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East Maine School District 63

Empowering all students to succeed in a changing world

Board of Education

East Maine 63 School Board

Our school board is dedicated to fostering an environment where every student can achieve academic excellence and personal growth in a safe and supportive setting.

As elected representatives of our community, we are committed to making informed decisions that shape the future of our schools. Our responsibilities include:

  • Policy Development: Crafting and implementing policies that promote high educational standards and equity.
  • Budget Oversight: Ensuring that financial resources are allocated efficiently and effectively to support student learning and well-being.
  • Superintendent Supervision: Collaborating with and providing oversight for the Superintendent to ensure the district's strategic goals are met.
  • Curriculum and Instruction: Evaluating and approving curricula that meet the diverse needs of our students and prepare them for future success.
  • Facilities Management: Overseeing the maintenance and improvement of school facilities to provide a safe and conducive learning environment.
  • Community Engagement: Encouraging active participation from parents, students, teachers, and community members to foster a collaborative educational community.

Our mission is to support every student in reaching their full potential by prioritizing safety, equity, and excellence in all our decisions. We invite you to explore our initiatives, participate in our meetings, and join us in our dedication to student success and safety.

The mission of East Maine School District 63 is to " empower all students to succeed in a changing world." Our students depend on all of us to provide them with the opportunity to learn and grow. Our consistent focus is always on providing an equitable education for all students, as every child deserves the very best we have to offer.

District 63 is a public institution governed by a seven-member Board of Education elected by citizens residing within the District's legal boundaries. The Board’s powers and duties include the authority to adopt, enforce, and monitor all policies for the management and governance of the District’s schools. It is also responsible for hiring and overseeing the District's Superintendent of Schools. Official action by the Board of Education may only occur at a duly called and legally conducted meeting at which a quorum is physically present. Board members, as individuals, have no authority over school affairs except as provided by law or as authorized by the Board. Each member of the Board of Education lives within the District and ascribes to the Illinois Association of School Boards’ Code of Conduct for Members of School Boards.

Board meetings are open to all. Members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend or watch the livestream at any time. 

Agendas

Topics and items to be discussed and acted upon during a school board meeting.

Go to School Board Agendas

Minutes

The official written record of the proceedings and decisions made during a school board meeting.

Go to School Board Minutes

Policies

The School Board governs using written policies, which ensure legal compliance and establish Board processes.

Go to Policies

Participate

All are welcome to attend school board meetings either virtually or in person.

In Person: All regular meetings of the Board of Education will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Educational Service Center, 10150 Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016, on the date given unless otherwise notified.

Live Stream: All board meetings are available via livestream. 

 

Join via Livestream (Coming Soon)

Meeting Schedule
Approved by the East Maine School District 63 Board of Education, May 7, 2026

  • July 9, 2026
  • August 6, 2026 - Rescheduled
  • August 13, 2026
  • September 3, 2026
  • October 1, 2026
  • November 5, 2026
  • December 3, 2026
  • January 7, 2027
  • February 4, 2027
  • March 4, 2027
  • April 1, 2027
  • May 6, 2027
  • June 3, 2027

Board of Education Members

Board of Education group email: Bd.of.Educ@emsd63.org

Glenview • Board member since 2007. Mr. Simmons attended Melzer, which was then Apollo Junior High. His five children attended Nelson, Washington, and Gemini. A lifelong District resident, Mr. Simmons volunteered for 18 years in the schools as a math and reading tutor before joining the Board; he has served on the District 63 Education Foundation Board since 2000. Formerly Senior Vice President at Cole Taylor Bank, Mr. Simmons attended the Herbert V. Prochnow Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His current term of office ends in April 2027.

Morton Grove • Board member since 2018. Appointed to the Board in October 2018 and then elected to a full term in 2019, Ms. Anderson has lived in the District since 2015. She currently serves as the Board's delegate to the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) and as a member of the District's Student Discipline Advisory Committee. An active volunteer at her church and a past American Youth Soccer Organization Board member, Ms. Anderson holds bachelor’s degrees in English and marriage, family, and human development from Brigham Young University. Ms. Anderson has one child at Melzer Elementary School, one child at Gemini Middle School, and another at Maine East High School. Her current term of office ends in April 2027.

Niles • Board member since 2023. A District resident since 1999, Maria Kuhlman is a D63 alumna herself, having attended what was then Gemini Junior High. She has two children attending Nelson Elementary School. Currently Vice President, Industrial Senior General Manager for Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc., she holds a B.S. from Dominican University in Dietetics & Food Science and Management. Her current term of office ends in April 2029.

Morton Grove • Board member since 2023. Jaini Mody has lived in District 63 since 2008. Her two children attend Melzer Elementary School and Gemini Middle School. A family physician, she works part-time in primary care and part-time as a hospitalist at Lutheran General Hospital. Dr. Mody earned her M.D. from Texas A&M University. Her current term of office ends in April 2029.

Morton Grove • Board member since 2025. A District resident since 2009, Rebecca Olson has a child at Washington Elementary School and another at Maine East High School. She currently serves as a Client Specialist for the federal General Services Administration (GSA), managing relations with other federal agencies. An active Washington PTO member, Olson holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her current term of office ends in April 2029.

Morton Grove • Board member since 2022. A District resident since 2014, Mr. Patel has two children - one attending the District's Melzer School. Currently Vice President of Operations for First Look Appraisals - where he formerly served as Assistant Vice President for Operations - his real estate appraisal and analysis career spans more than 12 years. Past positions also include Inventory Manager and Senior Associate for Lakeshore Management. Mr. Patel holds a BS in accounting from DePaul University. His current term of office ends in April 2027.

Park Ridge • Board member since 2025. Monica Slavin has lived in District 63 since 2000; her two children attend Gemini Middle School and Mark Twain Elementary School, where she is a member of the PTO. A Maine East High School graduate, she is a Director of Affordable Housing Compliance at the real estate firm Related Management Company, and formerly worked with the Housing Authority of Cook County. Slavin earned her BA in economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her current term of office ends in April 2029.