The
Committee has been working with the Local School Councils and sought
as many as possible candidates to run (including a gala awards ceremony
and an ad in the local paper), and held training meetings for newly
elected members. A project in late September summer will be a networking
informational/feedback dinner program for LSCs leaders and principals.
Visit the LSC page for more.
September
28 2006 the Schools Committee hosted Principals and LSCs for dinner
in Canter Middle School. 4
or 5 schools were represented, networked, and heard from May
Jefferson of the CPS Dept. of External Resources and Partnerships.
The group learned ways to and places to reach out for partnerships
and grants in ways an places that may not have been thought of.
The group responded enthusiastically to a LSC Basic Training to
be offered October 21 by the committee and PURE. Ideas for engaging
the community and stakeholders such as the Chamber and businesses,
including through the community reps were explored. The savvy committee
has at least 4 strong right arms for chairperson Nancy Baum. Anika
Frazier-Mohammad was co-host of the event. More
below.
As
in the January 2009 Conference Reporter: HPKCC
Schools Committee Holds Networking Dinner
On
the 23rd of September, the HPKCC Schools Committee hosted a Networking
Dinner for nearly forty neighborhood school principals and chairpersons
of Local School Councils in the Canter Middle School gymnasium.
This important occasion was emceed by Annika Frazier-Muhummad.
Neighborhood schools heard from consultant Sheila Wesonga about
ways to look for and apply for grants to augment school programs
and also how to craft the proposal to give it maximum weight.
According
to Ms. Wesonga, there are six steps to successful grant writing:
planning, researching, organizing, writing, submitting and follow-up.
In a proposal, writers must explain who will benefit from a grant
and how a project’s success will be measured. Grant writers
should contact grant makers before and after writing proposals,
asking for feedback at the end of the process, Ms. Wesonga said.
Follow-up is often forgotten and can be crucial to the success
of future grant writing events.
Wesonga
coined the phrase “Unity amongst the community!”.
In order to successfully educate a child, says Ms. Wesonga, the
school, parent and community MUST work together. “ We must
unite and use all of our uniquely special skills to have a positive
impact on the child.” She advised would-be grant writers
to Google “Grants” and numerous opportunities would
appear on the screen. [To contact Sheila for further information
call 312-493-1065 or e-mail her at shwesonga@yahoo.com.]
Following
Sheila Wesonga’s talk Joe McCord of the Chicago Public Schools
Office of LSC Relations addressed the group about training for
LSC members provided by the Chicago Public Schools and announced
that Local School Council members attending this dinner would
receive two hours of credit toward their accreditation as LSC
members. Incoming LSC members must complete an 18 hour Board-run
training program within six months of taking office. He passed
out the “Ten Characteristics of Effective Local School Councils”.
[He can be reached at 773-553-1432 or
jamccord@cps.k12.il.us.]
The
Schools Committee’s mission is to provide community support
for the schools and a place where Local School Council members
can meet to share information. The committee supports our Local
School Councils, encourages community involvement in our schools,
provides forums and events on education issues, and provides a
variety of resources for schools and families on our web site
www.hydepark.org/schools.
We encourage principals to link our web site to their web site
so that parents can quickly access us. We have, for example, a
list of after school and other activities that children can participate
in along with phone numbers and descriptions of offerings.
We
want the community to know when the schools are having LSC meetings,
so we are providing the following list:
Ariel
School: 3rd Mon. 8:00 AM
Canter
Middle School: 1st Tuesday 6:00 PM in the gym. 4959 S. Blackstone.
535-1410. Colleen Conlan, Principal. Tina Hawkins, LSC Chair.
Dyett
High School: 2nd Tues, 6:00 PM, Rm. 139. 555. E. 51st St. 535-1161:
Jacquelyn Lemon, Principal.
Harte
School: 2nd Wed, 6PM, Gym. 1556 E. 56th St. 535-1825 Shenethe
Parks, Principal. Diane Billingsley, LSC Chair.
Hyde
Park Career Academy. 585-0880. Thomas Trotter, Principal.
Jackie
Robinson School, 2nd Tues, 6PM. Margarita Grey-Ben, LSC Chair.
Kenwood
Academy LSC, 2nd Tues, 6:30 PM, Library Media Center. 535-1350.
Cynthia Liberty, LSC Chair.
Kenwood
Academy PAC, 4th Tues, 6:30 PM, Library Media Center. 535-1350.
Elizabeth Kirby, Principal.
Kozminski
School: 4th Wed., 6:30 PM. 936 E. 54th St. 535-0980. Lionel Bordelon,
Principal. Cynthia Brown, LSC Chair.
Murray
Language Academy, 3rd Wed. 6 PM, except Wed. April 3, 8 AM and
Wed. June 2nd 4:30 PM. 5335 S. Kenwood. 535 0585. Greg Mason,
Principal. Rhonda Hawkins Lyke, LSC Chair.
North Kenwood-Oakland Charter Board: 3rd Tues. (except for Oct
14th) 6:00 PM, Rm. 204. 1119 E. 46th St. (60653) 536-2399. Tanika
Island Smith , Principal
Ray
School, Oct. 15, Dec. 8, Feb. 9, Apr. 13th and June 8th at 8:00
AM. Nov. 10th, Jan. 12th, Mar. 9th and May 11th at 6:30 PM. Bernadette
Butler, Principal. Ray Lodato, LSC Chair.
Reavis:
1st Tues, 7:30 AM. Michael T. Johnson, Principal. Demetrius Davis,
LSC Chair
Shoesmith
School: 1st Wed, 5:30, except April 2009, 1st Thurs. Library.
535-1764. Patricia Watson, Principal. Sherri Donald and Theodore
Moran, LSC Co-chairs.
We
hope community members will want to choose a school and attend
some of these meetings to show community support. The Local School
Councils have many good-hearted people whose hard work deserves
to be recognized by all of us. Or join the schools committee.
Nancy
Baum
Chairperson
Schools Committee
nbbaum@sbcglobal.net
773-288-5464
Top
Minutes
of the October 22, 2008, HPKCC Schools Committee Meeting
Present:
Nancy Baum (Presiding), Heather Edelman , Gary Ossewaarde, Ismail
Turay
1.
