Deanes packs galleries against Tribune criticism while LSC problems grow

By Lotty Blumenthal

Before the public participation began at the February 25 meeting, The Chicago Board of Education paid tribute to those leaving either through retirement or job change. It took one half hour to praise or enumerate the accomplishments of Tim Martin, Marilyn Johnson, and Velma Thomas (who initiated and saw the growth of pre-school). Though retired, Thomas plans to still work with this program. Hopefully, it will be as a volunteer and not as a consultant. Velma said, “This was indeed a surprise.”

Barbara Eason-Watson said she knew of Velma’s dedication from working with her for 30 years.

Many of us know of the deeds done by Marilyn Johnson, who now works for Illinois at the Tollway Authority. There was a brief rumor that Mayor Daley was holding Martin’s confirmation with the State hostage until Governor Blagojevich does something or other he wants, but Martin is now in Springfield.

A new “volunteer” — former Board of Trade head (and millionaire) David J. Vitale (another “Business Leader” with no educational background) — will help find replacements for the five or six departments now being adequately operated by seemingly able “interims”. Board President Michael Scott wished those leaving well.

There was no coherent explanation about why the Board was meeting on Election Day, instead of the usual Wednesday.

After all the thank-yous, the speakers for public participation began roughly on time.

Starting at 11:15, the first speakers were from the Lenart Gifted — Lydia Noble, Zbignifw Pietrzyk, and Lynn Ryerson. They said that the main problem is that the school, at 85th and Kolin, is currently the furthest southwest gifted center. It is perfectly integrated. With the usual CPS Board logic, they charged, it is being moved further inland toward the center of the city. This action will A) deprive South West citizens and taxpayers of a gifted center, B) unintegrate the school, a seemingly often consequence of CPS Board actions, C) and cause more busing, supposedly what the CPS Board is trying to stop. Complicating the matter was the fact that when CEO Arne Duncan spoke to them on January 15, he said parents who had not been notified would be contacted before any decision was made. Then a staff member on January 17 said, “It was a done deal.”

Scott asked Duncan to give them a time frame. He said three weeks and some Board staff waited for the three parents outside the hearing area.

Next Megan Hill-Washington of Murray Language Academy, LSC Vice-President, was with a large group asking for a two-year moratorium on sending their Language Academy students to Canter Middle School. According to Megan-Hill, the children at Murray are studying advanced classes, Japanese, and other stable programs. She argued that they should not be put into the new Cantor upper grade center (officially a middle school) with a supposed “global village” theme. The Murray parents are charging that the Cantor is a de-stabilized situation where partnership with Kenwood High School has dissolved, the principal has been replaced because of illness, there is faculty instability, the same or similar materials were not to be used with the transferring children. Parents, as usual, were barely consulted.

Barbara Eason-Watkins gave a kindly, lengthy answer regarding the things she said had been done to remedy a bad situation. Scott was apologetic about things not being in place. (Substance noted that the Hyde Park schools are neighbors of both the CEO and the CEO, making it a more delicate situation than some of those the Board talks down, then ignores for months or years).

Another parent spoke and talked of control problems at the new school with false fire alarms, halts in learning by disruption, and no recognition for achievement. Again, Scott, Duncan and Eason-Watkins talked of changes, giving them a chance, having a subgroup monitor changes; another parent spoke if their expectations were not met, then there would be support for the moratorium. Duncan said they could return, Scott said in 30 days changes should be noted. Then Board member Gene Saffold said a Board member should be involved. Scott agreed and Duncan thanked his volunteering. The group agreed to work with them and return in 30 days.

The next speakers — Mary Reynolds Murray, Charlene Raickett, Tamika Robinson, Pleshette M. Hamb, and May Burke represented Woodlawn Community — with Charlene and Pleshette speaking.

The people from Woodlawn (not a neighbor of the CEOs, based on the way Chicago draws community boundaries in peoples’ hearts) said that the Board had promised them to move into another space, Tesla, last November and December. Now they had been told Tesla’s too occupied. Their own space is too crammed to fulfill the goals of a small school (or any) adequately. Duncan introduced Bruce Washington, interim chief of the facilities. Scott apologized because the upheaval of leadership interfered with a new space. It will be done within 30 days, he said.

Next Benita Goldman thanked The Board for renewal of the Octavio Paz Charter School. As Principal, she talked of accomplishments for five years and asked for another five-year renewal. Duncan thanked her back.

The next speakers, Richard Townsell and Anika Spratley, and Corey Stewart. spoke on behalf of North Lawndale College Prep, another charter school. This charter is a high school which accepts students by lottery rather than entrance requirements, they said. It tracked its first graduating class with 80 percent going on to some kind of college. It hoped for a five - year renewal. Barbara Eason-Watkins said she was proud of the record and said they would get renewal.

