March 15, 2004

One of the key priorities of the U.S. Conference of Mayors has been mayoral leadership and involvement in education. One example of a return on mayoral investment in education is Illinois Community Consolidate School District 15 (D15). This district located in Palantine, (IL), is the only educational institution to be a recipient awarded the 2003 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and one of seven U.S. organizations to win the award in 2003. Only three other educational organizations have received this award since its inception in 1988. This is the nation's highest honor for quality and performance excellence. The program is managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Palantine Mayor Rita Mullins, Rolling Meadows Estates Mayor Ken Nelson, and Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod were on hand March 9th when the district received its Malcolm Baldrige award. All three mayors have been involved in working with the District to help make sure there was community-wide involvement. The mayors sit on a committee made up of teachers, administrators, outside groups and business to provide feedback, discuss community issues affecting the schools, and act as a sounding board for the District. The group works collaboratively to ensure that public policies and programs, school practices and stakeholder assistance are all focused on achieving the performance goals set by the system.

Early in the process the mayors realized it was very important for them to initiate policies and practices that complement the school system's new mission of providing their students with 21st century skills. These skills included accessing and understanding information and reading comprehension; promoting world class achievement; developing a connected learning community; ensuring a caring and safe learning environment; maintaining a high performance staff; and implementing an aligned and integrated management system.

One of the first actions taken by the mayors was the conversion of a furniture store into a community center in Palantine. The center includes daycare, sixteen social service agencies, English as a Second Language courses, access to computers, and other education and human services. The center provides one linkage between city's services and the education system, especially for at-risk students and their families. Also, Palantine's Parks and Recreation Department manages an after school program and its Police Department runs a summer camp for at-risk kids. Just recently, Cook County Hospital established a free clinic in Palantine in conjunction with Northwest Community Hospital to provide preventive health care for many of the city's citizen who don't have health insurance. These have been established and are coordinated with D15's new mission to help ensure the success of all students.

Mayor Mullins and her children attended and now her grandchildren attend District 15 schools. Mayor Nelson is an employee of the District.