We changed the regular meeting from the 4th Wed. to the 2nd Wed.
so as not to conflict with too many other meetings. The next meeting
is then scheduled to occur on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008. [Since
cancelled, tbresch]
2. We discussed the networking dinner and decided that there was
too much food. Sheila Wesonga’s talk was very dense. Heather
will provide a synopsis for the HPKCC Reporter. We enjoyed Mr.
McCord’s presentation which he did having been invited at
the last minute, especially appreciating his “self exam”
list for LSC’s. We discussed recruiting LSC members and
principals to become members of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community
Conference. Many people come from out of the neighborhood, but
there are a few members of the HPKCC who are from out of the neighborhood.
3. We liked Gary’s shortened form of the brochure which
we will adopt.
4. Reporter article draft was handed out and suggestions were
made for editing it.
5. Community Forum for the Spring: Topics which arose as possibilities
included the following:
A. Grants. Discussion: An LSC member is assigned to look into
grants. The PTA and Friends of Ray do fundraising. Teachers get
their own grants. Friends of Bret Harte established a 503 fund
which gets money from candy sales and other fundraising. The two
Starbucks in the neighborhood (53rd St. and Ston[y] Island, same
owner for both) has fund raisers inside the stores for various
schools. Some stores seek in kind gifts that schools want such
as pens, paper, etc. LSC members set these mini-fund raisers up
themselves by talking to store managers. CAGL (The HPKCC’s
Chicago Academic Games League) solicits donations from Jewel.
One can ask for a certain fraction of a day’s take from
Dunkin Donuts, for example for any day of the year. Sometimes
one can find an internet source of proceeds to a particular charity.
Large grants come by approaching corporations for a big donations.
You have to know someone. Look up on the internet to identify
an organization. This can be a daunting task. Here were some ideas
that came up in discussion:
1. Ask the University of Chicago for a student to research.
2. Trip Lite, 1111 W. 31st St (Provider of Back-up power for PC’s),
the VP there wanted to help. This requires some follow-up. Ismail
Turay volunteered to look into this.
3. Luster Product: Stockyards, 44th St.
4. L’Oreal
5. Macsys.org
6. Decaux (Shelters for buses)
7. HPArt Center (Janis McCormick) funds ½ of a person,
school has to provide other half. Ray School is working on a partnership
for 8 weeks, 2 grades, 6 classrooms @ $1000 per classroom. Foundations
support the HPAC.
B. Technology. Discussion: CUIP provides tech support, but CPS
doesn’t pay all. School has to come up with the rest. All
schools do not have WIFI. Classrooms have internet access. Kenwood,
Ray and Kozminski have WIFI, Shoesmith and Murray have it in the
library only. The CPS is requiring parents to look stuff up on
their children: assignments, etc. Some teachers have blogs. Lots
of newsletters come everyday.
C. How schools bring arts and music back into the curriculum given
the cutting of these programs. Discussion: Ray gets ½ of
a music teacher. The Chicago Symphony might be a source. Music
Teachers of Hyde Park: Laura Fenster, Elaine Smith, Chicago Symphonietta.
These people might have ideas, others mentioned. The Smart Museum,
Oriental Institute, Black Pearl (Mural design under 47th St.)
D. Your idea of the ideal school
E.
What is ideal about our schools?
Meeting
was adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Examples
of questions and issues continuing to be researched:
- Mandates
and reorganizations such as "No Child Left Behind,"
The Renaissance 2010 Plan and Mid South Schools Initiative, and
ACTS
- School
test results and their implications, including achievement gaps
- School
discrepancies and rankings: What schools are left out; what are
they like? What succeeds and fails? Who is left behind? Is there
a pattern to the divide?
- The
arrangements between feeder and higher schools, clusters--What
characteristics and mix do we want in neighborhood and selective
schools, public and private?
- How
can LSCs and parental involvement be strengthened?
- What
the University of Chicago is doing in and for the South Side schools
- The
charter schools and whether they indeed lead the way
- Kenwood
Academy issues and the future of Future of Kenwood
At
its monthly or bimonthly meetings, the Committee hears reports from
members on LSC meetings and the schools. A common theme has been
weak, though often improving, parental involvement
at most schools, with little real encouragement for such involvement
from CPS despite a federal mandate. LSCs are working hard on this
problem. Lack of funds and CPS pressure to fundraise or
spend discretionary funds even for fundamentals was another theme.
Local LSCs believe that after school and special ed programs
matter greatly and LSCs are working to boost such programs.
LSC and PTO strength was uneven and real development programs
with resource rooms are needed. The committee learned that
schools that take Section 1 (poverty) funds are expected to have
action plans to increase parent involvement and accountability.
It was also known that there once were quarterly meetings
at which LSC and parent groups from the whole area got to know each
other; this now seldom happens and lscs feel isolated from
each other.
Other
committee activities are helping Friends
of Blackstone Library help the library be more effective
in its mission and as a bridge between schools, students, families,
and the maturation of youth and in rescuing and growing the Chicago
Academic Games League.
Top
Next
committee and other meetings and events
Next
committee meeting June 15, 7 pm,United Church,
1448 E. 53rd (Blackstone entry). Contact the chairman
for information about meetings and activities of the Schools Committee.
If you want to
help on the Schools Committee, call Nancy Baum at 773-288-5464, or
e-mail her at nbbaum@sbcglobal.net.
We are now planning a community forum on a schools topic for spring.
__________________
Schools
and Education. From a year-end wrap up by Gary Ossewaarde, whose views
it expresses. Arne
Duncan, CPS CEO was chosen for Education Secretary by President-Elect
Barack Obama. Duncan is a life-long Hyde Parker and long active in
both public and private education. The response was enthusiastic although
with reservations about the policies of CPS toward support or closings
of schools, especially in low-income neighborhoods and hostility toward
Local School Councils and other forms of local input or control.
Concern was expressed about local schools lagging in repairs and upkeep.
The 53rd TIF joined with CPS in funding major repairs to Canter Middle
School, although the needed expansion is still not in sight. Kenwood
Academy received a very extensive Disabilities upgrade. Award-winning
Ray School remained uncertain as to when repairs will be made. CPS
is sending teams around to all the schools.
UC Laboratory Schools launched major planning and fundraising for
the schools and their expansion, nursery to high.
Kenwood Academy: lunch privileges now depend on performance, about
350 of 1700 can go off campus. There is still controversy as to whether
Kenwood is turning around and the strong parts maintaining position
or improving.
