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East Maine School District 63

Empowering all students to succeed in a changing world

Board of Education

Board of Education

The mission of East Maine School District 63 is to " empower all students to succeed in a changing world." Our students depend on all of us to provide them with the opportunity to learn and grow. Our consistent focus is always on providing an equitable education for all students, as every child deserves the very best we have to offer.

District 63 is a public institution governed by a seven-member Board of Education elected by citizens residing within the District's legal boundaries. 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. It is also responsible for hiring and overseeing the District's Superintendent of Schools. Official action by the Board of Education may only occur at a duly called and legally conducted meeting at which a quorum is physically present. Board members, as individuals, have no authority over school affairs except as provided by law or as authorized by the Board. Each member of the Board of Education lives within the District and ascribes to the Illinois Association of School Boards’ Code of Conduct for Members of School Boards.

Board meetings are open to all. Members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend or watch the livestream at any time. 

Board of Education Members

Board of Education group email: Bd.of.Educ@emsd63.org

Glenview • Board member since 2007. Mr. Simmons attended Melzer, which was then Apollo Junior High. His five children attended Nelson, Washington, and Gemini. A lifelong District resident, Mr. Simmons volunteered for 18 years in the schools as a math and reading tutor before joining the Board; he has served on the District 63 Education Foundation Board since 2000. Formerly Senior Vice President at Cole Taylor Bank, Mr. Simmons attended the Herbert V. Prochnow Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His current term of office ends in April 2027.

Morton Grove • Board member since 2018. Appointed to the Board in October 2018 and then elected to a full term in 2019, Ms. Anderson has lived in the District since 2015. She currently serves as the Board's delegate to the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) and as a member of the District's Student Discipline Advisory Committee. An active volunteer at her church and a past American Youth Soccer Organization Board member, Ms. Anderson holds bachelor’s degrees in English and marriage, family, and human development from Brigham Young University. Ms. Anderson has one child at Melzer Elementary School, one child at Gemini Middle School, and another at Maine East High School. Her current term of office ends in April 2027.

Niles • Board member since 2023. A District resident since 1999, Maria Kuhlman is a D63 alumna herself, having attended what was then Gemini Junior High. She has two children attending Nelson Elementary School. Currently Vice President, Industrial Senior General Manager for Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc., she holds a B.S. from Dominican University in Dietetics & Food Science and Management. Her current term of office ends in April 2029.

Morton Grove • Board member since 2023. Jaini Mody has lived in District 63 since 2008. Her two children attend Melzer Elementary School and Gemini Middle School. A family physician, she works part-time in primary care and part-time as a hospitalist at Lutheran General Hospital. Dr. Mody earned her M.D. from Texas A&M University. Her current term of office ends in April 2029.

Morton Grove • Board member since 2025. A District resident since 2009, Rebecca Olson has a child at Washington Elementary School and another at Maine East High School. She currently serves as a Client Specialist for the federal General Services Administration (GSA), managing relations with other federal agencies. An active Washington PTO member, Olson holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her current term of office ends in April 2029.

Morton Grove • Board member since 2022. A District resident since 2014, Mr. Patel has two children - one attending the District's Melzer School. Currently Vice President of Operations for First Look Appraisals - where he formerly served as Assistant Vice President for Operations - his real estate appraisal and analysis career spans more than 12 years. Past positions also include Inventory Manager and Senior Associate for Lakeshore Management. Mr. Patel holds a BS in accounting from DePaul University. His current term of office ends in April 2027.

Park Ridge • Board member since 2025. Monica Slavin has lived in District 63 since 2000; her two children attend Gemini Middle School and Mark Twain Elementary School, where she is a member of the PTO. A Maine East High School graduate, she is a Director of Affordable Housing Compliance at the real estate firm Related Management Company, and formerly worked with the Housing Authority of Cook County. Slavin earned her BA in economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her current term of office ends in April 2029.

The logo for Community by Diligent, featuring a red circular emblem with silhouettes of buildings and a tree next to the brand name.

District 63 uses Diligent Community, a board management solution to help boards operate more efficiently. Available through Community is information about our current board of education, operating principles, special responsibilities, strategic design, and training & development. You will also find board agendas, briefs, signed minutes, public notices, and district board policies. 

All regular meetings of the Board of Education will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Educational Service Center, 10150 Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016, on the date given unless otherwise notified. Meetings will be streamed online and available to view; see below.

Meeting dates approved by the East Maine School District 63 Board of Education, May 7, 2026

  • July 9, 2026
  • August 6, 2026 - Rescheduled
  • August 13, 2026
  • September 3, 2026
  • October 1, 2026
  • November 5, 2026
  • December 3, 2026
  • January 7, 2027
  • February 4, 2027
  • March 4, 2027
  • April 1, 2027
  • May 6, 2027
  • June 3, 2027

  • The logo for Community by Diligent, featuring a red circular emblem with silhouettes of buildings and a tree next to the brand name.

