Former member returning to Park Ridge-Niles District 64 school board
Former Park Ridge-Niles District 64 school board member Larry Ryles has been chosen to fill a vacancy on the panel.
"My heart is still with this district," Ryles told the board during his public interview Monday night. "I love the children in this district."
A Park Ridge resident, Ryles was elected to the school board in 2017 and served until 2021. He didn't seek reelection that year.
Most recently, he's been a member of Park Ridge's planning and zoning commission. He'll resign that post now.
A U.S. Army veteran who also worked as an insurance salesman, Ryles unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Park Ridge in 2013.
He will replace Rebecca Little on the District 64 board. She resigned last month after nearly three years on the board.
Ryles was selected for the District 64 seat following public interviews held during a special board meeting at Lincoln Middle School in Park Ridge.
Ryles said he believes he can bring some stability to the board, which has been divided recently on issues including COVID-19 mitigation efforts and the plan to launch all-day kindergarten classes this fall.
Board President Denise Pearl said Ryles officially will rejoin the board at its next meeting on March 17.