Akiba-Schechter dedicated a new playground sponsored by Bill Coleman
and Carol Groover and Jewish Funders.
Principal changes: Gregory Mason succeeded Michael Keno as Principal
at Murray Language Academy.
Ongoing concerns for schools and their supporters are continued devolution
of responsibilities upon them by CPS to raise funds for everything
from supplies, to after school programs, to training, to repairs.
Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee put on line
a comprehensive listing of after school and related activity providers.
The Committee also held banquets with speakers for outgoing and incoming
local school councils and their principals. Among information furnished
was that on grant writing and finding funds and donations and how
to improve further as LSCs.
HPKCC
Schools Committee Prospectus for an assets ("promises")
building program and coalition for the Hyde Park-Kenwood area
Eye
on Neighborhood Schools: Developmental Assets Program Outlined
by Schools Committee
From the July
2009 Conference Reporter. By Nancy Baum
There are, according
to the Minneapolis-based Search Institute, 40 different kinds of experiences,
relationships, opportunities and personal qualities that children
need to have in order to succeed in life. These experiences include
exposure to the arts and performance of volunteer work, etc. The Schools
Committee of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference is proposing
that a coalition of parents, teachers, community organizations and
churches be built in order to help shepherd the students in our neighborhood
along. Whatever experiences are not being provided will ultimately
be provided. To this end, a staff person will be hired to maintain
communications and to coordinate the program that would be established.
After-school programs tend to peter out after age 12. Few want to
deal with children that are older. Indeed, Canter Middle School was
an outgrowth of the sensed community need for a special school for
this transitional age group. Schools and community might do better
if they knew what types of experiences children need or are lacking.
Our schools are places where parents need to feel more comfortable
about sending their children. A child from Kozminski might know about
the Hyde Park Art Center, but since it is on the other side of Hyde
Park, might not choose to go there. The access to programs for children
is uneven.
Some suggested activities are Junior Achievement, Junior Great Books,
Café Society, ecology movements, city gardening, etc. Kids
would be invited to participate in different organizations. How do
we go about selling the idea to parents?
In search of a model for a program that might be doable in Hyde Park,
four members of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools
Committee, Gary Ossewaarde, the Rev. Larry Turpin, Ismail Turay and
Nancy Baum, met with Ida Lynn Wenhold, the executive director of “Kids
Matter” in Naperville on March 3, 2009. Ida Lynn explained that
the program in Naperville came at the impetus of Edwards Hospital,
the local hospital in Naperville. Edwards noticed that many of their
adolescent patients were showing signs of abuse and neglect and wanted
to do something about it. A Developmental Assets Profile Survey, an
abbreviated 15-minute survey, revealed that, though there was a lot
of parental support, family communication was poor and service to
the community was low. The Profile Survey can be viewed online at
www.search-institute.org. A three-pronged approach was conceived in
order to reach the community: 1) Programming, 2) Asset Education and
3) Coalition Building.
Programs were developed in giving service to the community, through
a Volunteer Fair and obtaining jobs through a Job Fair. Of course,
eventually, fund raising became a major undertaking because of all
the publicity and materials that were needed to get the word out to
the community. Funds came from Chicago United Way, Chicago Trust,
Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, and from businesses. Coalition-building
took place among schools, police, counseling centers, etc. A tracking
system was put into place.
How were parents taught about Assets Education? Parents got information
to read. A publication called “E Blast” was given to schools
to put into their newsletters. Assets Tips and Assets Bingo were created.
Printed material was gotten into peoples’ hands by kiosks set
up at store cash registers, placing into magazines and newspapers,
etc. Businesses were approached to come up with ideas to make children
feel more welcome. School resource officers and social workers helped
with materials distribution. Other ideas are to get college students
to come to schools campuses to talk about college or even become big
brothers and big sisters. A special program for girls was established
called WINGS. An Equal Opportunity Award was established by the mayor’s
office to honor some ordinary kid, perhaps someone who volunteered
to clean the streets. Table toppers with family trivia topics were
placed on tables in restaurants to get the conversation going.
Needless to say this was an exciting prospect, but decidedly a very
large project. We of the Schools Committee have ideas about how to
go about implementing a project like this, if needed. To establish
need we would like to distribute the 15-minute survey to all students
ages 12-19 in Hyde Park. We would need the participation of the principals
of all the schools in the neighborhood. Then, once the data were analyzed
and needs identified the idea would have to be sold to the community
and initial funds would have to be found. We have huge resources available
in this community: that could lend full weight to the Community Conference
to move forward on this. The Conference has already pulled together
a data base of programs available to our youth. It can be found on
www.hydepark.org/schools. Rep. Currie and Alderman Preckwinkle’s
offices put out an annual booklet listing schools and programs for
children.
In addition to finding out what children’s emotional needs are
vis a vis the community, the schools have material needs that must
be met. But this is a question for another time.
Top
On
President-elect Obama's nomination of CPS CEO and Hyde Parker Arne
Duncan for U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Congratulations
from the HPKCC Schools Committee, our ally PURE and others (some mixed
with cautions), from the December 24 2008 Herald. By Daschell M. Philips
At
a press conference last Tuesday, President-elect Barack Obama chose
Chicago Board of Education CEO and Hyde Park native Arne Duncan as
secretary of education.
Duncan
has been the CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for about seven years
and a Hyde Parker all his life. His father Starkey Duncan was a psychology
professor at the University of Chicago. Duncan attended the University
of Chicago Laboratory Schools, and then graduated magna cum laude
from harvard University with a degree in sociology in 1987. he also
played professional basketball in Australia with the Eastside Spectres
of the national Basketball League and often meets with Obama to play
basketball.
Once
he returned to the U.S., Duncan spent a great deal of his free time
tutoring and playing basketball with children at his mother Susan
Morton's after school program, Susan Duncan Children's Center for
African American Youth at Jackie Robinson Elementary School, 4225.
S. Lake Park Ave.
In
1992 Duncan became the director of the Ariel Education Initiative,
a program to enhance educational opportunities for children, and in
1996 he was part of a network that funded and supported Ariel Community
Academy, 1119 E. 46th St. In 1998 he joined CPS. He became deputy
chief of staff for former Schools CEO Paul Vallas in 1999. Mayor Richard
M. Daley appointed Duncan to serve as CEO of CPS in 2001.
Over
the past seven year Duncan has managed the third largest school district
in the United States, which includes 655 schools, 408,600 students
and 44, 417 employees. Several local education advocate organizations
said they wish Duncan well during his tenure in Washington.