    District 63 uses Diligent Community, a board management solution to help boards operate more efficiently. Available through Community is information about our current board of education, operating principles, special responsibilities, strategic design, and training & development. You will also find board agendas, briefs, signed minutes, public notices, and district board policies. 

    All regular meetings of the Board of Education will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Educational Service Center, 10150 Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016, on the date given unless otherwise notified. Meetings will be streamed online and available to view; see below.

  • Meeting dates approved by the East Maine School District 63 Board of Education, May 7, 2026

    • July 9, 2026
    • August 6, 2026 - Rescheduled
    • August 13, 2026
    • September 3, 2026
    • October 1, 2026
    • November 5, 2026
    • December 3, 2026
    • January 7, 2027
    • February 4, 2027
    • March 4, 2027
    • April 1, 2027
    • May 6, 2027
    • June 3, 2027

  • To access an archive of older live-streamed Board of Education meetings, please follow this link to the BOE YouTube Channel for access.

FOIA

East Maine School District 63 responds to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for public records in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and District Board Policy 2:250 Access to District Public Records.

The District’s public records are defined as records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information, and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in possession of, or under the control of the School District. 

Requests are handled in accordance with the timeline set forth by law. The FOIA Officer approves all requests for public records unless:

  1. The requested material does not exist.
  2. The requested material is exempt from inspection and copying by the Freedom of Information Act.
  3. Complying with the request would be unduly burdensome. 

D63 responds to requests, fulfilling or denying each within 5 business days (excluding state holidays) of receipt (commercial requests are handled within 21 business days). However, the FOIA Officer may extend the response time by five additional business days if the request meets the requirements of Section 3 of FOIA.

If an extension is needed, the FOIA Officer will:

  1. Notify the requester of the reason for the delay, and 
  2. Either inform the requester of the date on which a response will be forthcoming, or, in writing, determine a mutually agreeable date for compliance. 

When responding to a request for a record containing exempt and non-exempt material, the FOIA Officer will redact exempt material from the record before complying with the request.   PLEASE NOTE: Often, the information requested is available on our website, including budgets, union contracts, business contracts, and access to our school's State Report Cards, Board documents, and more. Feel free to explore the site first; it may save some time.

Submit a written request to the FOIA Officer at the District 63 Office, 10150 Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016, using one of the methods listed below. Verbal requests are not accepted. Call (847) 299-1900 with questions.

Written requests may be submitted by mail, personal delivery, fax, or e-mail. Although it is not required, the District does offer a FOIA Request Form for convenience. Please note that the Illinois Freedom of Information Act does not require requesters to use this form; it is provided as a convenience. However, public bodies are not required to open electronically attached files or hyperlinks to view or access details of a request.

All requests should be submitted to:  

Jacob Plecker
FOIA Officer
East Maine School District 63
10150 Dee Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
Phone: 847-299-1900
Fax: 847-299-9963  

No fees are charged for the first 50 pages of black and white, letter, or legal-sized copies. After that point, the District is permitted to charge 15¢ a page, and it may charge for reproduction costs of large or color copies. For commercial requests, it may also charge for time and labor. Regarding electronic records, the District is permitted to charge the actual cost of CDs, flash drives, etc., and for data megabytes. In certain circumstances, the requester may ask for a fee waiver if the request is “in the public interest.” See Section 6 of the Act.

East Maine is a public school district in Illinois serving 3,700 PreK-8 students in one preschool, five elementary schools, and one middle school. The District incorporates portions of Des Plaines, Glenview, Morton Grove, Niles, and Park Ridge. A seven-member Board, elected at large by District residents, sets policy and hires/supervises a paid superintendent to carry out these policies and manage day-to-day operations.

District Offices, Schools and Facilities
Dr. Donald C. Stetina Educational Service Center, 10150 Dee Road, Des Plaines, 60016 • Apollo Elementary School, 10100 Dee Road, Des Plaines, 60016 • First Steps Early Learning Center, 10000 Dee Road, Des Plaines, 60016 • Gemini Junior High, 8955 Greenwood Avenue, Niles, 60714 • Mark Twain Elementary School, 9401 Hamlin, Niles, 60714 • Melzer Elementary School, 9400 Oriole, Morton Grove, 60053 • Nelson Elementary School, 8901 Ozanam Avenue, Niles, 60714 • Washington Elementary School, 2710 Golf Road, Glenview, 60025 • Family Resource Center, 9000 Capital Drive, Des Plaines, 60016

District Employees (as of 2025)
The District has 540 full-time equivalent employees; five part-time employees.

Total Operating Budget (Fiscal Year 2025-2026)
The District’s total operating budget is $67 million.

