Schools

Maine D207 Official Appointed To Illinois Association Of School Boards

It will give Maine Township High School District 207 a voice in key school matters at the state level.



Veteran Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education member Eric Leys has been appointed to the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Board of Directors representing the North Cook Division.

Leys, the first District 207 Board member to serve in this capacity, will serve the remainder of Phil Pritzker’s term, through the autumn of 2015.  Leys has long been involved in IASB activities, most recently serving as North Cook Division Chair. 

District 207 Board President Margaret McGrath and Superintendent Dr. Ken Wallace lauded the appointment and the work Leys has done in earning the appointment. 

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McGrath said: "On behalf of the District 207 Board of Education, we are very pleased to see Eric Leys's appointment to the IASB Board of Directors."

Dr. Wallace added: "Eric has been a leader with IASB at the local level for a number of years, which has given District a strong voice in the North Cook Division. Eric's appointment at the state level will provide District 207 with a state-level voice in key school advocacy issues." 

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In his work for District 207, Leys, of Des Plaines, has served at various times as Board President and as Chair of the Finance and Policy Committees.  His Policy Committee chairmanship came as the Board conducted an overhaul of the District’s entire policy manual.  Leys also has headed up special projects for District 207’s Board, including a Superintendent search, Strategic Planning and as a member of the collective bargaining team representing Board and Administration.  In 2005, Leys chaired the Joint Review Board of all taxing bodies that were considering the City of Des Plaines’ request to establish a new Tax Increment Financing District. 

Leys has attended every IASB Delegate Assembly during the past decade. During his four years as Chair of the North Cook Division, he has played a key role in organizing meetings and recruiting members for the Executive Committee as vacancies have occurred.  Closely attuned to legislative matters affecting public schools, Leys also served for nine years on the Executive Board of ED-RED, which represents the legislative interests of approximately 100 suburban school districts before the General Assembly in Springfield. 

"With advocacy on behalf of school districts being a key pillar of IASB’s efforts, I believe I am well positioned to bring a fresh perspective to the IASB Board of Directors in this area," Leys said. 

Leys was first elected to the District 207 Board in 2001 at age 21.  He was re-elected in 2005, 2009 and 2013.


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