"We
congratulate Arne Duncan on this important nomination," said
Julie Woestehoff, Hyde Park resident and founder of Parents for Responsible
Educati9on (PURE). "He is a thoughtful, intelligent person who
will bring a lot to the position, including the benefit of a variety
of lessons learned in Chicago." Woestehoff said while PURE is
concerned about some of the programs Duncan carried out in CPS, particularly
high-stakes testing and Renaissance 2010, she is sure that he and
Obama will work together to provide a balanced approach to school
reform that will "lead the nation to improved education for every
child."
Members
of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference (HP-K CC) said they
are proud that their fellow Hyde Parker has been appointed to the
nation's highest education post. "This is a a big task and we
stand ready to support and work with our new secretary of education,"
said Nancy Baum, HP-K CC chairwoman of the schools committee, in a
written statement on behalf of the conference.
Greg
Washington, president of the Grand Boulevard Federation, spoke on
behalf of the organization's education committee about Duncan's appointment.
"We wish him the best in D.C.," said Washington whose organization
--like PURE--has mixed reviews about Duncan's performance as CEO.
"We hope he doesn't forget about us."
Jitu
Brown, education organizer for the Mid South Education Association,
shared his memories of the association's relationship with Duncan.
"When Arne first became CEO of the board his first public appearance
was as keynote speaker at our annual convention in 2001," said
Brown. Brown said Duncan's professionalism when working with the association's
Voices for Youth in Chicago Education, which is a youth-led group
of teens from across the city who gathered to research, identify and
work toward lowering the city's high school dropout rate, helped the
teens realize they were being taken seriously and inspired them to
work hard to produce great work. "We are very hopeful that we
can continue to work in the spirit of community voices and that we
can be heard on local and national levels," said Brown.
Duncan's
sisters, Sarah Duncan, said the family is very proud of his accomplishments.
"We are thrilled. This is an amazing opportunity," said
Sarah Duncan. She said that the family, which includes Duncan's wife
Karen and his two children, plan to get together to celebrate Duncan's
appointment over the holidays.
Ald.
Preckwinkle in December 24 Herald: Congrats due to Arne Duncan on
his appointment (and praise for high school principals)
Congratulations
to Arne Duncan on his recent Cabinet appointment to be the next secretary
of education. Chief Executive of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Arne
Duncan will be a strong advocate for public education and a champion
of urban schools. President-elect Barack Obama and arne Duncan have
a chance to create real reform of the education system, and are committed
to seeing every child attend an excellent school.
Arne
Duncan has more than 15 years experience in urban public education.
His firsts endeavor in education was with the Ariel Education Initiative,
a program that aims to create opportunities for children on Chicago's
South Side. In 2001, after only three years in Chicago Public Schools,
he became the chief executive officer of CPS. Arne Duncan also serves
on 12 education boards, a list which includes Ariel Education Initiative,
Scholarship Chicago, Junior Achievement, Chicago Cares, and Harvard
Collage.
This
country needs a secretary of education who has headed a major urban
school district, and is as dedicated to education as Arne Duncan.
He is unique among urban superintendents. His tenure has been long
and not troubled by the bitter infighting that has cut short the careers
of so many superintendents. He has made controversial decisions but
has never denigrated his opponents.
Chicago
Public Schools has sen a lot of improvements under Arne Duncan's leadership.
He has closed poor-performing schools so he wil not have to add ritual
humiliation to accountability in order to maintain a reputation for
having higher standards. Duncan's effort towards revamping and restructuring
struggling CPS schools has led to improvements in meeting state education
standards, an increase in the number of students taking advance placement
classes, an increase in first-day attendance and a decreases in teacher
vacancies.
Our
community high schools have had some improvements under Arne Duncan's
guidance and the stewardship of our high school principles Liz Kirby
(Kenwood Academy), Jacquelyn Lemon (Dyett High School), and Jeff Wright
(King College Prep.) Under Kirby's guidance, Kenwood's boys no longer
fall behind girl students, and the school excels in subjects that
include biology, Latin and Chinese. Dyett's graduation rate has doubled,
and King College Prep. has made a transformation in recent years.
The
secretary of education's principal responsibility is to distribute
federal aid to education and to enforce regulation. One of the great
tasks that lie before Duncan will be to rethink education initiatives
such as Bush's "No Child Left Behind," which penalized a
lot of schools for poor performance. He can be a great cheerleader
for big city schools, pointing the way to meaningful change.
Dr.
Barbara Eason-Watkins, appointed to chief education Officer by Arne
Duncan in 2001, may be appointed to become the next chief executive
officer of CPS. Like Duncan, Eason-Watkins is dedicated to education
having spent nearly 30 years working in schools, 27 of which were
in CPS. She has received several educational leadership awards such
as the Whitman Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership and
the Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year Award. While Arne Duncan
is serving in the White House, CPS schools wil also be under strong
leadership.
[See
a contrary view in News
of Schools-Kenwood.]
Top
PURE,
FOIA and reporting on progress by 2010 Renaissance schools and other
matters
By
Julie Woestehoff, Executive DirectorParents United for Responsible
Education (PURE) (www.pureparents.org )
Grass
roots advocates in Illinois have become more interested in using
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as an advocacy tool since
Attorney General Lisa Madigan strengthened oversight and monitoring
of the FOIA compliance of public bodies. Here are some examples
of how PURE has used the FOIA in our fight for an equal, high-quality
education for all children. It has taken a lot of persistence, but
we believe that the results have been well worth it. 1. April, 2008:
Using FOAI to debunk Renaissance 2010 Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
leadership insists that Renaissance 2010 schools are superior to
regular neighborhood schools, in part because they are “more
accountable.”
CPS
uses that reasoning to justify massive school closings and teacher
firings, which PURE believes are destabilizing and detrimental to
children's education. So, we thought we would find out how accountable
Renaissance 2010 schools really are. We sent FOIA letters to all
85 Renaissance 2010 schools asking for the minutes, by-laws and
board of directors lists of their governing boards for that year.
