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92_HR0271
LRB9208786RHrh
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to recognize milestone events in
4 the lives of the citizens of the State of Illinois; and
5 WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Dr. Karl Plank
6 is retiring from his duties as Superintendent of Oswego
7 School District #308 at the end of the 2001 school year; and
8 WHEREAS, Dr. Plank is currently in his eighth year as
9 the Superintendent of Oswego School District #308; District
10 #308 is one of the fastest growing unit school districts in
11 the State of Illinois; and
12 WHEREAS, Dr. Plank was born and raised in Industry,
13 Illinois to Glen and Helen Plank; he graduated in a class of
14 twenty-five students in 1956 from Industry High School; he
15 graduated from Western Illinois University in 1960 with a
16 bachelor's degree in Education and received his master's
17 degree in Educational Administration at Northern Illinois
18 University; and
19 WHEREAS, Dr. Plank is a veteran of the United States
20 Army; and
21 WHEREAS, Dr. Plank began working at the Hawthorne Plant,
22 site of Hawthorne Studies, as a Wage Incentive Engineer; in
23 1962 he began his teaching career as a sixth grade teacher in
24 Roselle School District #12, and by 1964 he was employed in
25 Schaumburg School District #54 as a sixth grade classroom
26 teacher; after completing his studies for a master's degree,
27 he served as principal of three elementary schools, Dr.
28 Thomas Dooley School in 1965, Nathan Hale School in 1969, and
29 Everett Darkness School in 1971; and
30 WHEREAS, Dr. Plank was asked to serve as Assistant
31 Superintendent for Personnel and Transportation in 1969,
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1 where he was given the opportunity to open three new schools
2 and hire 172 new teachers in fiscal year 1970; and
3 WHEREAS, After completing his doctorate studies at
4 Indiana University in 1971, Dr. Plank began to serve as
5 school superintendent in four Illinois communities, Erie
6 School District #1 from 1972 through 1976, Keeneyville School
7 District #20 from 1976 through 1984, Blue Island School
8 District #130 from 1984 through 1993, and Oswego School
9 District #308 from 1993 through 2001; and
10 WHEREAS, Under his leadership, Dr. Plank was able to
11 institute increased graduation requirements, expanded
12 Advanced Placement classes, classroom Internet access, new
13 curriculums, including new reading and writing programs, and
14 a new teaching contract, successfully helped the district get
15 off the "Watch List", and adopted the University of Chicago
16 School Mathematics Program; in addition he successfully
17 presented school referenda in four communities to build
18 additions and new school facilities and was successful in
19 personnel management, legislative activities, and curriculum
20 development with an emphasis on school improvement activities
21 that resulted in greater student achievement and public
22 relations; and
23 WHEREAS, Dr. Plank has demonstrated his dedication to his
24 students and staff while serving on numerous statewide
25 committees, including ED-RED's Executive Board and the State
26 Board of Education's Advisory Committee on School Building
27 Safety; and
28 WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. Plank has provided strong
29 insightful leadership in numerous regional and local
30 organizations, including President of the Superintendent's
31 Round Table, a member of the Board of Directors of the
32 Illinois Association of School Administrators, President of
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1 the School Association for Special Education in DuPage,
2 President of the Bi-County Special Education Cooperative, a
3 member of the South Cook Organization for Public Education
4 Executive Board, an ED-RED Lake Park Representative,
5 President and a member of the Board of Directors, Kendall
6 County Special Education Cooperative, Committee Chairperson
7 in the Large Unit District Association, Treasurer and Vice
8 Chairman of the Blue Island Citizens for Persons with
9 Developmental Disabilities, Inc., the President of Kiwanis
10 Club in Blue Island and Keeneyville, Vice President of the
11 Oswego Economic Development Corporation, and a member of
12 VALEES Board of Directors, the Oswego Foundation for
13 Educational Excellence, the Oswego School Business
14 Partnership Committee, the Oswego Optimist Club, the Oswego
15 Chamber of Commerce, and Phi Delta Kappa; and
16 WHEREAS, For thirty-eight years, Dr. Plank has served as
17 an exemplary educator; he has left a positive mark on
18 Illinois communities by enhancing the educational program of
19 School District #308 for the benefit of the people and
20 children of School District #308; he is recognized as an
21 exceptional leader among outstanding Illinois leaders,
22 including superintendents, business leaders, political
23 leaders, administrative colleagues, community leaders,
24 teachers, and students; and
25 WHEREAS, Oswego School District #308 is hosting a
26 retirement party in recognition of Dr. Plank's career as a
27 dedicated educator; therefore, be it
28 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
29 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
30 we congratulate Dr. Karl Plank on his retirement from his
31 duties as Superintendent of Oswego School District #308 and
32 we wish him well in all of his future endeavors; and be it
33 further
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1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to Dr. Karl Plank as an expression of our esteem.