Jean Ptacek remembers well the battles she faced during her 10 years as president of the Western Springs Elementary District 101 Board, including when the district closed two schools — Clark and Grand Avenue.
And through it all, Don Barnes, the district’s longtime superintendent, was by her side.
“He was awesome, just an outstanding superintendent,” Ptacek said.
Barnes’ 35 years of service, 20 as superintendent, were honored with by naming the district’s Administration Center at McClure Junior High for him.
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“It’s awesome to have a building in the district named after you,” Barnes said. “I thought after 20 years everyone would forget who I was.”
Forgetting Barnes is not something that will happen anytime soon for those who worked with the longtime Western Springs resident.
“I will always remember his love and dedication for the children of the district and community residents,” said Tom Dillon, who served on the School Board at the end of Barnes’ time with the district.
Barnes retired from the district in 1994 after being a teacher, principal and superintendent.
This is the second time a facility in the district has been named in Barnes’ honor. When the district’s administrative offices were on the south end of Field Park School, they were named The Donald E. Barnes Administrative Offices in 1995.
Superintendent Brian Barnhart said Barnes’ legacy of dedicated services lives on in the district.
“A big responsibility I feel, and the board feels, to carry on all these truly progressive and remarkable concepts in the district comes from Don’s time here,” Barnhart said.
Barnhart said the work done by Barnes and the school boards of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s laid the strong foundation for where the district is today.
“I remember when I interviewed here, they told me how the district positively contributes to the education of every child,” Barnhart said, adding such a mentality dates back to Barnes’ leadership.
“As a district, we take care of the education of every child,” Barnhart added. “I hope when the time comes I hand that down (to my successor).”
A dedication ceremony and reception honoring Barnes were held Jan. 10 at McClure. It brought back former colleagues and students, all paying homage to the longtime leader.
“I remember him as a very caring person,” said Peter Caris, who played on the first McClure basketball teams Barnes coached when coming to the school as a science teacher.
Barnes said he was touched that former School Board members and students returned to the school for the dedication ceremony.
Closing two of the district’s five schools due to shrinking enrollment was a move that sparked a lot of emotion, but it was a call that had to be made, Barnes said.
Ptacek remembers how the issue charged up emotions in the community.
“My husband would call me from the train station the night after a meeting and ask ‘What did you do last night?'” because he would get an earful from unhappy residents, Ptacek said.
Paul Johnson, who served on the School Board from 1987-95, said Barnes did a great job.
“Don was a terrific superintendent,” Johnson said.
A resident of Western Springs since 1977, Johnson said the quality of the schools in town have much to do with Barnes’ efforts.
“The schools succeed continuously,” Johnson said.
Ptacek said Barnes always kept a positive outlook on things.
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“One time we showed up for a board meeting and there were 20 cars in the parking lot and I had no idea why. ‘What big issue had we missed?’ Ptacek recalled. “Don said not to worry about it and to worry when there weren’t any cars in the parking lot.”