DISTRICT 62 IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Des Plaines School District 62

DISTRICT 62 IN THE SPOTLIGHT
April20I3
Compliments of Community Relations
Mindy Ward, Director of Community Relations
wardm®d62.org
Jane of All Trades I District Administration Magazine
http://\\'\\' \\'.d is tri c tadministration .com/article/j a ne-all -trades
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Jane of All Trades
Des Plains Chief Is Illinois Superintendent of the Year.
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ni,fnct Administration. AJ'ril :-ot:J
Jane L. Beyer 'v\'esterhold knows no
boundaries. As superintendent of
the Des Plaines (Ill.)
Community Consolidated School
District 62 in suburban Chicago,
Westerhold has led a three-year
master plan with a $109 million
facilities upgrade, narrowed the
achie1·ement gap between
low-income and other students, and
kept a ..<\A+ bond rating- the highest
gh·en by the Illinois State Board of
Education.
She managed this despite a
recession and a diYerse
student body, which speaks 61
languages. In recognition,
Westerhold was named the 2013
Illinois Superintendent of the Year
by the Illinois Association of School
Administrators (IASA).
Superintendent Jane L. Beyer Westerhold, in red,
celebrates winning a Blue Ribbon Distinction award
for South Elementary School.
The announcement prompted the
Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce to trumpet her award on an electronic billboard on
Interstate High11·ay 90 . "1 1ras dying," Westerhold says with a laugh. "I was like, 'You've
got to be kidding me. I am going to get so much abuse for this.' "She is also quick to
add that most of her colleagues across Illinois are equally qualified for the honor.
She Earned It
But those who work with Westerhold, a 33-year Yeteran in K12 administration, agree
she deserves the recognition. Nelson Gray, assistant superintendent and business
manager at Des Plaines, says she brought together a "solid leadership group" that works
across silos to achie,·e the mission ofthe K8 district, which has 5 , 000 students. "If we
were to function as independent departments, the synergy wouldn't be there to moYe
things forward the way the district has been able to do," Gray says.
Brenda Murphy, school board president, says the superintendent has "yery high
expectations" for herself and those around her and works tirelessly to see all students
succeed. "Obviously, it takes a whole team of people to make a school district
successful," Murphy says, and "one of her strengths is her ability to recruit and develop
talent."
Westerhold also empowers teachers in a collaborative fashion, says Kathy Borg,
president of the Des Plaines Education Association, the teachers' union. "She really
does promote that professional learning community concept," says Borg. "You can see
her level of investment in the way the other administrators work to involve and engage
teachers and parents."
A Principal at 26
A native of Staunton, Ill., Westerhold says her home town focused heavily on its
schools, where she was a member of the local high school marching ba nd. After
receil·ing her master's degree in education from Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsYille, Westerhold became principal at age 26 at a school in the Worden (Ill.)
School District 16, a small district that's since been absorbed into Edwardsville School
District 7.
In the years since, Wes terhold has earned her doctorate in leadership and policy studies
I nf 1
4/ 1/1 3 10 :34 A M
at Loyola University in Chicago while serving stints as assistant principal and principal
in Edwardsville, principal and director of special projects in Schaumburg School
District 54, director of curriculum and instruction in Wauconda Community Unit
School District 118, and assistant superintendent in Valley View Community School
District 365U that opened several new buildings. "My experience in working with the
construction was an asset" after arriving at Des Plaines in 2005, says Westerhold,
whose husband is a retired superintendent who has continued to work as an interim
superintendent in three districts.
Building in an Economic Bust
Since arriving in Des Plaines, Westerhold is most proud of the master plan, an
"elaborate ambitious goal" that was accomplished in three years, from 2010 to 2012.
Westerhold invited more than500 citizensto provide input as the master plan took
shape about "what they wanted the district to be," she says. "We tried to touch on every
group willing to participate. That's critical to undertaking such a project"
It was a significant undertaking to meet the needs, to fund it, and to physically get the
work done in three years, Gray adds. "That all took place at the same time as trying to
move other things forward with instruction, with technology," he says.
The plan, which incorporated 625,700 square feet of renovations and 109,200 square
feet of new construction, included a new early learning center that brought together
preschool children who had been scattered in classrooms in other schools. It provides a
focused setting while opening space in other schools to create TILE (Technology
Integrated Learning Environments) rooms in every building. TILE rooms are computer
labs each equipped wi th 6o laptops, two smart boards and document cameras,
Westerhold says.
Also as part of the master plan, decades-old buildings had significant upgrades,
including HVAC, lights, floors, and painting. New, larger kitchens and cafeterias at
Algonquin and Chippewa middle schools enable all students in each grade to eat
together, where lunch periods had been staggered in the past due to insuffcient seating.
The year-round K8 Iroquois School, located in the flight path to O'Hare International
Airport, had originally been built without windows to keep air traffic noise down, but
now has natural light from nearly soundproof windows, which Westerhold feels
improves the learning environment. South School, about 75 years old and built with
fireplaces inside two rooms that are now TILE rooms, was restored to its "historical"
look, sh e says.
Perhaps most presciently, the project added two sets of doors each with a security
buzzer at the entrance and exit of a vestibule. "Everybody's scrambling to add security
after the Sandy Hook (school shootings), but we already have it," she says. "That was
comf01ting to our families after that horrible tragedy."
ELL Training for All
Westerhold's embrace of diversity and the challenges posed by the achievemen t gap
have brought academic success. The achievement gap narrowed between lowincome
students and others from 28 percent in 2005 to 14 percent today on the Illinois
Standards Achievement Test, even as the percentage oflow-income students rose from
28 percent to 45 percent in the same period. She attributes the reduction to leadership
and "great teachers."
With a student body that is 40 percent Hispanic, and where 61 languages are spoken,
Westerhold and her team combined general education and English language learners
into one educational track where they had been separate in the past. All incoming
teachers and existing staff are encouraged to gain ELL certification, which the district
pays about $50,000 per year to do so, Westerhold says. To date, 35 percent of the
district's teachers have this certification.
Along with ELL, teachers unde1take diversity training through learning modules that
help them becomemore informed about the cultural needs of children-and staff. For
example, teachers learned that hugging or putting their arm around the shoulder of a
child is perceived negatively by Muslims. "They learn how to meet the needs for
different languages, but also other needs," Westerhold says.
