Following interviews with seven residents that submitted applications, the Board of Education voted on Tuesday, Aug. 10 during a special meeting to appoint two District 207 residents to fill two vacant positions on the Board of Education.
Edward Eicker from Des Plaines and Dean J. Patras from Park Ridge were unanimously approved by the Board to fill the vacant positions following the resignations of Paula Besler and Ashley Kilburg since both have moved out of the school district.
Eicker currently serves on the Maine Township Ethics Commission, is a volunteer with the Maine West Band and was previously involved with Des Plaines Youth Baseball. He has been the Director of Music at St. Paul of the Cross Church in Park Ridge for the past 13 years, and has experience as a teacher. He graduated from Roosevelt University with a bachelor’s degree with honors in Music Education/Organ Performance and earned a master’s degree with honors from Roosevelt University in Music Composition.
Patras is a member of the Maine Township High Schools Foundation Board of Trustees, a member of the District 207 Community Advisory Council, was a member of the Community Task Force for the 2018 bond referendum, was Campaign Chairperson for the Citizens for Maine 207 Bond Referendum, was on the Park Ridge Park District’s Citizen Task Force, is a board member of the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce, is a board member for the Taste of Park Ridge and is Board Chairman for the DePaul University Master of Science in Human Resources Advisory Council. Patras is the Vice President and Human Resources Business Partner for Global Commercial Operations for Horizon Therapeutics.
“We were impressed by all the candidates who applied for the open positions,” says Board President Carla Owen. “Edward and Dean stood out in particular because of their community and career experiences and their knowledge of District programs and goals. We think each in their own way will enrich the Board, and we look forward to serving the community alongside them.”
The two new Board members will be sworn in during the special meeting of the Board at 5 p.m., on Monday, August 15 at the District Offices, 1177 S. Dee Road, Park Ridge.