Report on the public participation part of the April 25, 2007 meeting of the Chicago Board of Education
The April 25, 2007 meeting of the Chicago Board of Education saw as its first speaker Madeleine Maraldi speaking in favor of the Academy of Urban School Leadership (AUSL). She told how wonderful they were and should be supported. Raysheena Smith and Tenara Averett of Sherman Elementary told of how wonderful the school is now that AUSL is “turning it around”. This program should be supported, they said. AUSL was given Sherman Elementary School to “turn around” last year and was going to “turn around” Harvard Elementary School this year.
Andre Cowling, current principal at Burley Elementary (and principal-elect of Harvard Elementary, selected by AUSL) told the Board that he has a vision for the school where “we” are accountable to the parents and students. The first ten minutes of the public participation was devoted to an AUSL event. Since AUSL has yet to really turn around any Chicago public schools, the claim by Arne Duncan that it is now the CPS “turnaround” specialist entity is unproven, if strongly felt.
Lewis Flowers of the Westside Ministers Coalition immediately changed the tone, complaining that the Board has been undermining the Austin community since its vote, in June 2004, to stop allowing 9th graders to enroll at Austin High School. Flowers said he was not happy with the closure of Austin. His Coalition was to be a “partner”, but when the smoke cleared, they were slighted in their work. The goals were changed in terms of who can go there with the reopening. He went into detail. Austin is vast; there are 32 doors and 4 floors and only 8 security guards assigned — and no summer school funds. He felt that so many promises have been broken and no help for problem children that he felt his organization has been mistreated, lied to, and used. Rufus Williams said there was “no intent” to lie, mistreat, or disrespect anyone. Apparently, lies, mistreatment, and disrespect are accidental and not planned.
A second alert from the Austin Community came when a group from Dougless High School complained about Duncan’s plan to close their school. Mildred Brackett asked to keep Douglass open as a high school. She said she spoke for the LSC, PTO, and groups of the school. She thanked the Board for making them a high school. Now, she wants the stability of having it remain a high school. Since Rev. Flowers asked for another Austin High School, you’d think it should be Douglass. She asked why one person, David Pickens, makes or wavers in making the decision of the future. Williams said “we” will look into it. Williams said if its a high school now it will remain so. She met with Don Pittman and David Pickens.
Jill Wohl, Inter-American Magnet Elementary School, talked of the 2007-2008 budget cuts. Apparently the Board was so anxious to get Inter American out of its old building (which was quickly sold to Advocate Health Systems/Illinois Masonic) that they didn’t bother to fix all the problems at the LeMoyne building, which now houses InterAmerican. She talked of renovation problems, no leadership, cut positions, and a missing elevator.
Douglas Baylen and Paula Adams of Steinmetz High School complained about the LSC. He stated that the parent president of the LSC has had no child in the school for over 90 days. Parents have not been notified of meetings. He asked that this person be removed and all votes made with him voting be rescinded. She complained about the treatment of her child by the teachers. Both were consulting with Don Pittman when last seen.
Stacy Morris of Dixon Elementary talked about her son being held back for the second time, complaining of retaliation against the child for the actions of the mother.
William Kelly had a different problem about LeMoyne (which is now InterAmerican). He had tried to enroll his child, but the family lives on the wrong side of the street. His problem is the boundary is the middle of his street.
Curtis Harris soke of LeMoyne’s autistic programs and how much they helped him when he was younger. He asked for a smooth transition for the autistic into their new schools. [Harris is also writing regularly in Substance Letters].
Marrianne Bly and Patrick MacMahon of Gallistel Elementary School talked of overcrowding and the need for a new building. They are stretched beyond capabilities. They are spread over three buildings; some leased from the archdiocese. They had 500 parents at one meeting protesting.
Addie Zolicoffer of Woodlawn Community Academy talked of killing a child’s pride by mental abuse, retaliation and false claims against her child. She was here two months ago about this. Since that time, her eight year old child has been further been retaliated against since her daughter “accidentally walked into the teacher.” The child has been out of school three months. There’s confusion over the home bound program. She accused Duncan and Williams of conspiracy against her child. James Deanes said he had offered the parent three other school choices which the parent rejected.
Zolicoffer wasn’t unchallenged from the school itself. Lorne Love of Woodlawn told the history and progress of Woodlawn. Charlene Raickett also told of the good staff, administration, and curriculum at Woodlawn. She has twins there. Her children have done well in the five years she has been there as has the school.
Carla Brewer of Gladstone Elementary spoke next. She said that her child was suspended and arrested for being out uniform. The principal is not there to meet with her. No one at the Board has met with her. Her child has honors classes. The assistant principal has the police come up to discipline students. No one at the school called the parent about her son being out of uniform or being arrested.
The etymological (and theological) debates continued over the question of whether the Board should use the word “kid” when talking about children. Adwin Uchechi spoke about the use of “kid” for children. He quoted the Bible about separating goats and sheep. In previous meetings the group said “kid” is a satanic name and showed graphics of Satnic origin. Rufus Williams interrupted saying that every month this group wastes everyone’s time with an “inane” issue when there’s important ones.
Valencia Rias of Designs for Change — who always brings up serious issues — accused the Board of stabbing them all in the back by sponsoring legislation in Springfield to destroy LSC’s. She said that Williams is trying to quiet almost 600 LSCs so that the Mayor can be the only one handing out $110,000-per-year contracts to principals. She stated that there have been fewer scandals from the 575 local school councils that the one administration of this city. She claimed it was a double standard since Williams was an LSC member. She said that LSCs have “More integrity than many people who sit in these very chambers.” She had research. She said the Board does not even have a Bill number trying to backstab with amendments.
Ramon Cervantes talked of Operation Crusade Don Quixote talked very loudly shouting about LaRaza de Bronte, Mexican USA Youth Day. A regular at Board meetings, Cervantes had a disagreement with Rufus Williams that led to Williams calling security.
Sharon Adams of Arthur Ashe Elementary complained of the unethical and illegal conduct of the LSC at Ashe — a finding that all LSC members do not have to be notified of meetings and parents without children are on the LSC. She said there have been 95 calls to the police. The Board’s attorney, Patrick Rocks, answered he investigated and said he found no violations on the evidence so far.
Sylvester Hendricks of Your Afrosyntric-Youth Association asked for a moment of silence for soldiers slain in Iraq. He said the Board has heard of the acts of retaliation against children by employees of CPS because of the actions of parents. He said CPS shouldn’t ignore this.
The last speaker was Brenda Parris with the group from the Hurley School. They were not on the speaker’s list. The mobile classrooms are becoming unsafe, she said. She said they’d go on strike. CPS said it can’t can’t do it overnight. She wanted other options. Duncan said he’s trying.
The official meeting followed. Duncan discussed changing the promotion policy and other policies. He mentioned that no one showed up for the hearings on the reconstitution of Harvard Elementary School but failed to report that he had scheduled it during school hours so it was difficult for teachers, parents and others to get from the south side to 125 S. Clark St. for it. Other policy changes were also announced, all of which can be found on the Board’s website in the Action Agenda reports from the April 2007 Board meeting.
After Duncan’s report, the Board went into Executive Session. When it came out, it voted unanimously and without debate to approve every Board Report proposed by Duncan and the executive staff.