A Visionary for Teacher PD
? of 1
4/1/13 10:34
To recruit an excellent team and help people succeed is another goal that sets
Westerhold apart. In 2006, she incorporated the Charlotte Danielson framework for
professional development, a research-based program that in part provides a common
vocabulary and helps teachers understand expectations. The rigorous online training
includes videos of both effective and ineffective teachers that viewers can review.
A committee that included stakeholders from administrators to union leaders devised
the district's new teacher evaluation system based on the model, and an ongoing
evaluation committee reviews the rubric to find areas of improvement. In 2012,
Danielson became the model for teacher evaluations in Illinois, Westerhold says. "I feel
so f01tunate we were visionary to have that in place," she adds.
She also developed a professional learning community network, which gives teachers a
chance to look al the data andhave a dialogue around best practices. And since strong
leadership is also important, Westerhold and her team have also instituted a new
principalmentorship program in which she and the three assistant superintendents
pelform an annual management review. In some cases, they bring in an outside mentor
to review each principal's goals, with the hope that principals will feel more comfortable
about revealing how they're trying to improve, she says.
Financial Stability
On the finance side, District 62 has improved its bond rating with Standard & Poor's, as
well as gained recognition for financial stability from the Illinois State Board of
Education, with "solid fund balances" and conservative spending habits, Westerhold
says.
Associate Superintendent Paul Hertel meets with each principal to discuss staffng
needs in areas like special education, ELL, and even custodial, to evaluate needs and
return-on-investment. When a program isn't making gains, it's discontinued, or when a
special ed student leaves a district, for example, the aide for that student may or may
not be re-assigned depending on need.
The union is on board, Borg says. And relations v.~th the teachers' union has been
positive, even during collectivebargaining. There have been no layoffs during
Westerhold's tenure, but the union accepted a o percent cost-ofliving increase for four
years along v.~th a "healthy step increase," Borg says. "If the district is struggling
financially, nobody wins," she adds."We also recognize that negative relationships
between the teachers and the board and administration have a negative impact on
kids."
And Westerhold's personal touch wins people over, Murphy says. "She writes a lot of
thank-you notes," she says. "From her elementary school teaching days, she has lovely
handv.Titing, so it's a very nice touch that she takes time to attend to those details."
Ed Finkel is a contributing writer to District Administration.
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4/1 / 13 10:34
The Des Plaines Journal, Wednesday, April3, 2013
Teen Tycoons
District 62 Students
Pitch Products At
DP Chamber Panel
Des Plaines business owners got a preview of the next
generation of local economic
leaders last month ·and the
results were impressive.
Twelve Des Plaines School
Dist. 62 middle school students
pitched their business plan concepts during an investor panel
Tuesday, Mar. 19 at Club Casa
in Des Plaines. The panel was
part ofthe Young Entrepreneurs
Academy (YEA!), a national
program run locally by Dist. 62
and the Des Plaines Chamber
of Commerce.
The panel of nine investors,
made up of local leaders and
business professionals, made
donations to the students'
upstarts based on the quality
of their pitch and chance for
success.
"It was just a very, very exciting evening for the students,"
said Barb Ryan, the chamber's
executive director. "All the
investors were impressed with
what these students were able
to accomplish."
Proposals included party
planning for children's events,
an instructional video to teach
young children basic basketball
skills, a company that makes
wallets and hair accessories out
of duct tape, and bracelets that
benefit endangered tigers.
While all the student companies received some money,
the big winner of the night was
13-year-old Chippewa Middle
School student Cory Scholler.
Cory invented a product that
protects athletic shoes and received $1,470 from the panel.
He'll also represent Dist. 62 at
the national YEA! competition
in Rochester, NY in April.
This is the first year Dist. 62
and the chamber have participated in YEA!
The students and their businesses were:
• Bear Fitness: Jalen Moore
and Bennett Miller, $155 investment
• BOW Today: Lucia Gar-
YEA! Class of 2013 (front row from left) Danna Oritz, Lil Duckies; Clara Cupuro, Easily Done Events;
Brookes Saunders, Eclipsed Jewelry; Ella Powell, Eclipsed Jewelry; (second row: Lucia Garrett, Bow Today;
Jizelle Torres, Lil Duckies; Corion Hudson, Hudson's Pro Clinic; Ella Kurtuz, Trinkets for Tigers; Cory Schol·
ler, Smart Product Solutions; Bhagirath Mehta, Mehta +Tutoring; (third row) Bennett Miller, Bear Fitness;
Jalen Moore, Bear Fitness.
rett, $770
.
rath Mehta, $625
munity College; Sandra Han• Easily Done Events: Clara
• Trinkets for Tigers: Ella sen, manager of BMO Harris
Kurutz, $440
Cupuro, $340
Bank; Tom Huffman, senior
• Eclipsed Jewelry: Brooke
• Smart Product Solutions: vice president ofWintrust; Bob
Sanders and Ella Powell, Cory Scholler, $1,470
Lewandowski, Lewandowski
$375
The investor panel included: Family Foundation; Christen
• Hudson's Pro Clini: Corion Rosemary Argus, Des Plaines Osowski, branch manager for
Hudson, $340
Community Foundation; Ed First Midwest Bank; Steve
• Lil Duckies: Jizelle Torres Domingo, vice presidents of Pokrak, controller Millennium
and Danna Oritz, $485
finance for Rivers Casino; Bank; and Lynn Seinfeld, Oak• Mehta+ Tutoring: Bhagi- Carlee Drummer, Oakton Com- ton Community College.
District 62 Spring Registration Now Open- Des Plaines, IL Patch
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District 62 Spring Registration Now Open
Students need to return to the Registration Accounting and Transportation Enrollment Forms by
May3.
April4. 2013
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Spring Registration and Transportation Enrollment for School District 62's 2013-2014 school year is now open. District 62 parents and guardians must
submit Registration Accounting and Transportation Enrollment Forms by May 3, 2013. Both forms are available on the district websiteand will be
sent home with students the week of April 8, 2013.
Registration for 2013-2014
If children will attend a District 62 school next year. parents and guardians should complete:
• Registration Acccunting Form - Due with student fees by May 3, 2013.
• Current 1st-4th graders, please return the K-5 grade Registration Accounting Form to each student's current elementary school.
• Current 5th-7th graders, please return the 6-8 grade Registration Accounting Form to each student's attending middle school.
