The District 64 Board of Education held a regular meeting on Thursday, May 18th, at the Jefferson Early Childhood Center.
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.
Below are the winners:
Kindergarten: Amelia Donaghy & Delaney Handlon-2 Frogs and a Magic Stone-Roosevelt
1st Grade: Gavin St. John - Froggy Meets a Friend - Carpenter
2nd Grade: Kiara Bhat & Yuna Lui - The Cheetah’s Adventure - Carpenter
3rd Grade: Moya Cox - The Lost Hat - Roosevelt
4th Grade: Andrea Barbosa Urrestta & Brooke Nevruz - The Secrets of Hotel Bliss - Field
5th Grade: Sephina Ali - Lost and Found - Roosevelt
6th Grade: Sam Sianis - Pompeii - Emerson
7th Grade: Sophia Labuz - The Seventh Hole - Lincoln
8th Grade: Eli Faulkner - Remembering to Forget - Emerson
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.
Hendee Family Appreciation
In recognition of longtime Superintendent Dr. Raymond E. Hendee, Park Ridge-Niles School District 64
dedicates this area as the Hendee Professional Development Wing. Dr. Hendee worked in District 64 for decades and was the superintendent of schools from 1970 to 1990. Known for his unwavering pride in the quality of schools in the community, Dr. Hendee diligently continued the quest for excellence and helped provide outstanding learning opportunities for our children.
"Meeting the family and understanding Dr. Hendee's leadership will be one of my favorite memories of District 64,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Olson.
Learn more about the Hendee Professional Development Wing with this video.
You can read more on our website.
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.
Thank you so much to all the students and staff from all these groups for showing up and letting us 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.
“We are very excited for her to become our next assistant director,” said Dr. Olson. “Elisa has assistant principal experience, so she has that building knowledge, but she also has previously been an assistant director. As we went through the interview process, she was the clear favorite of everybody involved.
Ms. Leporini was selected from a pool of 38 applicants. Following a thorough screening process, five candidates were interviewed by an administrative committee consisting of district office and building administrators. Two candidates were then brought back and interviewed before a committee comprised of district office administrators and staff members representing all facets within the District's Student Services Department.
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)