HR0691 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0691 LRB094 12684 HSS 47528 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Ken Wisniewski on the occasion of his retirement after 26 years at Kirk School and 34 years in education; and

WHEREAS, After serving as assistant principal for one year, Mr. Wisniewski completed his 25th year as principal on June 30, 2005; and

WHEREAS, He began his tenure at Kirk School in 1979 after eight years as a special education teacher at Wheeling High School, where he met his wife, Nancy; and

WHEREAS, Kirk School is part of the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization and serves students with moderate to profound mental impairments; many students also have significant physical impairments; students are referred from eight school districts; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wisniewski's career has been driven by the desire to provide an education to even the most fragile of students; he helped to incorporate three significant policies into Kirk's functional curriculum over his 25-year tenure, including integrated therapy, a community-based training program, and transitional services long before they were federally mandated; and

WHEREAS, He has worked to increase the technology capabilities of the school, and today there are approximately 75 computers in the building and a wide range of equipment, including scooters and communication devices; and

WHEREAS, In addition to improving the curriculum, for the last several years, Mr. Wisniewski has worked with the parents club, the Alpha Gamma Delta Alumni Sorority, the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization, alumni, and local businesses to raise money for a handicapped accessible playground, which will not only provide recreation for Kirk students but will also include educational opportunities; construction began the week following his retirement; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Ken Wisniewski on the occasion of his retirement after 26 years at Kirk School and 34 years in education, and we offer our hearty thanks for his devotion to the education of children for so many years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to him as an expression of our respect and esteem and with best wishes for a relaxing retirement.