Only one-third of the schools responded, even after they received
a follow-up letter from the Attorney General stating that they were
required to comply. We concluded that two-thirds of Renaissance
2010 schools do not have legally-mandated governing boards. This
looks to us like a major lack of accountability.
Our
report on these findings has been a useful tool in our ongoing critique
of Renaissance 2010. 2. January, 2009: Using FOIA to hold CPS accountable
for school closings In 2007, CPS agreed to make an annual report
to the public on how school closings and other such changes affect
students. They made this promise in part to convince State Representative
Cynthia Soto to pull a bill off the table that would have reformed
CPS's facilities planning process. Rep. Soto reintroduced the bill
this year because CPS had not kept the promises made in 2007. To
highlight this problem, PURE sent a FOIA to CPS requesting the annual
reports that were promised in their 2007 school closing policy.
The first letter went out on January 6, 2009. CPS requested an additional
14 day s but then sent nothing. We sent a follow up letter on February
6 and a follow-up e-mail on March 18th. There was no response. We
then sent a letter to the Attorney General and visited House Majority
Leader Barbara Flynn Currie's office on March 30, seeking her assistance.
Rep. Soto's new bill, HB 363, was up for a vote in the House that
week. CPS assured Rep. Currie's office that the report was “in
the mail.” That was three weeks ago and we just received the
report today (April 16, 2009). Read my comments on a disappointing
report here: http://pureparents.org/index.php?blog/show/school_closing_report.
We hope that Rep. Soto's bill will result in a legal obligation
on the part of CPS to monitor and report on how Renaissance 2010
affects students. No accountability requirement could be more needed.
3.
My favorite FOIA story so far: Curie principal “could care
less about the FOIA” In his ongoing efforts to dismantle local
democratic school governance, Mayor Daley provoked a media firestorm
in 2007 when he proclaimed it a “national disgrace”
that the Curie High School Local School Council (LSC) decided not
to renew their principal's contract. His claims that she was a “star
principal” were met with silence by the LSC, which was legally
barred from discussing details of her performance in public. However,
I had seen some video footage of Curie LSC meetings showing a side
of the principal that made the LSC's decision more understandable.
Unfortunately, the videos belonged to the school and were under
the control of the principal! So, I sent the school a FOIA request
for the video of one particular meeting. The principal did not respond.
I sent a letter to Arne Duncan, as the supervising official. The
CPS law department stepped in and arranged for the principal to
speak to me. I told her that I had been requesting the video and
she said, “We don't make copies of videos!” I said,
“Well, under the Freedom of Information Act, you are required
to.” Her response was, “I could care less about the
Freedom of Information Act!” It took a few more days and more
help from the CPS law department, but I eventually got the video
and posted it on Y ou Tube. We believe it is a good example of why
LSCs remain a critical element of school improvement in Chicago.
Use the link below to judge for yourself if this was a good use
of the FOIA law. You tube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugF53n_g-Cg PURE's Renaissance
2010 Accountability Report: http://pureparents.org/data/files/FOIAreport11-16-08.pdf
Support HB 1370 to strengthen FOIA laws in Illinois : HB 1370,
a bill drafted by Attorney General Madigan and others and sponsored
by Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie to strengthen Illinois's FOIA law has
passed the House and now needs support in the Senate. The bill is
here: http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09600HB1370ham001&GA=96&SessionId=76&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=43114&DocNum=1370&GAID=10&Session=
The Attorney General's web site offers a lot of useful information
about FOIA including a FOIA request form: www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/government/FOIA_Sample_Request_Letter.pdf
www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/government/foia_illinois.html
Herald
April 16 2008 coverage of the Committee
HP-K
CC reaching out to community for education. Will seek to strengthen
local councils through participation. By Daschell M. Phillips
The
Hyde Park Kenwood Community Conference (HP-KCC) Education Committee
has decided to seek more community involvement in neighborhood schools,
said Nancy Baum, member [chair] of the education committee. "Though
our mission is to help schools become places where people would
be proud to send their children, we also want to focus the attention,
support and conversation of the general community on the schools,"
said Baum.
Lately
there has been a lot of excitement at the committee meetings as
parents and educators express their concerns about the inequities
in funding at the schools, according to Baum. The committee has
also noticed all the hearings surrounding local school councils
(LSC), the low turnout for LSC forums and events and the lawsuit
filed by Parents United for Responsible Education against Chicago
Public Schools accusing them of stripping the LSCs of their power
by making LSCs at new schools appointed advisory councils.
The
committee thinks that increased community support may be the answer
to these problems and is thinking of ways to streamline their events
with Chicago Public Schools events so they can encourage the community
to get involved, said Baum. "We are looking for ways to get
the community involved in what the committee is doing," sid
Baum. "One of the things we know is that there is a need for
more parent involvement, since we know that parents can't always
be there, the community can be there."
The
committee has agreed to support LSCs by attending council meetings
and helping them drum up community support for the upcoming elections,
which are April 16 for high schools and April 17 for elementary
schools, said Baum.
Baum
said the committee is also planning to have another networking dinner
in the fall to identify a school issue that needs work. "Last
year the parents said that they didn't have anything for the children
to do when they were out of school, and that made us work on providing
activities for the children, said Baum.
The
committee is speaking with principals about adding a link to the
HP-K CC School Committee Web site on the schools' Web sites and
looking for funding to pay for extra copies of school newsletters
so they can distribute them to the homes in the neighborhood.
Top
HPKCC
Schools Committee Hosts Second Biannual Local Schools Council Recognition
Ceremony (March 2008 Conference Reporter)
Illinois
State Senator Kwame Raoul was the featured speaker at the HPKCC Second
Biannual Local School Council Recognition Ceremony held February 25,
2008, in the Canter School Auditorium. Nancy Baum, chairperson, welcomed
the group and reiterated the recent accomplishments of the Schools
Committee. James Harris, HPKCC board member, emceed and gave an eloquent
summary of the history of Local School Councils, which for your edification
goes as follows:
In
1988, the Illinois General Assembly passed the law that created the
Local Schools Councils, which empowered communities to help guide
the educational development of the young people within their communities.
The first LScs were established in October of 1989, in a hail of opportunity,
controversy, and skepticism. Yet despite the skepticism of school
leadership, research indicates that LSCs have served the Chicago Public
School District well. According to a detailed study performed by Designs
for Change, an educational policy research group:
- Parent
and community LSC members are substantially better educated than
the average adult resident of Chicago and Illinois.
