Thursday, March 21, 2013
Omar Castillo, the current assistant superintendent of Addison Dist. 4, takes the helm for Mokena School District 159, the Sun-Times Media reports.
Board members for Mokena School District 159 hired a new superintendent March 20. Omar Castillo, who has been the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning at Addison School District 4, begins July 1 in Mokena. According to Sun-Times Media, Castillo has also served in the role of principal and assistant principal for schools in Valley View District 365U in Romeoville. Castillo replaces Steve Stein, who is headed to Peotone District 207U. Learn about Castillo's professional background in Sun-Times Media reports. Joe Spalla, vice president of the M159 Board of Education, has high hopes for Castillo. "We went through the whole process. We interviewed two candidates, and we though Dr. Castillo would be a good fit for both the …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Listed on the agenda is a closed-session discussion for semi-annual reviews along with an open meeting to address the tentative 2013-2014 budget.
The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. March 20 in the Band Room at Mokena Elementary School, 11244 Willow Crest Lane. The agenda includes plans to discuss semi-annual reviews in closed session, the tentative 2013-2014 budget and an agreement with the Blue Demons. See the accompanying PDF for more details. Get news alerts and Facebook updates from these Lincoln-Way Patch sites:
Monday, March 11, 2013
Board members at Mokena School District 159 recently reduced transportation fees, Sun-Times Media reports.
The Mokena School District 159 board approved a transportation fee reduction for families with two or more bus riders. Families will continue to pay $200 a year for the first child, but they'll see a $20 reduction for each additional rider, according to a story in the Sun-Times Media. Visit the Sun-Time Media for more information on fee caps and board discussion. Get news alerts and Facebook updates from these Lincoln-Way Patch sites:
Monday, February 11, 2013
This election guide contains information about school board candidates and coverage.
According to the Mokena School District 159 website: "The Board's powers and duties include the authority to adopt, enforce, and monitor all policies for the management and governance of the District's schools." The board meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Click on a candidate's name for biographical information and answers to our candidate questionnaires, and check back for updates.
Swale is running for the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education.
Name: Robert Swale Position Sought: Mokena District 159 School Board Member Campaign Contact Information: facebook.com/robertswale What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? To improve the educational experience for all of Mokena's children through the use of technology and proven methods, while maintaining a balanced budget. This will be done by holding expectations high for the Administration and staff and by holding them accountable to ensure each child is educated to their fullest potential. Home Address: 20004 Everett Lane Mokena, IL 60448 Family Members: Linda Swale, spouse, 50
Virginia Swale, daughter, 21 Claire Swale, daughter, 19 Education: University of Missouri, 1985, BS Engineering
Keller Graduate …
Franceschini is running for the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education.
Name: Mark Franceschini Position Sought: Mokena District 159 School Board Member Campaign Contact Information: None as yet. What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? To uphold our high-standards and continue to improve our children's educational experience wherever technically and financially possible. As a district we are headed in the right direction - our students are thriving and we are getting out of financial deficit - we need to keep going this direction. Home Address: 11754 w. 194th Street Mokena IL 60448 Family Members: Julie Franceschini, spouse, 47 Dana Franceschini, daughter, 17 Jennifer Franceschini, daughter, 15 Lauren Franceschini, daughter, 13 Education: College of St. Francis 1987 BS Management …
Andresen is running for the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education.
Name: Jim Andresen Position Sought: Mokena School Board Campaign Contact Information: 815-955-3556 jim.andresen@att.net What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? My highest priority is to work with the community, parents, and school staff to ensure our children have a fine educational experience. By working together we can focus on what will help our children grow as young adults. Home Address: 11026 Bryant Rd Mokena IL 60448 Family Members: Jaymie Andresen, Wife of 8 years Alexander Andresen, Son 6 Katheryn Andresen, Daughter 4 Vivienne Andresen, Daughter 1 Education: Eastern Illinois University, 2003 Bachelors in Liberal Arts Lincoln-Way High School 1998 Mokena Jr High 1994 Current Occupation and Employer: …
Regan is running for the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education.
Name: Jeffrey Regan Position Sought: Mokena District 159 School Board Campaign Contact Information: Jeff.J.Regan@gmail.com (708)546-7331 What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? To bring back the programs, that have been eliminate due to deficit, that the other Lincoln-way feeder districts offer. We need our children enter High School at the same level as neighboring schools. Some of those programs include Full Day Kindergarten, Fourth grade band, and Spanish. Home Address: 20025 Hillgate Road Mokena, IL Family Members: Lisa Regan Wife Joshua Regan Son Shawn Regan Son Ashley Regan Daughter Education: Joliet Junior College ~ AAS in Mechanical Design Technology Current Occupation and Employer: Tooling/Sales …
Briscoe is running for the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education.
Name: Anna Maria Briscoe Position Sought: Mokena 159 School Board Campaign Contact Information: briscoeam46@yahoo.com C 773-485-5345 What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? Our students deserve to be led by positive example. If elected, I will strive to develop a more cohesive working environment, as the outcome of such has a direct effect on the educational welfare of our students. Therefore, my first priority will be to act in a manner that demonstrates the qualities of respect, professionalism, and open communication. Home Address: 19316 Midland Ave Mokena Family Members: Tom Briscoe husband A. Briscoe daughter G. Briscoe son Education: University of Michigan-Flint Nursing Curriculum Current Occupation …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The two youth athletic teams now have a home at the Mokena Elementary fields, but some board members are unhappy about how the facilitation of the field agreement was handled.
The Mokena Burros and the Lincoln-Way Blue Demons have officially found a home at the fields at Mokena Elementary School. The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education unanimously approved an agreement granting field usage to the youth athletic organizations for the next two years at a meeting Wednesday evening. Both teams are in need of a place to compete. The Burros youth football team, which struggled to find play space last season, was recently ousted from its practice field, a vacant lot that will soon be the site of a new Meijer grocery store. “I’m asking for the support of the school board,” said Burros Vice President Dan LaValle. The Blue Demons baseball team has had a contract to play on the Mokena Elementary fields for the …
Jim Andricopulos
11:30 am on Sunday, March 24, 2013
Dr. Castillo's ability to lead the schools and help maintain community support for the schools, especially with the immense financial challenges ahead, will be critical to the success of the schools going forward. In light of that need for community support, I would respectfully, request the following: -What was it about him that was singled out through the whole process? -why will he be a good … more ›