Joseph Kiszka remembered for 54-year education career in District 15

The namesake of Palatine Township Elementary District 15's administration building has died.

Joseph Kiszka was a former acting superintendent, who also served as a teacher, principal, district historian and demographer during a career that spanned more than 50 years. The district's headquarters was named for him in 1993.

He died March 6 in Onalaska, Wisconsin, where he moved to be closer to his daughter and her family. The former longtime Palatine resident was 91.

"It is hard to overstate the impact Mr. Kiszka had during his 54 years of service to the children and community of District 15," Superintendent Scott Thompson said. "Joe served the district admirably, and had a big impact on the education of thousands of students."

Kiszka joined District 15 in 1951, teaching fifth grade at Oak Street School and junior high science and math. He would go on to serve as the first principal of Kimball Hill, Jonas Salk and Carl Sandburg schools.

In 1964, he was appointed administrative assistant to the superintendent and later became deputy superintendent and associate superintendent.

Beginning in the mid-1980s, he served as demographic liaison to the superintendent, often calling hospitals to calculate births to plan for future enrollment, a position he continued to work part time for many years.

"His projections were always very accurate," Thompson added. "These numbers helped to ensure the board and administration had adequately planned for staffing and space needs."

Kiszka also spearheaded a group that began pulling together old photos, reminiscences from various individuals who were involved with District 15, and other historical information.

The result was a 100-page booklet documenting the district's transformation from several separate schools serving a largely rural area, into a large suburban district - now the second largest elementary district in the state - serving parts of Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights, Inverness, Schaumburg, and South Barrington.

Kiszka called the book, "Generations of Excellence: A History of Community Consolidated School District 15 (1946-2003)." He was honored by the District 15 school board in 2004 for his efforts.

Last year, Kiszka reminded Thompson of the district's 70th anniversary and provided him with an updated copy of the book. Thompson presented the anniversary edition to District 15 board members at their April 2016 meeting.

"There is a good feeling about the next 70 years," Thompson told the board, "for the district serving our community's children."

Services are pending.