- Most
LSC meetings have quorums, and Council members contribute an average
of 28 hours per month to helping their schools.
- 50%-60%
of LSC's are considered "high-functioning", 25%-33% were
performing well but needed support, while only 10%-15% had serious
inadequacies.
- Very
few LSC members have used their positions for corrupt activities.
By
and large, the LSC has been an effective model that other jurisdictions
throughout the nation have studied and explored extensively. While
LSCs have not solved all of the school district's problems, they have
proven that they are a part of the solution, rather than being a part
of the problem, as earlier skeptics had predicted. The challenge that
now faces the Chicago community rests in determining how best to empower
LSCs to improve student performance throughout the district in order
to give communities more control. Chicago's LSCs are an admired model
throughout the country.
Senator
Raoul explained his forwarding to another state senator a resolution
calling for a study on the effectiveness of LSCs. Senator Raoul acknowledged
that the study committee did not include any LSC members and that
that was an oversight. Senator Raoul reiterated his support of LSCs
and his commitment to fighting for legislation in which he truly believes.
He genuinely enjoys the job of state senator and is finding his voice
in the state legislature.
James
Harris invited the braver LSC members to come forth to speak to the
group about their school's individual accomplishments and about what
it meant to be on the LSC. Several articulate LSC members did so:
Patty Jo Watson, Principal of Shoesmith School, praise the volunteer
work and advice from LSC members that she relies on to help the school
run smoothly. Zanette Sanders, community representative to Bret Harte,
spoke about how a new real estate development [that] will break ground
in 2008 on 57th and Cornell was convinced to modify their blue prints
to include a private drop-off side driveway for the buses and cars
entering the school. tony Wilkins from Canter underlined his appreciation
for the Canter board and how much fun Zoe Mikva was. David Myles,
Vice President of the Ray LSC, spoke of the challenges faced in hiring
a new Principal but also how rewarding it is for them to see this
process through.
Schools
whose enthusiastic LSC members were honored included Ariel, Canter
Dyett, Bret Harte, Kenwood Academy, Kozminski, Murray, Ray, Reavis,
and Shoesmith. Members received a certificate, a pin and a carnation.
Some of these members have been on their LSCs for 10 years. Melodious
background music was provided by the Kozminski School String Ensemble
(consisting of 6 girls) taught by Jelena Zivko.
The
event was underwritten by the HPKCC. Contributors included Computer
Resource Center, Century21 Kennedy, Ryan, Monigal and associates;
Medici Restaurant, Cornell Florists; and individuals on the HPKCC
board. The tasty menu included pizza and brownies that the Medici
contributed to the affair, plus the Medici's barbecued chicken, chicken
wings, Caesar salad, vegetables and dips.
The
Schools Committee members who worked hard on this event were Nancy
Baum, Chairperson, Judy Dupont, James Harris, David Nekimken, Julie
Monberg, Gary Ossewaarde, Larry Turpin, and Julie Woestehoff. Special
thanks go to George Rumsey for program design and to Colleen Conlan,
interim principal at Canter School, who did a beautiful job helping
to set up the auditorium and provide custodial help, and who tracked
down student helpers from Kenwood Academy.
The
event marked the end of a two-year term of service for the current
Local School Council members and highlights the coming April elections
of Local School Council member who may come from the ranks of parents,
teachers, or community residents. Each Local School Council meets
monthly at a time set by the group. Nomination for LSC parent and
community positions will be accepted at schools until March 12. Application
forms for people willing to run are available at any public school
and online at www.cps.k12.il.us/AboutCPS/Departments/OSCR. The LSC
elections take place on April 16th in high schools and April 17th
in elementary schools.
Top
Chairman's
update of August 2007, from the August 2007 The Conference Reporter
Update
from the Schools Committee
by
Nancy Baum
The
Schools Committee, whose mission is to have every school in the neighborhood
be one that every parent would be proud to send their children to,
has been working to increase community participation in our neighborhood
schools by encouraging citizens to participate in LSC elections, establishing
personal relationships with LSC's and generally responding to issues
that come to our attention, such a the need for after-school programs.
Members of the Schools Committee are Nancy Baum (Chair), Judy Dupont,
Annika Frazier-Muhammad, James Harris, Zoe Mikva, Julie Monberg, Gary
Ossewaarde, the Rev. Larry Turpin, and Julie Woestehoff.
We
invited the following people to attend our last three meetings: Catherine
Jackson, Program Director-Parent University of the Black Star Project;
Davis Sinski, Executive Director of After School Matters ; and Daisy
Lezama, Deputy Commissioner for City of Chicago Youth Services, about
programs currently available to schools throughout the city. Funds
for ancillary programs are available through the City of Chicago's
Youth Services and must be applied for one year in advance by organizations
that wish to provide such activities. at our last meeting, the Schools
Committee suggested that Canter Middle School might like to try out
a pilot program and the Schools Committee can work with Canter to
try to find appropriate providers who would be willing to apply for
funding. Activity providers can apply in Spring 2008 for 20009. This
gives all concerned parties a lot of time to workout meaningful programs.
The Schools Committee will contact activity providers and principals
about their interest in attending a special block-grant workshop sponsored
by the Schools Committee.
In
an effort to create a data base of ancillary programs we conducted
a public forum in March called "After School Matters in Hyde
Park" (see the last edition of the Reporter) at which
interested community members heard about a wide variety of programs.
This initiative came directly as a result of discussion with members
of the LSCs concerned about programs for children on half-days and
school holidays. we are working on both an internet list and a hard-copy
list to be distributed this fall.
In
light of the current efforts in the Illinois Legislature to examine
the role of LSCs in our schools, we are planning a public forum to
which we will invite State Sen. Kwame Raoul.
The
next regular Schools Committee meeting will be on Monday, Sept. 17,
2007, at the United Church of Hyde Park (7 pm). Interested individuals
should contact Nancy Baum, 773 288-5464 for further information.
________________________
The
committee met September 17. It
finalized final methods to confirm information in the Youth Programs
Database and for distribution and posting, along with pursuit of a
training session with the city on applying for partnership block grants,
also means to distribute the database and advertise its use. Reviewed
lessons learned and relationships gained from our meeting with KOCO
and Sen. Raoul and about LSC's key needs.
