HR0460 LRB096 13012 GRL 27166 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate Jim Speciale on the
4 occasion of his retirement as President of the Edwardsville
5 District 7 Board of Education in April of 2009; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Jim Speciale was elected to serve on the
7 Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education in 1989, running on
8 the platform of finding solutions to the problems facing the
9 school district; as a board member, he utilized his financial
10 expertise to analyze the district's financial position,
11 working with the rest of the board to develop strategies for
12 attaining financial stability; early in his tenure, his
13 positive attitude led to his reputation as a consensus builder,
14 which led to his 16 years of service as board president; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Jim Speciale accomplished many initiatives during
16 his long and distinguished tenure; he was instrumental in the
17 construction of the "new" Edwardsville High School, which
18 opened in the fall of 1996, and Liberty Middle School, which
19 opened in the fall of 2003, as well as Goshen Elementary,
20 Albert Cassens Elementary, and Worden Elementary, which all
21 opened in the fall of 2008; he was integral in the completion
22 of over $20 million in health/life safety projects to existing
23 buildings and many improvements to athletic facilities; and
 

 

 

HR0460 - 2 - LRB096 13012 GRL 27166 r

1     WHEREAS, Under Jim Speciale's direction, the Edwardsville
2 District 7 Board of Education has also shown a long-standing
3 commitment to small class sizes, which have created
4 immeasurable good will among students, parents, and teachers;
5 in addition, the district's curriculum cycle was reinstated and
6 significant program improvements were made with his full
7 support; full-day kindergarten was established, a latch-key
8 program was developed for the district's elementary students,
9 the district moved from traditional junior high to middle
10 school, and the high school established the Writing Center, a
11 staffed resource center available to all EHS students every
12 school day; and
 
13     WHEREAS, As a CPA and successful businessman, Jim Speciale
14 lent considerable financial expertise to the Edwardsville
15 District 7 Board of Education; he helped manage district funds
16 in a fashion that reflected good stewardship towards the public
17 it serves; under his leadership, the district's debt was
18 restructured in the late 1990s and the district continues to
19 operate with a balanced budget; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Jim Speciale serves as a model of hard work,
21 integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of
22 Illinois; therefore, be it
 

 

 

HR0460 - 3 - LRB096 13012 GRL 27166 r

1     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
3 congratulate Jim Speciale on the occasion of his retirement and
4 wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it
5 further
 
6     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7 presented to Jim Speciale as a symbol of our esteem and
8 respect.