• All Iroquois Community School students, please return Registration Accounting Form to Iroquois Community School.
Note: Families new to District 62 should contact their new school for the complete registration requirements and packet. And, as needed, please provide
their school with any updated contact information if you have recently changed your address, home and/or cellular phone numbers, or email address.
Busing for 2013-2014
Both free and paid riders must complete the Transportation Enrollment Form to ride the bus in 2013-2014.
Transportation Enrollment Forms- Due May 3, 2013 for discounted pricing
June 11, 2013 is the last day for free and paid students to register for busing and be inducted in the development of computerized bus routes for 20132014. No new stops will be added to the route after June 11, 2013.
Note: Buses will only stop at approved common stop locations on the new 2013-2014 computerized bus routes. The buses wilf not stop at residences;
http://desplaines.patch.com/articles/district-62-spring-registration-now-open
5/6/2013
District 62 Spring Registration Now Open- Des Plaines, IL Patch
Page 2 of3
students are expected to walk up to two blocks to common stop locations.
Current and Mure 062 parents should contact the school that their child will attend during the 2013-2014 school year if they have questions or
concerns. Those schools are:
Algonquin Middle School, 847-824-1205
Central Elementary School , 847-824-1575
Chippewa Middle School, 847-824-1503
Cumberland Elementary School, 847-824-1451
Forest Elementary School, 847-824-1380
Iroquois Community School. 847-824-1308
North Elementary School, 847-824-1399
Orchard Place Elementary School, 847-824-1255
Plainfield Elementary School. 847-824-1301
South Elementary School, 847-824-1566
Terrace Elementary School, 847-824-1501
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5/6/2013
The Daily Herald, Thursday, April II , 2013
Plainfield School renovations:
Plainfield Elementary School
in Des Plaines will showcase
building improvements and
renovations during a community open house at 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Aprill7. This
event will give school officials a chance to show off the
47-year-old school. Principal
Guillermo Heredia said the
public is invited to visit and
tour the school, 1850 Plainfield, from 5 to 6 p.m., before
the K-2 musical. Upgrades
included installation of interactive technology, fresh paint
and flooring, and improved
heating, air conditioning and
lighting systems. Plainfield
was one of three schools ren0\'<lted during Phase lll of
the D"S Plaines Elementary
School District 62 Master Plan.
Iroquois Community Schoolis
hosting a FOSS Science Night
and Community Open House
featuring Mr. Freeze from Ferrnilab on Thursday, May9.
And Orchard Place Elementary School will host a community open house Tuesday,
May21.
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, April12, 2013
..... ... .......
-
-.
--
-· -
. ..
lmig Rejoins 062 Board
A fonner Des Plaines School Dist. 62 board member is
returning to the district with three incumbents.
Ray Imig received as many as 327 write-in votes, according to Cook County Clerk spokesperson Courtney Greve.
That's the number of write-in votes cast in the Dist. 62 school
board race, though na;..l!S other than !mig's may have been
submitted. However, Imig needed only one vote to win a spot
on the board, as the fourth open seat was uncontested.
A story in last week's Journal & Topics incorrectly stated
lmig needed 50 write-in votes to qualify for a win.
lmig served on the school board from 2005 to June
2011, when he resigned to pursue other endeavors. James
Poskozim, another former Dist. 62 trustee, was appointed
to fill out the rest of his tenn.
Poskozim and two other incumbents, Stephanie ChambersDuckmann and Ronald Burton, won reelection Tuesday
night.
Chambers-Duckmann led with 4,340 votes (35.37%),
Burton was second with 4,114 (33.52%) and Poskozim
third with 3,818 (31.11%).
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, April12, 2013
Plainfield School Open HousyApr. 17
Plainfield Elementary School
in Des Plaines will showcase
building improvements and
renovations during a community open house on Wednesday,
Apr. 17. This event will give
school officials a chance to show
off the 47-year-old school. ·
Principal Guillermo Heredia
said the public is invited to visit
and tour the school, 1850 Plainfield, from 5 to 6 p.m., prior to
the K-2 musical.
"This open house is for the
community," Heredia said.
"We're asking everyone to start
at the main entrance at 5 p.m."
Supt.Jane W~sterholdsaidthe
school, originally built in 1966,
received needed upgrades, from
interactive technology, fresh
paint and flooring, to upgraded
HVAC and lighting systems.
The renovations, which were
a part of the Dist. 62's Master
Plan, provides·ad~itionapeam­
ing spaces.
Chi cago Tri hunc - District 62 approYcs 3-) ear goals
hllp://my .ch icagotrihunc .com/ffstory/cHI-d62-board-meetin g-~ 15-2 ...
··District 62 approves 3-year goals
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Sl'lh llll\H't>. din•l'lor of infortllatinn and iustm etioual lt'ehno lo)\)· a t 1lt>~ Pla im·~ Sdtoo! Distril·t (>:!, v;hes a tt•ehnnlov;y update to till' hoard on April t!).
By Bob Chiarito, Special t o the Tribune
April 16. :!Ot;l
Des Plaines School District 62 may be busy for the foreseeable future after it passed sweeping education goals Monday, but it is
well on pace to achieving its goals in the digital area, district officials said Monday.
The board approved four goals s ubmitted by Superintendent Jane Westerhold. While specific plans are yet to be developed, implementation is to begin in July, with a planned completion date of J une 30, 2016.
The board spent most of its time talking about plans to complete what it calls a digital conversion spanning all grades. The plan
would ensure that students experien ce 21st-century methodologies throu gh digital delive1y of content and developing digital literacy skills to be ready for high school, college, career and life, according to Westerhold.
Complementing the digital conversion goal was an update on technology by Seth Bowers, director of information and instruction al technology.
Bowers explained that in 2008, the district's Programs and Services Committee made several recommendations cat egorized as
"must haves," "should haves" and "nice to haves."
"You can take a red marker and cross out all the 'must haves' and 'should haves,' because we've accomplished those," Bowers said.
I of 3
~11 7/13
8:27 AM
Included on the "must have" list were mounted LCD screens, full 'vvireless access, installation of infrash·ucture and ports, adequate black-and-white printers and color print options, and full technology support at all district buildings.
Rounding out the "should have" category were schoohvide intercom systems, a video distribution system, and laptops for students and teachers. On the "nice to have" list were interactive whiteboards and document cameras, which are in some but not all
classrooms, Bowers said.