Reports
on meeting with Sen. Raoul on LSCs August 20, 2007
Julie
Woestehoff wrote:
Report
on 8/20/07 meeting with Senator Kwame Raoul. See final version as
in the December
2007 Conference Reporter.
School
Committee, KOCO Meet with Senator Raoul
by
Julie Woestehoff
The
HPKCC Schools Committee and the KOCO Mid-South Education Association
co-sponsored a meeting with Senator Kwame Raoul on Monday, August
20th,
2007 at Kennicott Park.
Attending
from the Schools Committee were Anthony Vinson, Annika
Frazier-Muhammed, Gary Ossewaarde, Larry Turpin and Julie Woestehoff.
There were also several students, parents and community residents
representing KOCO in attendance.
KOCO
President Jitu Brown opened the meeting at 6:20 with introductions
and a welcome to Sen. Raoul. He briefly reviewed the history of
the
school reform law – why and how it came to be, what it has
meant to the
community, and the success of LSCs as a school reform and civic
empowerment strategy. He also mentioned some of the CPS policies
and
practices, such as school closings, which have hit KOCO’s
community
especially hard.
Julie
Woestehoff spoke a few words about the Schools Committee’s
efforts
to support LSCs and our current interest in working to expand
out-of-school activities for local youth.
Sen.
Raoul was asked to give a brief overview of his position on LSCs.
He said that he is in favor of the concept of LSCs but is concerned
about whether they are competent to make judgments about the schools.
He
acknowledged that the recent events in Springfield have also called
into
question the ability of state legislators to do their job.
Re:
SJR0058
He reported that this past spring, Arne Duncan, whom he describes
as a
childhood friend, approached him to sponsor a resolution to set
up a
task force to study LSCs. He declined, in part because he is not
a
member of the Senate Education Committee, and also because the
Democratic chair of the Education Committee, Sen. Kimberley Lightford,
chose not to be a sponsor. However, Sen. Raoul agreed to ask the
ranking
Republican on the Education Committee, Sen. Dan Cronin, to sponsor
the
bill. Sen. Cronin agreed.
In
retrospect, Sen. Raoul agreed that the resolution had some
weaknesses, including the fact that the task force that would be
set up
to study LSCs had no LSC or other community representation. He noted
that the bill died without ever coming up for a vote.
Attendee
Judy King asked Sen. Raoul to explain what he thought was wrong
with the Curie High School LSC’s decision not to renew the
principal’s
contract, since he had cited “the Curie situation” as
a reason for
needing a legislative resolution to study LSCs. Sen. Raoul acknowledged
that he only knew what he had read in the newspapers and that media
reports can be one-sided or inaccurate. He also stated that he generally
does not support “reactionary” legislation, that is,
legislation
designed to address some specific high-profile situation. He feels
that
this is often bad legislation.
He
did say he thought he could be in favor of HJR0071, which also calls
for a study of LSCs, but in an open public hearing process. Several
LSC
members made the point that LSCs need more support and that often
the
support they get from CPS causes more problems that it resolves.
Throughout
the session, attendees raised many other excellent points
which Sen. Raoul seemed to appreciate. He stated that now that he
knows
he has so many constituents who are interested and well-informed
about
LSC issues, he will make an effort to reach out when these issues
come
up. He also specifically offered the services of his office for
LSC
members who are having difficulties getting information they need
or
other obstacles to the performance of their duties.
Overall,
the meeting was quite successful. It was respectful, friendly,
open and honest – a good first step in building an effective
working
relationship with Senator Raoul on education issues.
Respectfully
submitted by Julie Woestehoff, HPKCC Schools Committee member
Gary
Ossewaarde wrote:
Hyde
Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee and Kenwood
Oakland Community Organization/Mid South Education Association met
with Senator Raoul August 20 at Kennicott Park to discuss local
school councils (lscs) and other education issues. These and the
other organizations present gave brief accounts of what have been
doing for schools and their concerns.
The
meeting was occasioned by information that Sen. Raoul forwarded
to another senator for introduction a resolution requested by Chicago
Public Schools for a task force to study the effectiveness and continuation
of lsc principal selection and other powers. The Senator clarified
the circumstances.
Attendance
at the purposely-small meeting (around 25) was impressive. Several
school councils and also students and parents were present, from
Woodlawn through Hyde Park and Washington Park and Oakland. Some
of the schools included Dyett, Harte, Kenwood, King, Murray, Raymond,
and Wadsworth.
Much
testimony was given as to the effectiveness and serious work of
the councils and their necessity as a buffer for parents and communities
and to bring local realities into decision-making. Problems were
also acknowledged, and difficulty keeping up public participation,
but were pointed out as no greater (and maybe less) than those of
the central bureaucracy and school boards in general. LSCs were
called rare almost the only instruments of local democracy in Chicago,
and are envied elsewhere.
The
Senator said the move was only a resolution and that it set up a
study, often a good thing. He agreed that the scope of any study
could, and if advanced may well be, broadened and not focused on
one party or one topic in school management such as lscs and on
principal selection. Jitu Brown of KOCO and others explained the
context of system failure under top-down management that led to
enactment of school reform and creation of lscs. (An idea set forth
was to look at the whole School Reform Act sections dealing with
lsc responsibilities, which several said they find too ambiguous,
and the entire principal selection starting with eligibility and
the CPS “select from” list.) They also pointed to continuing
problems needing to be studied, including the effects of capricious
school closures on students and families, Renaissance 2010 and the
suspended Mid South Plan, failure of many of the replacement schools,
a loophole of no requirement for lscs in various types of new schools
that tempts CPS to engage in widespread “transformations”.
And they pointed out ambiguities in the Curie situation and noted
that safeguards against lsc abuses exist, including independent
arbitrations (which have generally found the lscs did a proper job).
Raoul
said he would not support a move to curtail or eliminate lscs and
said that in general he opposes as poor legislation that is reactive
to a bad incident, such as the principal firing at Curie High School
that was the alleged occasion for the resolution. Attendees expressed
suspicion of CPS motives and intentions toward lscs was behind the
resolution. Cited were the very small staff and resources assigned
to train and support lscs and alleged interference from the Area
Instructional Officers, allegedly including advice to principals
to disregard lsc wishes. Attendees said their preference always
was to work together with teachers, principals and CPS. Raoul said
he supports accountability but not legislative micromanagement.
