Board ending CTE programs to detriment of students...

March Board of Education meeting

By Lotty Blumenthal

On March 26, at 10:30 a.m. President Scott introduced (for the 2nd time) an honor high school student who sits next to him to observe the public part of the meeting. The student’s name was Rodney, from Morgan Park High School, who thanked the Board and Principal Charles Alexander for being there.

Next President Scott recognized a team of two Culinary Arts teachers for being the first high school level and the first team to win the coveted Educator of the Year Award. Katy Walsh and Mark Soltis of Richards Career Academy (a.k.a. vocational/tech school) were named Educators of the Year by Food Service Educators Network. [For the next several reports, we will be noting the impact of the cutbacks in vocational and technical education — “voc/tech” in these reports, since those cuts are having a terrible impact on students in Chicago].

Usually, college level teachers win, making winning by Soltis and Walsh even more awesome and an honor for CPS. Their students at Richards have been awarded over $300,000.00 in scholarships to college programs.

They thanked Dr. Joyce Smith for her support. Resolutions were read honoring them. The teachers lauded Richards.

Resolutions were read to honor Ken Gotsch director of budget and Robin Black of intergovernmental affairs. Both were thanked. Neither was there to receive the thanks of the Board. Gotsch is going to Los Angeles and Black will join others for the State of Illinois.

The first speaker was Barbara Freund, opposing the move of Lenart Gifted School to a new building at a new location. She claimed that many were not consulted and would leave the system. Others would later refute her.

Next Lewis Flowers and Bob Vondrasek of the Westside Minister’s Coalition and Education Committee with problems of Austin High School. Appearing with five people at his side, Bob told of complaints of violence, security from community, teachers and students. An investigation made suggestions. “How long would it take to implement it?” He told of a feedback session with students with microphones so bad, they simply went into the audience to communicate. Apparently, nothing is working there. Students said the same as all else and that there seemed to them to be no emergency plan, as lack of books and technology, students have no voice in the school, all students passing through one door in the morning causing tardiness.

Flowers (whose coalition says it operates 24 social service programs for youth) asked that the entire security team work under direction of the Department of Safety (and not the principal) and be entirely replaced with people who knew about security. He spoke of attacks on teachers and students robbed in the hall He said that 51 students are suspended a month and 40 or more students return from Nancy Jefferson (the school housed in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center) each month. Many of these are experienced gang members when they return from incarceration.

According to the speakers, the principal says one thing to them, but “nothing gets done.” In what became ironic statements, Scott said there’s a parent patrol that’s being funded (no one has mentioned them), and they’ve applied for an IB (International Baccalaureate) program for fall. Here’s a clue for Duncan, Scott and the Board: this reporter believes A) IB program in the fall will not stop violence now, B) It will not stop it in the fall and may increase it.

Scott then said he could see that all factions could meet before next fall. In a handout for the Board, the group listed work needed in the areas of security, discipline, attendance, specialized services, parent and student involvement and other issues. A sheet suggested corrective action to be taken in all areas. Austin has a long history — at least 30 years or more of poor administration resulting in decimation of experienced staff, lawsuits, and numerous violence occurrences both outside and inside. The school has poorly run for so long, simple solutions will probably not solve it.

Betty Johnigan and Mildred Wiley of Flower Career Academy (a.k.a. tech/vocational) spoke about the closing of their school. In June of 2000, the school had been told to not admit freshman and to apply for a different career path. They gave the Board a written time line of all the steps taken at a proper time. The submitted all timely, but assume they “must have gone to the wrong place.” When Board’s Eason-Watkins wrote them a letter received the 19th of March saying that their paper work had not been received in a timely manner by Dept. of CTE (the Department of Technical and Career Education). They were shocked because they had held an open house and had notified the Board that they had over 900 applicants for next year.

I believe they had 900 apply because: A) Flower has usually had a pretty nice school; B) it had partnered its food service program with the Garfield Park Conservatory across the street, giving it a good reputation; C) even though it wasn’t Lane or Young, it sponsored an entry in mock law trials each year which did well as well as other activities; D) it seemed to have pretty good safety, security, faculty and principal and even nationally famous restored murals.

Now look at the previous speakers. Which school should be given an I.B. program, kept open, increased programs with the conservatory across the street and kept open? For no good reason, CPS leadership has attacked career and technical education to the obvious detriment of students’ lives and in an insulting manner to the staff and community suddenly in limbo. At least it’s obvious to most people, but not CPS leadership. Betty said they would meet for further action. Scott said he knew of Eason-Watkins reply and thanked them for coming. Some people said he probably doesn’t understand what’s up. And does anyone know where any equipment, computers, etc. are going when these vocational and technical programs are decimated?

Next Pete Leki, Laura Tillotson, and Anne Nolan — accompanied by 45 people from Waters Elementary School — told of the tragedy of 400 applicants for pre-school, some identified as at-risk, who are turned away, many to never return to either Waters or CPS. Leki talked of the need for the promised (the previous administration promised everyone everything, but did little) building addition, relief of overcrowding, and need of facilities.

Scott talked of his and Duncan’s trip to Springfield to be taken the next day to ask for funding. Leki ended by saying some of Waters would like to go with someday to Springfield and volunteer construction type of work as well. Duncan, who had come, said that anyone who wanted to go the next day on the buses could notify him at the end of the meeting for a space for the bus to Springfield.

Next Freund returned to talk of opposition to moving Lenart. Duncan answered her.

Then, Kevin Ryan, LSC chair of Lenart, and Tina Klawitter of the parent organization, both spoke about meetings held about the move to a new Lenart Gifted. He said that all other factions, parents, LSC, staff and students wanted to go to the new facilities. They thanked all for saying, “We are looking...” to the move.

