The Park Ridge Community Consolidated School District 64 Board of Education approved the district’s 2026–27 staffing plan, which includes an increase of 4.7 full‑time‑equivalent positions to support expanded student‑services programming.

District presenters said enrollment is projected to decline by about 130 students across the district next year, which would reduce roughly five homerooms. “We’re looking at a decrease of 130 students across the district,” the district presenter stated when describing the roll‑up enrollment model and its effects on class sections. Administrators told the board that because the district anticipates roughly 18 certified retirements this year, they do not expect involuntary reductions in force and that retirement savings would largely offset the cost of the requested 4.7 FTE.

The staffing additions are targeted to student‑services needs: two elementary HOPE program sections to be housed at Carpenter (including teachers and a split‑time social worker), two additional SLC (self‑contained) classrooms (Washington and Field), and added speech‑language pathologist and occupational‑therapy support tied to those placements and a new functional life‑skills program at Franklin. Administrators said the HOPE classroom model has helped transition some students back into district programs and that SLC demand has increased since its 2020 start.

Board members asked whether outplaced students are accounted for in enrollment projections; administrators said the answer depends on roster coding (serving school versus home school) and that outplaced students numbered about 19 at the time of the meeting. The motion to approve the staffing plan was moved and seconded and carried by roll‑call vote.

The board approved the staffing plan, and administration will proceed with posting and recruiting certified positions per the staffing timeline shared with the board.