Ames Local School Council votes to slow takeover by Marine Academy
Ames Middle School�s Local School Council (LSC) heard from both sides in the debate on whether a selective enrollment military high school should move in next year � and passed two motions designed to slow the rush to make such changes at the neighborhood public school.
Arguing in favor of moving a selective military academy high school into Ames Middle School, Chicago Public School parent Emma Lozano translated for Todd Connor, executive director of CPS �service leadership programs,� also known as Junior ROTC military academies. The vast majority of the audience at two open meetings of the Ames Local School Council on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, opposed the move. Substance photo by David R. Stone.To accommodate the number of people who wanted to be part of the conversation, the LSC held two open meetings at the West Side school, 1920 N. Hamlin Ave., on Tuesday, November 5, 2013.
At 9 a.m., approximately 100 parents, neighbors and others came to the school in Logan Square, a mostly Hispanic neighborhood. The vast majority of speakers opposed the plans to move Marine Math & Science Academy High School into the Ames building.
No representatives of the Board of Education attended the morning meeting. The elected official who is the most vocal supporter of moving Marine Academy into Ames � Ald. Roberto Maldonado, whose 26th Ward boundaries are just barely wide enough to include Ames � also was absent. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who endorsed Maldonado�s plan a week ago, then slightly watered down his support for the plan a couple of days later, likewise was a no-show.
At 4 p.m., a second open meeting drew another 30 concerned citizens, including Ames teachers (who were too busy teaching to attend the morning meeting). In the afternoon meeting, the official recently promoted to run Chicago Public Schools� six military high schools argued in favor of adding a military themed �service academy� for grades 9-12, on top of the current Ames programs, which serve only grades 7-8.
Two speakers who identified themselves as CPS parents joined him in arguing for the move. They were outnumbered by more than a dozen speakers who raised pointed questions and argued against inserting a military high school into Ames.
Between the two open meetings, the LSC met in closed session, and voted to pass two motions:
(1) To have a voter initiative placed on the ballot in March, 2014, to retain Ames as a neighborhood middle school, and
(2) To have Chicago Public Schools official meet with people from Ames and other neighborhood schools for an open discussion before any decision is made about bringing a military academy into the community.
The CPS official at the afternoon meeting, Todd Connor, repeatedly stated that the Board of Education would listen to the community�s concerns. He said promised to pass along any points raised in dialog with him, and also invited participation at the monthly Board of Ed meetings.
Connor, whose title is executive director of CPS �Service Leadership Programs� [also known as Junior ROTC military academies] said there is room at the school for all current Ames students, plus all current Marine Military students. He offered his commitment that all students from Ames would be admitted if they apply to any military academy that moves into the Ames building. He extended this promise to include students from four other elementary schools in the neighborhood, but conceded that space limitations might prevent this, if too many apply.
Margaret Huebner, an Ames teacher who serves on the LSC, questioned the value of any promises made by the Board of Education. For one thing, LSC members say that Board President David Vitale previously said the decision was NOT to bring a military academy to Ames. For another, there is so much turnover among administrators that, Huebner said, �People are gone within two years� What guarantee do we have?� More than any person�s promise, the LSC wants to see an official policy, she said.
Another Ames teacher, Elizabeth Koutny, said �The community has spoken very loudly and clearly that they don�t want a military academy here. Why can�t they [the Board of Education] find another place?�
When Connor started to answer by telling of how many families apply to military academies but are turned away due to lack of space, he was interrupted by a member of the audience shouting, �Get one of the closed schools!�
�Problem solved,� Koutny said with a laugh.
�Bring your ideas to the Board,� Connor said.
No new military school can open before it is approved by the U.S. Department of Defense after a formal request from the Board of Education. Ames Principal Turon Ivy said no such proposal has been submitted yet.
As an ex officio member of the LSC, Ivy said, �The LSC will continue to press its message and demand meetings� Our biggest push is we want information, so people can make sound decisions.�
Connor said a Board vote on whether to use Ames as the site of Marine Military, or another military academy, or no military academy at all, would likely happen in November or December.
FULL DISCLOSURE: The reporter is a teacher at Ames.
By: Kim Scipes
Ames Middle School
Good report from afternoon meeting.
I attended the 9am meeting, which was very spirited and very opposed to making it a military academy. Also, State Senator Willie Delgado attend the earlier meeting and, as Chair of the Illinois State Senate Education Committee and our Senator, vehemently opposed the establishment of a military academy at Ames.