Next Jacqueline Johnson spoke about what she said was discriminatory behavior in voting in LSC meetings at Chicago Vocational High School (CVCA). With school leadership in turmoil for years and years at the school, she said that the legacy of impropriety continues. People who should not be voting (by Law Department and School and Community Affairs agreement) are still voting. Also, in violation of conflict-of-interest rules, some LSC members have family members on principal-selected payrolls. Scott agreed enforcement is needed. Burt Murell (now working for James Deanes in School and Community Relations) said he would do it in 30 days. At this point, several people in the audience began to note that if all the promised 30-day deadlines are not met, March will be a lively meeting.

George W. Reutell, of Garvey Elementary School (near Foster & Oak Park Avenue), represented his council, community and school by explaining that the school is overcrowded now. The demographics of the area indicate that with recent retirees selling homes to younger families, there is the possibility of an “overcrowding disaster” in the immediate future. He gave the Board letters from children, teachers, parents and community members describing the problems. He asked that when funding becomes available, Garvey be expanded.

Next Sylvester Hendricks (who identifies himself with Revere Elementary School) started by blessing all forces of the universe. After the moment of silence, Hendricks wanted to know whatever was the result of what he said was test cheating at Revere and about any written policy concerning the arrests of LSC members for doing their mandated job at the school. He asked where Marilyn Johnson was being promoted to. He was told the State Toll Authority. The new head of the Toll authority has said he wants all administrators to serve one four-hour shift in a toll booth. After much discussion, Scott said one of what he said was the remaining lawyers would send him an update from Accountability and any policy about arrests (if it exists) and moved the agenda.

Next Earl L. Ware, Langston Hughes Principal, spoke of lack of progress on the building of the new school. A group of parents with him insisted on speaking. One woman spoke of unsafe conditions as water coming in, making the kitchen dysfunctional, the roof leaking and no heat in the kindergarten. Scott told of progress, had Bruce Washington speak and told all to meet with Washington from time to time and hold himself accountable. They said they would. The Hughes situation continued generating news throughout the following month, as TV cameras covered some of the school’s problems.

The next speaker, Cecelia Salinas, asked that the land be acquired for a new Inter-American Magnet School. Some money for a new building has been raised and donated. She said it will relieve overcrowding of the north side and that it has an award winning design made. Bruce Washington said it was scheduled for the next year. Land purchase would begin after the new fiscal year. Scott thanked her for coming.

Next Adourthus McDowell of Hyde Park High spoke about facilities and a mentoring program. Scott asked, “How are your boys?” He said fine and then by individual name thanked each Board member and staff member for hearing him. He asked Scott to come out on March 18 when there would be an assessment done on the needs of the school building. Scott said he would try to get out there before the day. Duncan said Bill Rice would talk to him about the mentoring plan which he had trouble getting a AIO to implement.

Next Wanda Hopkins of PURE spoke wearing a matching hat to her red and black suit. She testified that Velma Thomas had been dedicated to early childhood education, that Michael Scott had made the situation better in terms of not having parents arrested in the school, and that he had bettered the relations of the CPS Board and PURE. She said was glad Velma would still be around. Her children went to Truth, so she was advocating for them. Some children have been in 3rd grade 3 times. That is because they are really special needs students who have not been identified. There are 40 known who have not been staffed and probably 100 since each year the numbers grow. Since they are not identified, the school’s test scores suffer (as well as staffing funding); the school then gets on or stays on probation. She suggested a task force come in and test three days a week until the job’s done. Scott said he’d have Sue Gamm, chief of special education, rectify the problem. Hopkins said it was only a suggestion. The problem at Truth is a problem throughout the city, she noted. Special Ed also has special funding which is being lost as well as not being identified in school scores.

Tomas Revollo, principal of Waters Elementary School (at Wilson and Campbell) spoke of facilities problems that need to be solved. He said he told three busloads of parents and community people to not come with him. His way is to present the case to the Board on their behalf alone with direct information. He said school members had been there before. The land is part of school property, the architect did his thing, everything was ready to go, but nothing happened. Scott thanked him for coming forward, reminding them. But all must keep in mind that the Board has over 600 properties and when one gets something, it means that someone else does not.

Last Sis Rudman (with two men named Needham and Otto) spoke for Chris Munns and for the Sauganash School (at Peterson and Kilpatrick). She enumerated just what the school no longer has due to overcrowding. It has no library, art room, lunchroom, stage, teachers workroom, or kitchen. All have been turned to classrooms. Special Education is on the stage in the gym, she said, while gym class is conducted. Addressing Tim Martin’s successor, she said, “Bruce, I want to be your friend: we need a lot of help at Sauganash school. Don’t be shy, come out to see us.” Scott commended the good work done. He chaired the official session into order. With six board members now present, the Board came to order, went into executive session.