Pleasantdale Board Leader Retiring

Pleasantdale School District 107 announced today that Board President Kristin Violante will be retiring at the end of this year as a new board will be slated for next school year.

Violante has served on the board for eight years, beginning as Vice President in 2017 where she then transitioned to the role of Board President in June of 2020. Moving into this role at the height of the pandemic, Violante helped steward the district during a turbulent time.

“District 107 has been very fortunate to have Kristin serve on our board these past few years. Kristin has consistently been a voice and an advocate for students’ education as well as a leader in ensuring our school district is consistently providing the best experience,” said Dave Palzet, Superintendent of Pleasantdale School District 107. “Our school district has seen rapid change and growth under her leadership, especially over the past year, and we extend our best wishes to her and her family in the future.”

During her tenure, Violante:

• In the spring of 2014, the Board, with the assistance of the special education co-op, implemented a review of current response to intervention practices, from this review a more comprehensive and student-focused intervention program was implemented.
• Updating the new Common Core Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This process ensured that the district met the rigorous standards set forth by the state and federal government.
• Implemented a survey process with School Perceptions that obtained information from students, staff, family, and community members. This survey allowed the district to collect information from all stakeholders and was used in directing the mission of the district.
• Implemented a tax abatement program that effectively lowered the property tax rate for district residents. This process saved district taxpayers significantly over the course of 10-years.
• Worked with fellow Board members to do a safety audit for the district. This audit resulted in a community-based committee that developed a three-year safety and security plan for our district.
• Worked with the administration to completely refresh the internet and server infrastructure to ensure all students and teachers were able to use digital resources seamlessly.
• Helped implement a 1 to 1 computing program in the district. The 1:1 program in Pleasantdale ensures all students in grades K-8 have an iPad and the learning apps to help guide their learning.

To learn more about the current board of education members, visit https://www.d107.org/board-home.

About Pleasantdale District 107 Board of Education

The goal of the governance team (Board of Education and Superintendent) is to ensure that the district is focused on enhancing the lives of the students and families of Pleasantdale SD 107. The school Board is comprised of seven community volunteers. The Pleasantdale Board seeks to provide the best school experience while keeping taxpayer costs low.