HR0418 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0418 LRB095 12132 GRL 36183 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Niles Township High School District 219 in Skokie for receiving the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and National School Boards Association Award on April 17, 2007; and

WHEREAS, The Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and National School Boards Association Award is given to school districts who demonstrate support for all four artistic disciplines in their arts education program, including visual arts, music, theater and dance; the district must also make instruction and programming available for all students throughout the district; the ways in which the school district develops collaborative partnerships with the cultural resources available in the community are an important consideration as well; and

WHEREAS, Niles Township High School District 219 has proven a commitment to exceptional arts education in its community through its distinct emphasis on the arts within the curriculum, high student involvement and achievement, strong parent involvement, and quality teaching and support staff; the Niles Township Board of Education has a Fine Arts budget that is 4.53% of their annual instructional budget, higher than most Boards of Education nationwide; between 2001 and 2003 the District completed reconstruction of its arts facilities, including the construction of two state-of-the-art black box theaters, which enable the students to learn how to execute all aspects of a theatrical production; the Board strives to make all of these growing opportunities available to every student by implementing programs to assist with arts fees, instrument lending, and establishing an Alumni Giving Back program; students are also given access to professional artists in wide-ranging fields through numerous artist-in-residence programs; and

WHEREAS, The arts programs within Niles Township High School District 219 have received recognition from notable professional organizations; Niles North High School's music program has been honored three times with the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences designation as a Grammy Signature School; District 219's theater programs have been invited twice by the American High School Theatre Festival to perform at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland; drama and music students are routinely chosen to participate in their respective All-State festivals; numerous teachers have received teacher of the year honors within their disciplines; and

WHEREAS, District 219 has established a strong commitment to reach out and promote the fine and performing arts as a way to build a better, more connected community; a commitment to the arts makes Niles Township High School District 219 Board of Education a model for arts education in Illinois and throughout the country; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Niles Township High School District 219 on receiving the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and National School Boards Association Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to a representative of Niles Township High School District 219 as a symbol of our esteem and respect.