  • Agreements, contracts, and leases
  • Appraisal reports
  • Bid tabulations
  • Board of Education meeting materials:
    • Notice of Board meetings
    • Agendas
    • Minutes
    • Documentation considered at each Board meeting
  • Building improvements and projects
  • Correspondence (non-exempt)
  • Curriculum guides and educational materials
  • Election records
  • Employment contracts:
    • EMCMA, EMEA, EMESPA, and EMTAA Union contracts
    • Administrative contracts
  • Federal and state grants
  • Financial records
    • Annual budgets
    • Annual financial reports
    • Accounts payable and purchasing records
    • Bond records
    • Insurance records
    • Payroll records
  • Health and Safety records
    • Asbestos Hazard Emergency Notification Act (AHERA) records
    • Water testing results
  • Institutional publications, including newsletters, brochures, and other general printed materials
  • Inventory reports

Functional Subdivisions

  • The District’s public records are defined as records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information, and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in possession of, or under the control of the School District. 

  • Requests are handled in accordance with the timeline set forth by law. The FOIA Officer approves all requests for public records unless:

    1. The requested material does not exist.
    2. The requested material is exempt from inspection and copying by the Freedom of Information Act.
    3. Complying with the request would be unduly burdensome. 

    D63 responds to requests, fulfilling or denying each within 5 business days (excluding state holidays) of receipt (commercial requests are handled within 21 business days). However, the FOIA Officer may extend the response time by five additional business days if the request meets the requirements of Section 3 of FOIA.

    If an extension is needed, the FOIA Officer will:

    1. Notify the requester of the reason for the delay, and 
    2. Either inform the requester of the date on which a response will be forthcoming, or, in writing, determine a mutually agreeable date for compliance. 

    When responding to a request for a record containing exempt and non-exempt material, the FOIA Officer will redact exempt material from the record before complying with the request.   PLEASE NOTE: Often, the information requested is available on our website, including budgets, union contracts, business contracts, and access to our school's State Report Cards, Board documents, and more. Feel free to explore the site first; it may save some time.

  • Submit a written request to the FOIA Officer at the District 63 Office, 10150 Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016, using one of the methods listed below. Verbal requests are not accepted. Call (847) 299-1900 with questions.

    Written requests may be submitted by mail, personal delivery, fax, or e-mail. Although it is not required, the District does offer a FOIA Request Form for convenience. Please note that the Illinois Freedom of Information Act does not require requesters to use this form; it is provided as a convenience. However, public bodies are not required to open electronically attached files or hyperlinks to view or access details of a request.

    All requests should be submitted to:  

    Jacob Plecker
    FOIA Officer
    East Maine School District 63
    10150 Dee Road
    Des Plaines, IL 60016
    Phone: 847-299-1900
    Fax: 847-299-9963  

  • No fees are charged for the first 50 pages of black and white, letter, or legal-sized copies. After that point, the District is permitted to charge 15¢ a page, and it may charge for reproduction costs of large or color copies. For commercial requests, it may also charge for time and labor. Regarding electronic records, the District is permitted to charge the actual cost of CDs, flash drives, etc., and for data megabytes. In certain circumstances, the requester may ask for a fee waiver if the request is “in the public interest.” See Section 6 of the Act.

  • East Maine is a public school district in Illinois serving 3,700 PreK-8 students in one preschool, five elementary schools, and one middle school. The District incorporates portions of Des Plaines, Glenview, Morton Grove, Niles, and Park Ridge. A seven-member Board, elected at large by District residents, sets policy and hires/supervises a paid superintendent to carry out these policies and manage day-to-day operations.

    District Offices, Schools and Facilities
    Dr. Donald C. Stetina Educational Service Center, 10150 Dee Road, Des Plaines, 60016 • Apollo Elementary School, 10100 Dee Road, Des Plaines, 60016 • First Steps Early Learning Center, 10000 Dee Road, Des Plaines, 60016 • Gemini Junior High, 8955 Greenwood Avenue, Niles, 60714 • Mark Twain Elementary School, 9401 Hamlin, Niles, 60714 • Melzer Elementary School, 9400 Oriole, Morton Grove, 60053 • Nelson Elementary School, 8901 Ozanam Avenue, Niles, 60714 • Washington Elementary School, 2710 Golf Road, Glenview, 60025 • Family Resource Center, 9000 Capital Drive, Des Plaines, 60016

    District Employees (as of 2025)
    The District has 540 full-time equivalent employees; five part-time employees.

    Total Operating Budget (Fiscal Year 2025-2026)
    The District’s total operating budget is $67 million.

    • Agreements, contracts, and leases
    • Appraisal reports
    • Bid tabulations
    • Board of Education meeting materials:
      • Notice of Board meetings
      • Agendas
      • Minutes
      • Documentation considered at each Board meeting
    • Building improvements and projects
    • Correspondence (non-exempt)
    • Curriculum guides and educational materials
    • Election records
    • Employment contracts:
      • EMCMA, EMEA, EMESPA, and EMTAA Union contracts
      • Administrative contracts
    • Federal and state grants
    • Financial records
      • Annual budgets
      • Annual financial reports
      • Accounts payable and purchasing records
      • Bond records
      • Insurance records
      • Payroll records
    • Health and Safety records
      • Asbestos Hazard Emergency Notification Act (AHERA) records
      • Water testing results
    • Institutional publications, including newsletters, brochures, and other general printed materials
    • Inventory reports

  • Functional Subdivisions