There are currently 4,100 online devices at District 62 schools and 4 ,800 students, Bowers said. That's a twofold increase from
2008 , when the district had slightly fewer than under 2000 devices, he said.
In addition, Westerhold said the district is "blessed to have wireless access in every building and is in a great position to move
fmward."
Citing the fact that some of the district's students come from poor households, Westerhold said, technology can offer a lot of opportunities.
"We have a lot of kids who haven't seen a Jot of things," she said. "When we open them up to the digital world, they can go to a lot
of places."
Westerhold explained that while students cannot take the devices home, a committee \viii be formed in July to develop a plan that
would likely create a 1:1 ratio of online devices to students. The committee will focus on specifics such as cost, what type of devices the district will select and how it will roll out its plan, Westerhold said.
Among the other goals in Westerhold's plan approved by the board are the implementation of anti-bullying curricula in all
schools; evaluation of school safety and security; development of a multiyear facilities plan; updating a plan for hiring teachers
and administrators; digital rep011 cards, parental portal communication and digital registration; keeping fund balances in alignment 'vvith board of education policies; keeping a positive bond rating; seeking new sources of revenue; and allocating resources
for increased bandwidth.
Also, Ellen Teelucksingh, the new assistant supe1;ntendent for student services, was introduced to the board. Effective July 1 ,
Teelucksingh is replacing Brad Voehringer, who was recently hired to lead Pennoyer School District 79 in Norridge.
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Police & Fire . Schools
Retired Cop Shot in Leg at Des Plaines School
The man was taken to the hospital, the Daily Herald reported, and no other injuries were reported .
A pri117, 2013
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Related Topics: Chicago Police. Des Plaines Police. District 62, Iroquois sc hool. city of des
plaines, d es plaines. des plaines illinois . and school district 62
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A retired Chicago police officer was accidentally shot in the leg when his loaded gun fell on the floor at a school in Des Plaines on Monday, the Daily
Herald reported. The man was taken lo the hospital. the Daily Herald reported, and no other injuries were reported.
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Mary Beth
Flag as inappropriate
3:54pm on Wednesday. April17. 2013
This occurred at my child's school. One has to wonder why a loaded gun was taken out of its holster and allowed to 'drop' even if accidentally. I am
only thankful that none of the children present were injured or killed. This could have been a disaster. Senseless. irresponsible and stupid.
Flag as tnappropnate
4:11pm on Wednesday, April17, 2013
MB... I agree with you 1000%...we are livid. my children also go to this school and it makes me think twice about allowing them to participate in after
school activities. It shows definate lack of judgement and supervision of who is on school grounds. If it had been "accidently" a child who was hit by
this stray bullet...it would have been a tragedy. The principal sent a message assuring us that all was ok. Not sure I am feeling ok ...would love to hear
other families input.
http://desplaines.patch.com/articles/retired-cop-shot-in-leg-at-des-plaines-school
5/6/2013
District 62 Names New Assistant Superintendent for Student Services- Des Plaines, IL Patch
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District 62 Names New Assistant Superintendent for
Student Services
Dr. Ellen Teelucksingh will replace Brad Voehringer effective July 1.
April17, 2013
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The Community Consolidated School District 62 Board of Education appointed Dr. Ellen Teelucksingh as the next Assistant Superintendent for Student
Services, effective July 1, 2013. Teelucksingh replaces Brad Voehringer. who was recently hired to lead Pennoyer School District 79 in Norridge, IL
Currently, Dr. Teelucksingh serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Special Services in Lombard District 44. She oversees and supervises Special
Education, ELUBilingual, Earty Childhood , and Social Emotional Learning programs and staff. She is also responsible for writing and managing several
state and federal grants, compliance and monitoring of special services programs, and managing the department budget.
Prior to working in Lombard, Teelucksingh served as the assistant principal of Glenwood School, a special education and public day school educational
program for K- 12 students; special education supervisor of the Bren Road Education Center, an emotional/behavioral disorder site housing a variety of
programs, including a j uvenile residential and correctional facility and the Omegon program a residential treatment center for juveniles with mental and
chemical health needs; and as a program facilitator and school psychologist.
Teelucksingh earned a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and master's and
doctorate degrees in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota. An accomplished author and workshop and media presenter,
Teelucksingh is a member of the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education, Council for Exceptional Children, Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development, and National Association of School Psychologists.
"I have always found great pleasure in helping students who have unique learning profiles reach their full potential," Teelucksingh announced, when
asked about coming to District 62. "While student progress may be measured differently, educators must embrace the idea that all students can learn.
IJihlen educators operate with this perspective, it's possible to maximize student learning potential and success. I look forward to working with District 62's
leadership team. "
Des Plaines School District 62 educates more than 4 ,990 students in eleven schools and employs more than 770 employees.
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http:/I desplaines.patch.com/articles/district-62-names-new-assistant-superintendent-for-student-services
5/6/2013
The Des Plaines Journal, Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Dist. 62 Names Assistant
Supt. Of Student Services
Des Plaines Elementary
School District 62 Board of
Education appointed Ellen
Teelucksingh as the next assistant superintendent for Student Services, effective July
1. Teelucksingh replaces Brad
Voehringer, who was recently
hired to lead Pennoyer School
District 79 in Norridge.
Currently, Teelucksingh
serves as the assistant superintendent for Special Services in
Lombard Dist. 44. She oversees and supervises Special
Education, ELL/B ilingual,
Early Childhood, and Social
Emotional Learning programs
and staff. Prior to working in
Lombard, Teelucksingh served
as the assistatit principal of
Glenwood School.
Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, April17, 2013
Man shot in leg
at Scout meeting
II•
A retired police officer
accidentally shot himself
when he dropped his gun
~ide a Des Plaines school
1ifhile attending his grandtir!oy Scout troop
I
olice and school offisaid the man was
• rrying his licensed,
loaded gun. inside a fanny
~ck Monday evening at
I'Jioquois School, and that
srr:~t~ :~:
gun
after he dropped the
k.
e man was taken to
ate Lutheran General Hospital in Park
Attidge. Des Plaines police
~ef William Kushner
.,.aid the man is a retired
~hicago police officer.
~No one else was in~d, Kushner said.
-v The retired officer is
licensed to carry the fireann, said a letter from
Iroquois Principal Michael Amadei.
