Community throws party for Dist. 300 boss
There are a few things Community Unit Community Unit District 300 Superintendent Ken Arndt says he won't be doing when he retires next July.
For one, Arndt says he's not moving to another state to become a superintendent. He's also not retiring to Florida. In fact, he says he plans to stay put in the area.
Arndt is also not running for mayor of Chicago.
“I will still be active in the community; I'm not going away, Arndt told about 100 school and civic leaders at a Boy Scout lunch Friday honoring him as a community leader. “I want to help the community.
The Boy Scouts selected Arndt as the inaugural recipient of the Community Leadership Celebration, an event to honor a local person for providing positive leadership examples to youth in the community.
Money raised from ticket sales to the lunch will benefit the Boy Scouts' Three Fires Council and will also establish a scholarship fund for a local student.
Jose Torres, superintendent of Elgin Area School District U-46, served as master of ceremonies. He recalled how Arndt was one of the first to welcome him when Torres was selected to lead U-46 in 2008. The pair often met at Alexander's restaurant in Elgin for breakfast.
“For someone in his position to reach out ... it speaks of his heart and his character, said Torres, who asked Arndt if he was considering a run as mayor of Chicago.
During his 10-year tenure, Arndt established the District 300 Foundation for Education Excellence a not-for-profit organization that enhances learning through classroom grants. He also spearheaded the passage of three referendums that resulted in the elimination of a $29 million deficit and led to the construction of eight new schools and several expansion projects.
Arndt attributed his successes to the contributions of the community. He said if he needed help or support, he would simply pick up the phone and make a call.
“The achievements are because of the people in this room and the hundreds of thousands of people in the community, Arndt said.