SR0232 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0232 LRB103 32072 LAW 61017 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to recognize Superintendent John Price, Ed.D., of North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 (North Chicago CUSD 187) on being named Lake County Superintendent of the Year by the Lake County Superintendents' Association; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Price became the superintendent of North Chicago CUSD 187 in 2017, where he has focused on stabilizing the district's leadership and implementing aggressive instructional improvement initiatives to better support students' well-being, academic success, and, ultimately, their futures; and

WHEREAS, Under Dr. Price's guidance, North Chicago CUSD 187's graduation rate has improved from 56% to 82%, the freshman on-track rate reached 94% last year, kindergarten readiness has increased from 3% to 25%, the number of elementary students reaching growth targets has increased in both reading and mathematics, teacher retention has increased from 60% to more than 75%, and commitment to diversity in teacher recruitment has led to a teaching staff that better reflects the student population, improving from 0% of new teachers hired identifying as candidates of color to more than 50% in 2022; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Price has been instrumental in North Chicago CUSD 187's financial health score improving every year, and the district has had surplus budgets for four years in a row; he has additionally overseen the district receiving millions of dollars in direct and indirect philanthropic support from an array of community partners and philanthropic organizations; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of his tenure, Dr. Price has maintained a good working relationship with the teachers' union, operating in partnership with them to successfully negotiate two contracts; and

WHEREAS, Working with a group of dedicated volunteers, Dr. Price helped found the North Chicago Public Education Foundation (NCPEF) in 2019, a not-for-profit organization that strives to send every graduate of North Chicago Community High School (NCCHS) to college without cost; through the Warhawk Lancer Scholarship, their efforts have provided 36 NCCHS graduates in the past three years with the opportunity to study at the College of Lake County; and

WHEREAS, Thanks to Dr. Price's tremendous leadership, North Chicago CUSD 187's dual language program will be active in each grade and each school from kindergarten through 8th grade by 2027, and the district's first cohort of educational apprentices will complete their degrees and be eligible to return to the district to serve as teachers by 2026; and

WHEREAS, During the Lake County Superintendents' Association selection process for Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Price was noted for having the heart of an educator and the skill of a CEO in addition to embodying the vision, character, and skills a superintendent should aspire to possess; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Price, a California native, has lived in Chicago with his wife, Cheryl, and their two children since 2001; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Superintendent John Price, Ed.D., of North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 (North Chicago CUSD 187) on being named Lake County Superintendent of the Year by the Lake County Superintendents' Association; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we thank Dr. Price for his inspirational leadership and dedication to ensuring all students receive a great education while attending North Chicago CUSD 187 that prepares them for an even greater future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Price as an expression of our esteem and respect.