District 15 Earns 2003 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award

President George W. Bush and Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans announced the seven organizations as recipients of the 2003 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest honor for quality and performance excellence. Community Consolidated School District 15 was the lone recipient in the education category.

“They represent America’s best and are setting a high standard for corporate and social responsibility. Their dynamic, principled leadership has built our economy into the world’s largest engine of progress and prosperity,” said Secretary Evans.

District 15 was evaluated rigorously by an independent board of examiners in seven areas: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management, and results. The evaluation process included hours of review and an on-site visit by a team of examiners to clarify questions and verify information in the applications.

History of the Baldrige Award

Named after the 26th Secretary of Commerce, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award was established by Congress in 1987 to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses. The award promotes excellence in organizational performance, recognizes the quality and performance achievements of U.S. organizations, and publicizes successful performance strategies. The award may be presented to five types of organizations: manufacturers, service companies, small businesses, education organizations, and health care organizations. The award is not given for specific products or services.

The Baldrige program is managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in conjunction with the private sector. As a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce Technology Administration, NIST develops and promotes measurement, standards and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade and improve the quality of life.

Accepting the Award

President George W. Bush presented the 2003 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s top award for quality and performance excellence, to Community Consolidated School District 15 and other award winners at a ceremony on March 9, 2004, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va. District 15 became only the third school district in the nation to receive the nation's highest honor for quality and performance excellence.

Commerce Secretary Donald Evans (pictured left to right) and other federal officials were on hand for the presentation. Louis A. Sands, president of the District 15 Board of Education, and Dr. Robert A. McKanna, superintendent, officially accepted the award from President Bush. A group of 50 district representatives, including members of the Board of Education, principals, teachers, staff members, representatives of the communities served by District 15, and one student from each of the district's four junior high schools, were in the audience during the ceremony. Funding for the trip came from a grant from the Malcolm Baldrige organization.

All questions, requests, etc., can be made through:

Community Consolidated School District 15
580 North 1st Bank Drive
Palatine, IL 60067-8110
Phone: (847) 963-3000
Fax: (847) 963-3200