Next Joyce Norris of Field Elementary thanked all for the new facilities. She wanted to know what was to happen in the opening of the new school to the old faculty and equipment. Eason-Watkins said that the old building was not going to close, that the A.P. would continue as principal and the new building would be for certain grades. She would meet with her after the meeting.

Next Woodlawn Academy appeared with a large group of students who presented a choral with solo speakers of their needs. Their needs are great. Under direction of Tyler Hamb, Patrick Ben, Jacqueline Brown, the students clearly stated the needs, using a Gospel song “we’re on the mainline telling you what we want.” Tesla shares a building with them. Both schools are growing. One of them should be moved out.

Scott said a letter should be written. Outside, a student said her mother had written letters. Tearful parents said no one had talked to them about the situation. Students said that they would write again.

Valencia A. Rias of Jones spoke about the cancellation of all field trips out of state. She felt the Board was imposing its own sense of fear on students without considering elements as modes of travel. She felt the decision should be made by parents, made on an individual basis, the consequence of cancels be considered. She said students are no more safe elsewhere (meteors have fallen recently in Chicago). She felt each trip should be considered individually and parents consulted about. Duncan said that matter would be discussed and changed in the closed meeting today. Rias asked what time they’d know — because Jones had a trip leaving at 5:00 p.m. that day!

Next Laurie LeBretton of PURE spoke about parent involvement in preschool. She gave Scott written papers and he said he’d meet her.

Next Alfred Rodgers of Southwest Community Congress talked about LSC materials. He requested the groups input for a new school on the Southwest side. He noticed a sign down on an available lot. He asked about Gale School. Scott called for a progress report from Mr. Washington and said,...”We’ve heard everything you said, and we’re moving in the right direction.”

Next Tina Stenzel, newly elected LSC President, of Nettelhorst, told of the wonderful parental involvement, which has been destroyed, she said, by yet another strange principal. Where there were once ten parents volunteers at one grade level, there are now four, soon to be two. Of the original 32 children enrolled in her child’s second grade, only 21 remain. Duncan said he’d investigate and had talked to the principal and some parents. Tina said, he’d only met with the principal and her friends who may or may not have enrolled children. Scott said that not allowing parents in the school was not his or the Board’s policy. They believe parental involvement was good.

Next Gwendolyn Foshee of Simeon thanked the CPS Board for personal help. As a teacher, she needed know whether she has been treated fairly. She thanked Scott for resolving a problem she had written about in January. Now, there were other unresolved problems. Barbara Eason-Watkins said a meeting could be arranged with her and John Franz. Everyone thanked everyone.

Next Martin Hunter of the Parent Advisory Council spoke about the Hyde Park Swimming Pool. Out for three years. Duncan said there were many other needs in the school system. Of the capitol funds spent more than 90 percent are from Chicago taxpayers. He invited Hunter to go to Springfield the next day. Scott said, “We need the dollars.”

Brenda Bell of the Chicago Leadership Cooperative spoke about the support for LSC’s. She said she would be going to Springfield because of the need for all the schools. Duncan thanked her.

Victor Grandberry, a minister in Roseland said, seemingly surprised, “Politics has destroyed much in the African-American community.” He named problems and asked what he could do. Scott said that $3 billion had been spent on the public schools last year and $500 (?) million in areas around and in Roseland. Scott told him to contact his State Legislator and others. Grandberry said they are planning a March in Roseland.

Cleophus Ingram of the Council of Elders talked of the advantages and disadvantages of being labeled special education. He named the different categories of special ed and programs.

Bertha Boyd tearfully recounted how her daughter was suspended for throwing a pop bottle at a boy who had ripped off her shirt while she was in a classroom where she is enrolled and where the boy is not, but was a part of a class put in that room for that day. Upon her return, she spilled some juice and was taken to the office and her past brought up about what the parent felt was a wrongful suspension since her daughter needed medical treatment and stitches. Scott said he have the law department investigate and the current head of law, Mr. Hall, accompanied her out.

Serena Williams of the Carver Military Academy spoke about external partners and parental programs. She said that they had had the same external partners for eight years. She said that little progress was shown and that they be dropped. Duncan answered that in the closed meeting renewal of contracts would be discussed. Scott said more accountability would be taken of external partners.

A contingent from the Bright School about suspension of students and fighting did not show up to speak.

Carmella Perez and Daniel N. Buonamici of Ruiz School talked about overcrowding. Again Scott and Duncan talked of capital funds needed and the need for going to Springfield.

Calvin Pearce of Time Dollar Tutoring thanked Scott and the Board staff for helping resolve his problems. Tutoring was going on. Over $250,000 worth of computers were to loaned out for home use to students who could not afford them as well as instructions for their use in completing homework. Duncan thanked him for his work.

Gregory Johnson of Chicago Vocational High School (aka CVCA) needed a follow up investigation and assessment of problems at the school. (After years of mismanagement, the next principal to come in became a fall guy for the problems, was wrongly removed, and had a law suit over it, which he won). Like Austin, after years of mismanagement, more than a new principal is needed to correct problems at the school. Luckily, the problems only go back about ten years and should not be as big a problem.

A member of Canty LSC did not speak. Then there was time for Sylvester Hendricks to speak even though he’d spoken last month. After a moment of silence, he spoke about the effect of “The War.”

Finally the Board recognized the Hope girls Basketball team for winning the State Tournament, then adjourned to the private meeting. In that meeting, among other things they renewed external partner contracts, changed policy on trip and made a new policy for naming or changing names on schools.

The next meeting is on April 23 at the new Teachers Academy on 22nd and State streets. Sign up is from 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. The meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m.