Park Ridge CCSD 64 board members mark departures, outline district achievements and outstanding priorities

At a recent Park Ridge CCSD 64 Board of Education meeting, trustees marked the departure of several members and reviewed accomplishments and unfinished work, including full‑day kindergarten, the district’s new superintendent hire, curricular revisions and a successful referendum, while identifying next steps such as finishing construction projects, completing a 20‑year capital plan and continuing a middle‑school review.

Board members and speakers praised longtime service and highlighted specific district accomplishments: adopting full‑day kindergarten; hiring a new superintendent; removing the Lucy Calkins curriculum sequence; advancing curricular supports such as Press Plus; setting up a committee structure to vet issues before full board consideration; and the passage of a recent referendum. Speakers described improvements to the district’s financial projections and treasury functions over the past four years.

Speakers also outlined remaining priorities for the district. Those included completing ongoing construction projects; developing and executing a 20‑year capital plan intended to reduce the need for future referenda; advancing middle‑school review phase two; and strengthening risk management and treasury controls. One speaker noted changes in state law that affect treasury management and cited a high‑profile municipal loss as a cautionary example, underscoring the need for stronger controls.

The meeting included brief reflections on how committee structure helped board deliberations by giving members a place to work through policy details before they reached the full board. Multiple speakers urged the incoming board to continue that committee approach and to focus on long‑term planning and financial stewardship.

The formal business at the meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which passed by voice vote.