"The district does not
condone bringing firearJllfo on school grounds;'
the letter states.
-
Jonathan Bullington;
Tribune reporter Robert
~oppin contributed
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Accident: 'For the most part everybody had left'
Cnntinuedfrom Page 1
after the accident and are
thankful that no students were
accident," the chief said. injured.
"We were relieved to hear
"There was no collateral
damage. Nobody else was that the leader's injuries were
not as serious as anticipated,"
injured."
In an email to parents, Iro- the letter reads. "Of course,
quois Principal Michael Ama- the district does not condone
dei said he and District 62 bringing firearms on school
Superintendent Jane Wester- grounds."
Amadei states the school
hold were at the school shortly
district will work with the Boy school buildings.
Scouts of America Northwest
"Our main concern is that
Suburban Council and the everyone was not harmed,"
police department "to clarify Ward said. "This really is a
any questions that arise."
matter for the Boy Scouts
District 62 spokeswoman of America to take care of
Mindy Ward said Wednes- because they have very speday district officials have cific policies about firearms in
not made any determina- schools."
tion whether to change polBoy Scout Troop 38 Scouticy about allowing firearms in master Bryan Hedstrom said
the meeting was over and
Scouts and parents were exiting the school when the accident occurred. "For the most
part everybody had left," he
said, deferring all other questions to the Northwest Suburban Council.
A council spokesman could
not immediately be reached
for comment Wednesday.
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, April 19, 2013
Flood Closes "Many Local Schools
Most Mt. Prospect, Prospe€t Hts. Students Still In Class During Storm Days
Several Journal-area schools closed Dist. 64.
•
yesterday {Thursday) due to flooding
Districts 11>1, 62 and 64 will stay
closed today (Friday). Dist 63 did not
and some will remain dosed today.
Public school districts that decided announce any Friday closures as of
to keep students and staff home y~s­ yesterday's Journal deadline.
terday included Maine Township
Elk Grove Township School Dist.
High School.Dist. 207, Des Plaines 59 remained open yesterday. Dist. 59
School Dist. 62, East Maine School serves Des Plaines west of Mt. ProsDjst. 63 and Park Ridge-Niles School pect Road.
Elk Grove High School, which also
serveg, Des Plaines west of Mt. Prospect Roa4, closed Wednesday, Apr
18. School officials as of yesterday
were still considering whether to close
Friday.
Oakton Community College, with
campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie,
closed for the day Thursday while
Harper College m Palatine and Triton
College in River Grove stayed open.
Most public schools serving Mt
Prospeet and Prospect Hts. stayed
open. Mt, Prospect Dist. 57, River
Trails Dist. 26, Prospect Hts. Dist. 23
and Prospect High School remained
open for the day Thursday and had
no plans to close today.
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, April 19, 2013
Shooting_ ··
(Continued from page lA)
said in a letter to parents
about the incident.
"Of course, the district
does not condone bringing
firearms on school grounds,"
Amadei said. "We will
continue working with the
Northwest Suburban Council, BSA and the Des Plaines
Police Department to clarify
any questions that arise."
Although there is a rule
prohibiting students from
bringing firearms to school,
Ward said no such rule exists
for anyone else. Ward said
she was unaware whether
a rule change to prohibit
all guns on school grounds
was being considered. The
Journal was unable to immediately contact Dist.
62 Supt. Jane Westerhold
or school board President
Brenda Murphy.
Ward said Dist. 62 officials, including Westerhold,
responded to the school
along with Des Plaines
police who determined no
laws were broken.
Senior Des Plaines police
officials were not immediately available for comment.
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, April19, 2013
Main, Bridge·· ·
Project In 2016
By HEATHER HOLM
JoURNAL & ToPICS REPoRTER
An eight-inch diameter water main attached to the bridge over
the Des Plaines River on Rand Road will be replaced in 2016.
The water main work will be done in conjunction with a bridge
replacement project, scheduled for completion by the Illinois
Dept. of Transportation in three years. Des Plaines City Council
approved moving forward with this work Monday night.
"The bridge is owned by the state," said Tim Oakley, Des
Plaines' director of public works and engineering. "They are
proposing to replace it. The water main is connected to the
south side of the bridge. It is our water main attached to their
bridge by permit."
Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc., would complete design work
for the new water main, replacing the current one that runs from
Elk Boulevard to Ballard Road, at a cost not to exceed $23,000.
The same contractor is scheduled to handle design engineering
services for the bridge replacement. Construction on the bridge
and water main replacement is proposed for the latter years of
lOOT's 2013 to 2018 five-year capital improvement program.
Nearby sidewalks and traffic signals would also be replaced.
This could include changing the location of the traffic signal on
Elk Boulevard, which is under the city's jurisdiction.
IDOT may also combine the entrance to North Elementary
School on Rand Road across from the bridge with a private road
to the east called Wilson Lane. The state may also add a traffic
signal at the school entrance. lOOT needs approval from the
school to complete this project, according to Oakley.
Page 1 of3
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Edttc-' Christopher Brinekerhoff [email protected]
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Schools, The Neighborhood Files. Local Connections
North School to Open in Des Plaines Post Flooding
North Elementary School in Des Plaines will reopen on Wednesday.
By Christopher Brinckerhoff Email the author April 23, 2013
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Related Topics: Cook County, Des Plaines River, Flood Watch, city of des plaines, des plaines,
des plaines flooding, des plaines Illinois, des plaines weather, and flash flood warning
Tell us what you think. Tell us in the comments.
North Elementary School, 1789 Rand Road in Des Plaines, will reopen on Wednesday after being closed since Thursday due to extensive flooding, a
spokesperson for Community Consolidated School District 62 stated in an email to Patch.
Bus transportation will resume for all D-62 students Wednesday, April 24, according to the district's statement, and students living on the east side of the
Des Plaines River will be picked up.
Early morning band and orchestra practice and transportation and before and after school activities will resume as scheduled, D-62 stated.
Related:
• The latest flood·related info from the City of Des Plaines.
• Video of a motorist trying to navigate Des Plaines on Friday.
• Check out videos of the Des Plaines flood on YouTube.
Sign up for Des Plaines Patch's free daily newsletter.
Email me updates about this story.
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http://desplaines.patch.com/articles/north-school-to-open-in-des-plaines-post-flooding
5/6/2013
The Daily Herald, Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Cleanup: Some Des Plaines residents stayed in homes the whole time
umlinued}rom Page 1
Iresearch
moving.
flooding
before
!
