River Trails School District 26 welcomed Prospect Heights resident Kimberly Bianchini to its board of education at Tuesday night’s meeting. Bianchini was sworn in along with incumbent board members Louis Camardo, Donna Johnson and Rebecca Pfisterer. All four board members were victorious in the April election.
Bianchini and her husband Berto have two children, including one who currently attends school in the district. She brings valuable experience in education, most recently as the owner of Advance Preschool Inc. in Hoffman Estates. She filled the seat formerly held by Frank Fiarito, who was elected to the District 214 Board of Education.
“It's an honor to have the opportunity to serve our community,” Bianchini said. “I am eager to exchange ideas and collaborate with fellow board members and the district’s administrative team. I am particularly excited to bring my unique perspective and experience to the table, and to work towards fostering an inclusive, innovative, and engaging learning environment for our students.”
Camardo is a Mount Prospect resident who was selected to fill a vacancy on the board in 2021 and has two children attending schools in the district. Johnson has served on the board since 1986, with a hiatus from 1998 to 2003. Pfisterer was appointed to the board in 2022 and has two sons attending River Trails’ schools. Bianchini, Camardo and Johnson will serve four-year terms, while Pfisterer's term will last two years.
The board also recognized and thanked Fiarito for his dedication and service to the district since 2011. Fiarito, who has been an active volunteer as a lunch and playground supervisor at Prairie Trails School, also served as president for four years during his tenure on the board.
“Frank's commitment and contributions to the district have left an indelible mark on our community,” Board President William Grimpe said. “We are incredibly grateful for his leadership and unwavering dedication to the success of our students. We wish him all the best in his new role on the District 214 school board and know that he will continue to make a positive impact.”
In addition to the swearing-in ceremony, the board also re-elected Grimpe as president, Janine Freedlund as vice president and Johnson as secretary.