Mark Turk sworn in at recent meeting
During its Aug. 14 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education appointed Mark Turk to fill a seat that opened after Lisa Lullo resigned from the Board. Turk will assume that position until the next Consolidated General Election on April 2, 2019.
Turk might be new to the Board, but he’s a familiar face in District 88 as the parent of two Addison Trail alumni – his daughter Sara, who graduated in 2005; and his son, Matthew, part of the class of 2009. Turk and his wife Denise have lived in Addison for more than three decades.
“I truly enjoy working with students and have a passion for education,” he said. “As a new member of the District 88 Board of Education, my focus is to enhance the educational experience for our students, as well as parent involvement.”
Turk has served on several committees that benefit Addison Trail pupils as:
• Member of the Teacher-Parent Organization (TPO) and the Athletic, Music and Theatre booster clubs;
• Co-President of the Citizens Advisory Council (a group that discusses current issues prevalent in the high school and serves as a liaison between the community and the school board);
• District 88 steering committees for curriculum, activities and athletics;
• Co-Chair of the Building The Future Committee (a $104.7-million referendum proposal to modernize the infrastructure and learning environment of District 88, which passed in April 2007);
• Board Member of the Partnership for Inspired Education (PIE) Foundation (a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves public school students in District 88, Addison School District 4, School District 45 and Salt Creek School District 48);
• Board Member of the Addison Center for the Arts (a 501(c)(3) organization inside Addison Trail that was created to advance the arts through promoting community involvement, personal development, skill enhancement and interconnectedness);
• Appointed by the former Mayor of the Village of Addison as a member of the Addison Unity Task Force (a committee that helps celebrate and enhance the quality of life in a diverse community through workshops, seminars and activities designed to unify village residents)
“Mark will be a tremendous asset to the Board, as he can provide valuable perspectives as a District 88 parent, community member, committee leader and business owner,” said Donna Craft Cain, District 88 Board President. “His knowledge, along with his dedication and commitment to our schools, will help us accomplish our mission of working for the continuous improvement of student achievement.”
Turk is president and CEO of International Label & Printing Co., Inc. in Elk Grove Village. He also has been a production manager at Chicago Sun-Times and at Eastern Illinois University, where he also taught journalism; and, a pressman/reporter with Pana News-Palladium.
“I wanted to be on the District 88 Board because I found it to be a very dynamic strong group and I would like to contribute to their efforts,” Turk said. “In my experience as a business owner for the past 25 years, I have always had the mindset to make decisions I thought would be in the best interest of my company – not necessarily the most popular, or personally beneficial. I strongly believe the same philosophy should apply to a Board member. The best interests of the students and their families should always come first. I look forward to working together to help make a positive difference in the lives of our students.”