Some neighbors along
Ha-wthorne Lane had begun
pumping out water and
! cleanup while others used
· boats and waders to swvey
the damage.
Public works crews, contractors and Cook Cotmty
prisoners in the Sheriffs Work
Alternative Program are working throughout the floodaffected areas to facilitate
cleanup, saiq Tim Oakley, the
city's director of public works
and engineering who is heading up the city's response.
Starting Tuesday crews
from
lindenhurst
and
Hanover Park will be assisting
with debris removal as part
of the lllinois Public Works
Mutual Aid Network. officials
said.
"It's going to be weeks,"
Oakley said. "Our goal is to
keep on top of the debris that
gets placed on the parkways."
Garbage pickup resumed
Monday in the city's 6th Ward
in areas south of Oakton Street
and east of Mannheim Road.
Trash receptacles have been
placed at multiple locations.
Two major roadways,
Graceland Avenue and Rand
Road west of Graceland are
now open to traffic. While
'
1
JOE LEWNA.RO /j)ewnord@doilyherold .com
sections of Oakton Street are
blocked off by barricades,
going west at the river and
east between Lee and White
streets, businesses along Oakton remain open.
All Des Plaines Elementary District 62 schools, except
North, were open Monday.
North remains inaccessible
due to road closures around
the schooL district officials
said.
City crews are working on
traffic control as the water
recedes, which will be fol·
lowed by street sweeping and
inspecting structures, Oakley
said.
"There's still water on the
pavement. We're not going to
be able to get any of the major
roads open," he said.
Officials are asking for residents' cooperation as city
employees begin inspecting
Sewer water bubbles
near the
intersection
of River and
Rand roads
in front of
the Des
Plaines Fire
Department's Station No. 1 in
Des Plaines
Monday.
homes and businesses to
assess the extent of flood damage, per city code as required
by FEMA. The inspections
apply to all damaged structures and structures within the
designated floodplain. Once
city inspectors complete their
assessment, a written determination will. be mailed to
the owners of the inspected
structures.
Earlier estimates indicated nearly 800 properties
sustained damage, but officials say that figure has grown
much larger.
"We are now expecting over
2,000 properties that are likely
affected, so we are inspecting
that many," said Alex Darnbach, director of community
and economic development.
Property damage estimates
are still several days away,
Dambach said.
said.
Station crews were relocated to Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines,
from where they ran rescue
operations.
"We actually housed 18 of
our responders here, working
out ofHoly Family," Dyer said.
Dyer said the station should
stay are still holed up in their
homes, surrounded by floodwater, Dyer said.
Meanwhile, Salvation Army
staff and volunteers are going
door-to-door in Des Plaines to
distribute flood cleanup kits.
Residents also can pick up
kits until supplies last at The
Salvation Army Des Plaines
Corps Community Center, 609
W. Dempster St.
Trash receptacles have
been set up at the following
locations:
• Fargo Avenue between
River Road and Cedar Street
• Welwyn Avenue between
River Road and Cedar Street
Avenue
Whitcomb
between River Road and
White Street
• Van Buren Street between
River Road and White Street
• Willow Avenue and Graceland Avenue (two receptacles)
• Stewart Avenue and River
Road
with at least the rear parking lot cleared of floodwater
within the next two days.
Des Plaines firefighters
rescued a total of 60 people from homes, cars and
the river, but officials could
not provide accurate numbers for how many residents
left their homes on their own.
Some residents who chose to
rial roads closed, Des Plaines
Police are advising motorists
to use the following alternate
routes:
• North/south: Mount Prospect Road, Elmhurst Road,
Wolf Road, Lee Street/Higgins
Road
• East/west: Miner/Northwest Highway, Touhy Avenue,
Devon Avenue
Flood recovery help
The Salvation Army will distribute flood cleanup kits in the following locations while supplies last:
• The Salvation Army Des Plaines Corps Community Center, 609
W. Dempster St. To confirm they are still available, call (847)
981-911 1.
•1-6 p.m. Tuesday, Aurora Corps Community Center, 437 E.
Galena Blvd.
The Salvation Army also offers long· term flood relief, including
emergency financial assistance for furniture, clothing, food, rent
and utilities for those who qualify. Eligibility will be determined on a
case-by-case basis. Call (773) 205-3520.
Source: The Salvation Army
Officials said all repairs,.
reconstruction and new construction will require a permit, and that the city will expedite that process. For more
information, residents should
call the Community and Economic Development Department at (847) 391-5380 during
regular business hours.
Firefighters began cleanup
Monday of the city's main Fire
Station No. 1 at 405 S. River
Road, behind the McDonald's
on Rand Road. It was evacuated early Thursday.
"We kind of became a self. contained Island here," Division Chief Pete Dyer said.
The station was fortified
with water bladders and sandbags that kept the water from
getting into the station, he
be cleaned up and operatiomll
With
most major arre·
The Des Plaines Journal, Wednesday, Apri124, 2013
Closed Roads Shutter North School
By ~ATHER HOLM
JOURNAL
&
TOPICS REPORTER
North Elementary School
on Rand Road in Des Plaines,
closed Monday and Tuesday
due to road closures from recent
floOding.
The school, along with the
rest of Dist. 62 schools, was
closed Thursday, Apr. 18 and
Friday, Apr. 19. All other Di~t'.
62 schools opened Monday.Multipleroadclosures around
the school caused families and
staff to have no access to the
area. "Buses cannot get into
the area east of the Des Plaines
River," said Mindy Ward, director of community relations
for the school district.
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, April26, 2013
North School
Reopens After
Area Flooding
North Elementary
School on Rand Road
in Des Plaines reopened
Wednesday after closing last Thursday due to
flooding.
AU other Des Plaines
School Dist. 62 schools
that closed last Thursday
reopened Monday.
Addi tionally, all bus
transportation f-or students
living east of the Des
Plaines River resumed
Wednesday, according to
infonnation provided by
Mindy Ward, director of
community relations for
Des Plames School Dist.
62. Early morning band
and orchestra practice and
transportation' for before
and after school activities
resumed as well. Before
Wednesday, students living east of the river did
not have bus pickup due to
flooding and there was no
band or orchestra pickup.
