School Board

Board President Message
Board Members
Annual Agenda
Meeting Agenda and Minutes
Board News
Board Briefs
Dashboard Reports
About Board Meetings
School Board Policies
Guiding Principles
Governance Compact

About Board Meetings

The Board of Education normally meets on the third Monday of each month. When these days fall on a holiday, the meeting is moved to the next evening (Tuesday). Special meetings are scheduled as required. In accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, closed meetings are held only for consideration of certain items, which include student disciplinary cases, personnel, property, security issues, real estate transactions, and legal matters.

Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room of Forest Elementary School, 1375 Fifth Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois. To confirm meeting times and dates, call the Leon Smaage Administration Center at 847-824-1136. Meeting agenda are posted to the district website, the Administration Center, and the Des Plaines Public Library.

Presenting Views

District 62 residents are welcome to present their views to the Board. Simply submit a blue comment card that is available at the sign-in area or wait to receive recognition by the President during the Public Comment portion of the meeting. Time is reserved at board meetings for public testimony on matters that are on the agenda for new business or action or on matters that have been introduced for new business at previous meetings and have not been acted upon. Speakers will be asked to state their names and addresses for the public record. Comments should be directed to the Board, not the audience or staff members. The Board President will first call on those who completed the blue comment cards. The President reserves the right to limit the time and the number of speakers allotted for public participation.

During the period reserved for comments, the Board will not hear statements involving cases under litigation, issues that have been scheduled for a public hearing, or complaints regarding individual employees or students. The Board strives to receive citizen input with respect and expects those who address the Board to observe the same courtesy.

The School Board At Work

The Board of Education is charged with deciding the direction District 62 will take now and in the future. It sets a wide variety of policies and standards describing what schools are expected to accomplish.

The single most important job of a school board is to employ a superintendent and to hold him or her responsible for managing the schools in accordance with state law and the school board’s policies.
Some of the other responsibilities and decisions board members are expected to make include:

• Setting and approving all school district policies
• Approving the school curriculum
• Approving the employment of staff and the administration
• Negotiating and approving contracts with unions in the school district

Each board member serves as a liaison and is responsible for leading that portion of group discussions. Discussions focus on district-wide “ends,” or goals and outcomes the Board would like to achieve. Liaison assignments are:

Buildings - Steven Adams
Community Relations - Raymond Imig
Education - Robert Suriano
Finance - Sharon Lynch
Personnel - Stephanie Duckmann
Policy - James Poskozim