“Extremely positive and incredibly rewarding.”
This brief but powerful sentiment captures Phil Pritzker’s 36 years of dedicated service on the District 21 Board of Education.
The board meeting on April 24 became a momentous occasion, signaling the conclusion of Pritzker’s three-and-a-half-decade journey that began in the aftermath of a failed referendum in the fall of 1988.
“It got my attention because I didn’t hear about it until literally 24 hours before we were to vote on it,” Pritzker said. “I thought, ‘well, there has to be something about this as to why we didn’t get more information.’”
Fast forward a few months, and Pritzker found himself at his first board meeting as a community member. By June 1989, he had been selected to complete the term of board member Barbara Weidner, who had resigned after moving out of the district.
“I figured ‘why not interview for it,’ and ended up getting it,” he adds. “There were maybe 7-8 who interviewed, some parents who were very involved, and for whatever reason, they chose me. All I was trying to do was find out why there wasn’t better communication on a referendum request, and suddenly I had a seat at the table.”
The next election was that November, and Pritzker was one of nine candidates to run for four seats on the board. He retained the seat after an official recount, which swung more than 200 votes in his favor.
“It was quite a shock,” Pritzker told the Daily Herald in 1989. “I was prepared to concede. I was certainly pleasantly surprised.”
In the intervening 36 years, 11 of which Pritkzer has served as board president, he has witnessed a complete transformation of the district. This includes the construction of a new building for Whitman Elementary School; reclaiming London Middle School from the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization and changing it from a junior high to a middle school concept; providing 1:1 technology for students; and a successful referendum in 2018 that sought to alter, repair, renovate and equip all district buildings with enhanced security measures, air conditioning, renovated spaces to accommodate full-day kindergarten classes, and other capital improvements.
The biggest changes in his view?
The evolution of the district’s demographics and the transformation of the board’s governance structure.
“Thirty years ago, this district was the complete opposite of what it is today,” he stated. “This demographic shift has made us a more diverse district, influencing every decision we’ve made since.”
On the governance front, Pritzker highlighted the increased emphasis on board member training and a growing awareness of responsibilities. “We needed to rethink how we perceive our role in the district,” he said. “It’s been essential for us to shift our focus from administrative tasks to a stronger emphasis on governance.”
Pritzker is also particularly proud of how the district responded to and handled the COVID-19 pandemic. District administrators at the time “were ahead of the game” in monitoring the spread of the virus, and even decided to go remote a full four days before Gov. J.B. Pritzker (no relation, he often jokes) made the statewide declaration.
“Everything we had to do to prepare for the pandemic…the structures that weren’t there that we had to build,” Pritzker said, citing the introduction of remote learning and the technology and training that came with it. “We saw what was happening, and we said at the outset that we’d pay attention to the medical professionals, so that was key.”
He’s hopeful that his time on the board will be remembered as someone “who just wanted to do the best for students.”
“The emphasis needs to be on the students,” Pritzker said. “Going to where they are, each student, and working to improve their experience – their academic performance, their socialization experience – just all of it.”
That “north star” of decision-making for student success was among the many tributes to Pritzker’s legacy from Dr. Michael Connolly, superintendent of schools.
“For 36 years, Phil has faithfully and selflessly served the entire CCSD21 community,” Connolly added. “He has been an invaluable leader, thought partner, advisor and advocate, and we are a better district for his service and as a model for members of boards of education across the state.”
Pritzker is still hopeful to stay involved in the goings-on at the district, including the development of the proposed early childhood center.
“I need to take some time to determine what else I may want to try and get involved in,” Pritzker said. “I’ll still be out and about in the community and continue to be supportive. I’ll try to be of any help as I can.”
Looking back, Pritzker said he is leaving not being sad that it is over, but content and happy that it happened at all.
“It’s quite astonishing that a four-month appointment turned into 36 years,” he said.
CCSD21
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