HR0460 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0460 LRB096 13012 GRL 27166 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Jim Speciale on the occasion of his retirement as President of the Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education in April of 2009; and

WHEREAS, Jim Speciale was elected to serve on the Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education in 1989, running on the platform of finding solutions to the problems facing the school district; as a board member, he utilized his financial expertise to analyze the district's financial position, working with the rest of the board to develop strategies for attaining financial stability; early in his tenure, his positive attitude led to his reputation as a consensus builder, which led to his 16 years of service as board president; and

WHEREAS, Jim Speciale accomplished many initiatives during his long and distinguished tenure; he was instrumental in the construction of the "new" Edwardsville High School, which opened in the fall of 1996, and Liberty Middle School, which opened in the fall of 2003, as well as Goshen Elementary, Albert Cassens Elementary, and Worden Elementary, which all opened in the fall of 2008; he was integral in the completion of over $20 million in health/life safety projects to existing buildings and many improvements to athletic facilities; and

WHEREAS, Under Jim Speciale's direction, the Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education has also shown a long-standing commitment to small class sizes, which have created immeasurable good will among students, parents, and teachers; in addition, the district's curriculum cycle was reinstated and significant program improvements were made with his full support; full-day kindergarten was established, a latch-key program was developed for the district's elementary students, the district moved from traditional junior high to middle school, and the high school established the Writing Center, a staffed resource center available to all EHS students every school day; and

WHEREAS, As a CPA and successful businessman, Jim Speciale lent considerable financial expertise to the Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education; he helped manage district funds in a fashion that reflected good stewardship towards the public it serves; under his leadership, the district's debt was restructured in the late 1990s and the district continues to operate with a balanced budget; and

WHEREAS, Jim Speciale serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Jim Speciale on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jim Speciale as a symbol of our esteem and respect.