District 57 losing school board member
Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 will be looking for a new school board member. Brian McPartlin announced this week that he is stepping down Sept. 30.
"This decision is a very difficult one for me, because I have valued my time on the board of education and being a part of the educational community of Mount Prospect," said McPartlin, who was elected in 2005.
Increased responsibilities and demands on his time contributed to his decision.
"There just doesn't seem to be enough time in a day to accomplish all that one would like to," he said.
In December, the board of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority elected him the agency's executive director.
And on Sept. 4, he was chosen to replace Joan Brennan as Elk Grove Township Democratic committeeman.
He has more than 20 years of experience in federal, state and county government.
On the national level, he served as the U.S. Secretary of Education's regional representative in Chicago. He has also served as senior adviser to the regional administrator of the General Services Administration and in the executive office of the president of the United States as associate director of presidential advance. In the latter job, he was involved in travel arrangements for the president, vice president and first lady.
On the county level, McPartlin was a deputy Cook County assessor. And on the state level, he served in the Illinois secretary of state's office and was personal assistant to the Illinois attorney general.
School board President Sue Ramstedt praised his enthusiasm and passion for the district. "This is a man who is into community service. He always adds something to whichever group he is helping," she said.
McPartlin said, "I feel that being a catalyst for change on the board over the past 2½ years has led to many accomplishments by the board that I am extremely proud to have been a part of."
Ramstedt said the board will elect McPartlin's replacement. Candidates will need to fill out an application form. Ramstedt said she hopes the board will have a replacement within a month.