early Childhood Center. There will be a closed session first, and the regular meeting will start at 7:00 pm.

• Below is a look at the agenda:
• Meeting of the Board Convenes
• Board Recesses & Adjourns to Closed Meeting
• Board Adjourns from Closed Meeting & Resumes Regular Meeting
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Opening Remarks from The President of the Board
• Spotlight on Music
• School Board Member Appreciation Day
• Public Comments
• Superintendent Update
• Board Committee Reports
• Review of Tentative 2024 Proposed Tax Levy, Adoption of Resolution #1350 to Approve 2024 Proposed Tax Levy & Establishment of Public Hearing
• Approval of Maintenance Grant FY25
• Approval of Real Estate Contract for the Sale of Property for 820 Rowe Avenue
• Presentation of the 2023-24 Illinois School Report Card
• Approval of Calendar for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 School Years
• Consent Agenda
• Approval of Meeting Minutes
• New Business
• Adjournment

Upcoming Board Meetings

The following are the next Board meetings:

• November 7, 2024 - 7 p.m. - Hendee Rooms at the Jefferson Early Childhood Center
• December 19, 2024 - 7 p.m. - Hendee Rooms at the Jefferson Early Childhood Center

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 are excited to announce that several of our middle school student musicians have been selected to participate in the highly competitive Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) District 7 Festival. After months of preparation and submitting virtual auditions, these talented students have earned their spots among more than 1,000 of the finest band and orchestra musicians from over 50 junior high schools in the North Suburban area.

District 64 Students Selected for ILMEA Festival Ensembles:

Emerson Middle School

• Gus Bunge, percussion
• Sophie Chen, violin
• Carolina Feucht, percussion
• Luciya Janardhan, trumpet
• Maya Plaza, jazz trumpet
• Isabella Roszko, violin

Lincoln Middle School

• Asher Corelitz, trumpet
• Victoria Iliev, percussion
• Elliott Poole, trombone and jazz trombone
• Gabriel Seol, violin
• Lilly Zwierczyk, violin

"Performing alongside talented peers from schools across the region is an inspiring experience for our students," said Erica Faulhaber, Curriculum Specialist for Instrumental Music. "The chance to learn from highly respected and renowned conductors is invaluable. We are so proud of our students for being selected by ILMEA to participate in this year’s ensembles."

Way to go, everyone!! You can read more about the honor on our website.

The annual Kiwanis District 64 Holiday Food Drive is now open and runs through November 30th!

Donations of all sizes will help fund grocery gift cards for families in our District. Help us support children in our community. To donate, go to www.KiwanisPR.org.

This weekend, the Park Ridge Library is having a sensory-friendly hour on Sunday, November 3, from 11 a.m. to noon.

The Park Ridge Public Library welcomes sensory-sensitive and neurodivergent friends to experience the Library in a safe and welcoming environment during this early open time. The environment in the Children's Department will be adjusted, and sensory supports and activities will be available.

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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