Former Park Ridge-Niles District 64 superintendent takes new position in District 47

The ex-superintendent of Park Ridge-Niles Community Consolidated School District 64 is starting a new job in Crystal Lake as an Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Operations at Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47.

Eric Olson served as the superintendent for District 64 from 2019 to July 2023. In his time with District 64, he oversaw significant construction projects and the implementation of full-day kindergarten at district elementary schools.

His term also coincided with the pandemic and intense conflict among community members over how schools approached virus mitigations as well as issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.

He announced he would resign in January 2023, citing “irreconcilable differences” between himself and the Board of Education.

In a June 21 email to recently seated District 64 board members Monica Milligan, Matthew Doubleday and Rachel Georgakis obtained in a Freedom of Information request, Olson thanked the trio for their support.

“It has been a long, long journey to get to this point and I’ve been very appreciative of your kindness and support. I find it very unfortunate that we never had a chance to work together and I wish you and District 64 much success in the future,” he said.

Minutes from the June 20 meeting of the District 47 Board of Education show that the board approved Olson to begin in his new role July 1.

Olson said in an email to Pioneer Press that he was happy in his new position.