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, April26, 2013
Plantings
Celebrate
Arbor Day
Events Today In
M t. Prospect,
PH, Des Plaines
Towns across the Journal~
area celebrate the national
observance ofArbor Day today
(Friday) with tree planting
events.
The Mt. Prospect Public
Works Dept. will host an Arbor
Day tree planting ceremony at
10:30 a.m. at Lions Park El~
ementary School, "300 E. Coun~
cil Tr. During the ceremony,
departing Mayor lrvana Wilks,
Mayor-elect Arlene Juracek,
various village officials, and
students and staff from Lions
Park will plant a London plane
tree in the parkway.
Students will sing songs and
poems to commemorate the
occasion. Also helping with the
planting will be members of the
Garden Club of Mt. Prospect.
The club contributed funds to
help the village purchase the
Arbor Day tree. Additionally,
public works mascot "P.W.
Paws" will make a special appearance. The village will also
commemorate its recent rec; ipt
ofthe Tree City USAAward and
Growth Award from the Arbor
Day Foundation in Nebraska.
This is the 28th consecutive
year Mt. Prospect has received
the Tree City honor and the 11th
year.for the Growth Award.
!'Planting a tree is a great
way to celebrate Arbor Day,"
Mt. Prospect Forestry/Grounds
Supt. Sandy Clark said. "In ad7
dition to their aesthetic qualities,
they have the ability to absorb
carbon dioxide and produce
oxygen, provide food, medicines and shade, filter pollution,
slow stormwater runoff, reduce
energy costs, and more. I hope
our citizens will join us this
year in planting tree~ to help
perpetuate Mt. Prospect's urban
forest. Our community has lost
many trees in recent years due to
storms and Emerald Ash Borer,
so it's more important than ever
that all our citizens help p•ant
trees when they can."
In Des Plaines, an Arbor Day
tree planting is set for 10 a.m.
today at Plainfield Elementary
School, 1850 Plainfield Dr.
Prospect Hts. will also mark
the occasion with a tree planting in front of city hall, 8 N.
Elmhurst Rd., at 10 a.m. City
officials, members of the Prospect Hts. Garden Club and the
Prospect Hts. Park District plan
to take part in the celebration.
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, April26, 2013
Two 062 Teachers Forced To Evacuate Home
By HEATHER HOLM
JOURNAl.
&
ToPICS REPORTER
•
Two Des Plaines Elementary
School Dist. 62 teachers need
a place to stay following last
week's flooding event.
The two teachers are husband
and wife who work at Algon-
quin Middle School and North
Elementary SchooL
"They had to evacuate their
home and are staying with
friends," said Mindy Ward,
director ofcommunity relations
for Dist. 62. They are looking
for a temporary home for their
family of four and two dogs.
The couple is looking for a Dist. 62 Supt. Jane Westerhold
house or townhouse they could , had tried reaching out to as
rent on a short-term basis in ~ many people as possible. Two
the Des Plaines area so they Dist. 62staffmembers---Kathy
could both return to work, Sears at Chippewa Middle
according to Ward. "They can School and Debbie Wilson
continue working this way," at Plainfield Elementary--Ward said.
offered the family a temporary
As of Tuesday, Ward and place to stay.
Other residents reached out
after Des Plaines mayor-elect
Matt Bogusz posted information on his Facebook page looking for residents who would
provide temporary housing. As
of this writing, the couple was
still trying to find somewhere
to stay.
Journal & Topics Newspapers, April24-29, 2013
Rising Star Continuous Improvement
Plan Approved For Schoo~ District 62
Des Plaines Elementary
Dist. 62 has always worked· make sure it is what the state
Dist. 62 school board mem- with the state of Illinois to wants," Ward explained.
bers approved involvement monitor progress.
"The state revamped its prior
in the Rising Star Continuous
Improvement Plan.
structure to use this committee
The state plan will monitor structure," Ward said. "This is
student improvement through- the first year it is implemented
out the year, according to as Rising Star and used in the
Mindy Ward, director of com- Dist. 62 school district." The
munity relations for Dist. 62. Rising Star plan is a more
The program looks at student committee-based approach.
achievement, such as what
T he plan committee conhappens in the classroom, what sists of representatives from
resources are being used and instructional services, student
assessing student learning.
services, second language
"We must do this to show programs, building level adwhat we are doing to boost ministration and a regional
student improvement," Ward office of education improvesaid. This· is in addition to ment coach.
'"The coach helps them (the
progress reports and report
com111:ittee) write the plan to
cards, Ward added.
Board of Direeton
Executive Board
President
Dr. Janet Horton
Horton WeUness &
Chiropractic
President Elect
FredScharm
Scharm Floor Covering
Treasurer
Martin Gardner
Village Bank & Trust
Secretary
Barbara Van Slambrouck
Chromatech Printing, Inc.
Past- President
Jeff Rozovics
Rozovics Group PC
Board Members
Don Empie
UOP
Dan Fink
Juno Lighting Group
ANNUAL FOOD FIGHT CHALLENGE
The Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Board of Directors recently challenged local community organizations• Boards of Directors to its 11th annual "Food Fight".
This year eleven organizations collected a total of 6,622 pounds of food!
The Kiwanis Club of Des Plaines won the challenge with 3,800 pounds of collected food.
The additional groups participating in the 2013 Food Fight included: Des Plaines Camera
Club ( 850 lbs.) i Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce ( 663 lbs.) i Rotary Club of Des
Plaines (529lbs.)j DP Library Board/Friends of the Library (255 lbs.)i Des Plaines Garden Club (232lbs.)i Diplomat of Des Plaines Condo Assoc. (158lbs.)i Bethesda Worship
Center ( 135 lbs.) i
On behalf of the Self-Help Pantry and all the clients they serve, thank you for your support!
..:iii!!!~=;;~==·~;-] Left: Debbie Walusiak of the Self-Help
--~,_
Pantry congratulates the Kiwanis Club.
