Marion Jordan was superintendent of Palatine Township Elementary School District 15 from 1947 to 1961. The estate of his last heir has donated $69,500 to Marion Jordan Elementary School in Palatine.
Courtesy of Palatine Township Elementary School District 15
Marion Jordan Elementary School in Palatine has received a $69,500 gift from the estate of William Jordan, the last living descendant of the school’s namesake.
Marion Jordan served as Palatine Township Elementary School District 15’s second superintendent, leading the district from 1947 to 1961.
Marion Jordan Elementary School in Palatine.
Courtesy of Palatine Township Elementary School District 15
Principal Jennifer Grosch said Jordan, who died in 1988, had a “valued and impactful” tenure, during which the district’s enrollment grew tenfold.
“He was a great advocate of the learn-by-doing philosophy,” Grosch added. “He introduced instruction in foreign language and instrumental music, believing that all of the fine arts were an integral part of school curriculum.”
Because of Jordan’s support of the fine arts, $49,825 of the donation will be spent to upgrade the school’s sound system in its multipurpose room, for use during fine arts programming.
Marion Jordan Elementary School Principal Jennifer Grosch announced a $69,500 donation from William Jordan at last week’s Palatine Township Elementary School District 15 school board meeting.
Steve Zalusky/[email protected]
Donation proceeds also will be used to install a banner above the stage of the multipurpose room, at a cost of $5,000.
Also under consideration is the purchase of musical instruments for the playground, at a cost of $10,000, and a book vending machine at a cost of $6,000.
“Each of those items would be tributes to the things that Mr. Jordan held in high regard,” she said.