(left to right) Brenda Murphy, Club President, Joel Bloom, Eldon Burk1 Debbie
Walusiak, Keith Christman, Jim Grady and
Don Johanson
Johanson Decorating &
Handyman Services
Bob Lewandowski
R. Franczak & Associates
Joe
James Macchiaroli
Ace Hardware
Fred Siebert
Abbott Molecular
Lynn Seinfeld
Oakton Community College
Holly Sorensen
Des Plaines Public Library
HermanZelk
Solutions Networking Corp.
rGu·onol
USIHGSS
HPO
t
I
April tO 4 to 7 pm
Over 60 Exhibitors
And 15 Restaurants
Executive Director
Barbara Ryan
Program Director
Andrea Friedman
Member Services
slouronl
DOIUGHSG
SEARS CENTRE
5333 Prairie Stone Pbwy.
Hoffman Estates
Nancy Kirsh
-:;:~
%;:j
at&t
uop
A Honeywell Company
• MILLENNIUMBANK
rt'\jllage
Ll Bank&rrusr
=
A \\'J.'ITR\!ST COMML'NITY !lANK
I. ( ~
~
B
.
nn_ Lr-."I .~ rt7ng
,
B 1}r::;ir:clsse:_ ·
L _ ··- ... _ . '-'
..__ ,
Twelve middle school students from District 62 pitched their business ideas to a panel
of nine investors on March 19. at the Young Entrepreneur's Investment Panel Event
The students have been participating in this after school program since October.
Through their weekly lessons, and with the assistance of mentors, they have learned
how to write a business plan and market their business successfully. They have visited
with successful business owners and have met with graphic designers and web developers.
Teachers, mentors, business hosts, guest speakers, and CEO advisors are all volunteers
from the chamber of commerce membership. Financial support for the program came from the Lewandowski Family
Foundation, Oakton Community College and Rivers Casino.
The investor panel consisted of the following business professionals:
Rosemary Argus, Des AainesCbmmunity Foundation, Ed Domingo, VP Rnance RversOlsno, Dr. Cartee Drummer,
O:lkton CbmmunityCbllege, Sandra Hansen, Manager, BMOHarrisBank , Tom Huffman, 93nior VP, Wintru&, Bob
Lewandowski, Lewandowski Family Foundation ,Christen Osowski, Branch Manager Rrs Midwest Bank, Steve
Pokrak, Cbntroller Millennium Bank and Lynn Seinfeld,Oakton CbmmunityCbllege.
The funds were divided and allocated to the businesses that the investors felt had a well thought out plan, and an idea
that had a good chance at success. A total of $5,000 was invested in the nine businesses.
The investors were also asked to select one student business to advance to the national Investment Panel Event in
Rochester, New York on April 24. Cory Scholler owner of Smart Product Solutions Smart Product Solutions, a product
based company that invented and sells athletic shoe protectors was selected to represent our chamber. The national
competition includes students from 42 chambers from across the country. The top three businesses will receive scholarship funding in the amounts of $30,000, $25,000 and $20,000 and will present their business ideas at the US Chambers Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C.
Above: Investors (right
to left) Steve Pokrak,
Rosemary Argus, Sandra
Hansen, Ed Domingo a
Bob Lewandowski ..
Left to right Front row:
Danna Oritz, Ul Duckies, Clara Cupuro, E'asly ~ne Event~ Brooke
Saunders and Ella Powell, Edip~ ...Bwelry
2nd Row: Lucia Garrett, Bow Today, Jizelle Torres, Ul Duckies,
Corion Hudson, Hudron'sA-o Oinic, Ella Kurutz, Trinketsfor Tigers,
Cory Scholler, Snart A-oduct S:>lutions, Bhagirath Mehta, Mehta
+Tutoring,
3 rd row: Bennett Miller and Jalen Moore, Bear Rtness
Right: Cory Scholler of
Smart Product Sol~~··v•....speaks to the investors .......~.~~----:o.·~-­
about his business.
THE PANTRY PARTYLINE
ISSUE NO. 13
SPRING 2013
Fantastic February Food Fight !
The 11 •h Annual Des Plaines Chamber of
Commerce Food Fight challenged 11 local
service groups and organizations to see who
could donate the most food to the Self-Help
Closet & Pantry. Together they donated 6622
pounds of food! Kiwanis Club won with 3,800
lbs. of collected food . Des Plaines Camera
Club came in 2"d with 850 lbs. And Chamber
of Commerce finished 3'd with 663 lbs. In the
photo are some members of the Food Fight
winn ing Kiwanis Club of Des Plaines with just
some of the food they donated.
This year's total is 6,622 lbs.
(6,355 lbs. last year)
Here are the final group tallies after all the food was weighed:
Kiwanis Club- 3,800 lbs.
Des Plaines Library Bd. & Friends - 255 lbs
Camera Club- 850 lbs.
Des Plaines Garden Club - 232 lbs
Chamber of Commerce- 663 lbs.
Diplomat of Des Plaines condo - 1 58 lbs.
Rotary Club- 529 lbs.
Bethesda Worship Center- 135 lbs.
Thank you to everyone who participated.
Tax Benefits Hirsch Greenberg A~counting of Des Plaines once again sent letters to their
clients , inviting them to donate a bag of food when they visited the office during the 2013 tax
season. What a clever idea! Accountants Sue Greenberg and Martha Holtz pose with some of the
food they collected. Thanks to all for your generosity.
The pantry honored its many outstanding volunteers at
the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon in
February. Ginger lmig, wife of board member and
volunteer Ray Imig, orchestrated the whole event!
Thank you to Ginger for the lovely party and to all our
wonderful volunteers for their donations of time and
energy throughout the year.
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THE PANTRY PARTYLINE
ISSUE NO. 1 3
SPRING 2013
Forest School Treats Pantry
In March our volunteers picked up $1,500 worth of Market Day
food donations from the families of Forest School. Students also contributed with a "Pennies for Pies"
fundraiser. A huge thank you to Forest School for their generosity!
Above left: Volunteers Lee Eilken and Paul Maier prepare to transport Market Day donations to the
pantry. Above right: Debbie Walusiak (Exec. Dir. of the SHC&P) receives donations from Forest School.
A Pat on the Back
Local businessman Pat Ergastolo (center)
receives a plaque of appreciation for his
Joyal support of the Self-Help Closet &
Pantry over recent years . Pat is owner of
Club Casa and the former Casa Royale in
Des Plaines, both sites of pantry
fundraisers including the fashion show
and football"tailgate." On hand for the
presentation are Debbie Walusiak,
SHC&P executive director, and Rev. Dr.
William G. Grice Ill, SHC&P board
president.
Devonshire School
Helps Out
Student representatives and staff
from Devonshire School in Des
Plaines toured the pantry in
January, when they brought in a
huge collection of food from their
school's holiday drive. Thank you
to all!
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