The
meeting concluded with attendees giving the Senator ways in which
he could help lscs and schools:
· Change the law to provide that every public school supported
with taxpayer dollars must have an lsc (taxation > representation).
Parents especially need voices in new schools.
· Spell out responsibilities of lscs more clearly in the
law.
· Have the legislature and direct CPS to provide/promote
spending and staff for lsc and school support.
· Study the full range of school management, principal
selection, and compliance with the reform and related acts; CPS
not following the law in dealing with lscs; schools left to languish
many years then capriciously closed and reopened without lscs.
· Sponsor neighborhood retreats on how to have good lscs,
schools, etc.
· Finally, on lscs and related matters legislators need
to talk to the local organizations including those here before
introducing or supporting actions. Especially important is not
supporting something that casts a shadow on bodies such as lscs
that have to keep proving their credibility to bureaucrats.
Respectfully,
Gary M. Ossewaarde
Top
Report
on the September 17, 2007 meeting. By Nancy Baum
Present:
Nancy Baum (presiding), Judy Dupont, James Harris, Zoe Mikva, Gary
Ossewaarde.
James Harris spoke about the data base for which is an Access document.
He will do labels for Nancy to do a mailing to activity providers
on the list for verification and also to announce the block grant
workshop possibility. In other discussion it was noted the CPS is
going to provide $25,000,000 for after-school program. Both public
and private schools will be provided with the list for distributing
to parents and it was thought that someone with influence with the
Herald should seek a way that the Herald could either publish the
list or include a story about the list. A list should be brought to
Barbara Currie’s office to see if she has any way to publish
it or at least incorporate it into “Raising Our Hyde Park Children”.
Distribution of the list could also be helped by Local School Councils
who could be asked to come to an event where the list would be distributed
that they could get out to parents. (List is attached to these minutes)
Nancy
read the reports by Gary Ossewaarde and Julie Woestehoff about the
meeting with Kwame Raoul to the group.(Reports are forwarded with
these minutes).
The ensuing discussion revolved around the purpose of the LSC’s,
the training of LSC members, obtaining current lists of LSC members,
dates and times of LSC meetings, and our trying to help encourage
people to run for positions and vote. The LSC is a governing body
that is supposed to be the voice of a school. As for training, it
seems to be optional and when it occurs, does not adequately prepare
members for tasks such as changing principals, writing and improving
SIPPA’s, how to get needed equipment or other improvements to
the building and the classrooms without already making that part of
the budget. LSC’s need better access to people who make decisions
at CPS. For example, computer room at Canter broken down. New schools
get what they want, but if not a new school it must be part of the
budget. Not being parents and eligible for NCLB funds. Zoe got a tech
person to come and the result is 15 new computers. The University
gave 10 used computers, but that did not solve the problem.. Gary
mentioned that the Herald might publish a list of the new LSC members
in this week’s Herald (this did not happen in the Wed., Sept.
19, 2007 issue). As for elections, the question is what would be an
effective way to get community interest. Most schools have a meeting
to hear people present. Presentations vary in quality. It would be
useful to have a list of when presentations will be scheduled and
attend, then vote. The point should be made that if one is a parent
it is especially important to have good schools and to do that parental
participation is important.
Block Grant workshop for after-school activities was discussed . Daisy
Lezama will be contacted and the workshop will be set up in accordance
with what it is that her office does.
Report
of the Schools Committee: Report on the October 17 2007 Workshop on
Community Development Block Grants: as in the December 2007 Conference
Reporter.
HPKCC
Schools Committee Organizes Workshop for Youth Activity Providers
By Nancy
Baum
On Wednesday,
October 17, 2007, the Schools Committee organized a nifty little workshop
at the United Church of Hyde Park for youth activity providers in
the area interested in applying for Community Development Block Grants
(CDBG). Andrew Fernandez, Director of Youth Services, Department of
Children and Youth Services of the City of Chicago, presented the
inspiring workshop. Activity-providers representing the following
organizations attended: After School Art, The Black Star Project,
Children’s Rendez-vous, Creative Mansion Children’s Academy
Before and After School Program, Hyde Park Learning Resources Center,
Hyde Park Suzuki Institute, Hyde Park School of Ballet, Joan’s
Studio, The Oriental Institute, and St. Paul and the Redeemer Church.
Other
community members attended also, from the Schools Committee, the Kenwood
Academy Local School Council, and Barbara Flynn Currie’s Office.
The group was grateful and enthusiastic and used the workshop not
only for informational purposes but also to network with fellow activity
providers and to reflect on ways in which they could adapt their programs
to fit into block grant guidelines. One activity provider is motivated
to meet soon with Canter School to see how its program could dovetail
with and enhance Canter’s after-school program.
Mr. Fernandez explained that CDBG-funded youth programs serve more
than 10,000 young Chicagoans ages 6 to 18. The department receives
approximately $10 million in annual CDGB funds to support programs
that include after-school programs, mentoring programs, child and
adolescent counseling, homeless youth services. These program can
occur after 2:30, on holidays and teachers’ institute days and
during the summer. There are major grants and mini-grants. There are
grants for programs such as internships for 16-18-year-olds working
with a 501c3’s, apprenticeships for 13-15-year-olds, and summer
enhancement programs for 10-13-year-olds.
Mr. Fernandez handed out a folder describing the complete array of
Children and Youth Services programs as well as a copy of the rather
lengthy Mini Grant Application for the summer of 2007 which is due
April 20, 2007. For information call the Mini Grant Hotline at 312-743-6313.
The 2009 CDBG grant applications are due on June 8, 2008 for 2009
and will only be available online at cityofchicago.org
(under CDGB applications). In order to obtain this application potential
applicants need an access code which will be given to you at an event
held by the Office of Budget Management at McCormick Place sometime
in March along with a booklet listing departments that provide funds,
counseling, mentoring whom activity providers are invited to consult
for technical assistance. The date of this meeting can be obtained
by calling Mr. Fernandez or by going online to cityofchicago.org
(Office of Budget Management) sometime in February or March.
Mr. Fernandez stayed to answer many eager questions and thankfully
gave out his card with the following phone number and e-mail address:
312-743-0938, Andrew.fernandez@cityofchicago.org.
One certainly will need a human being to contact to cut through some
of the city government bureaucracy.
The Schools Committee will soon release the updated version of its
list of youth activity providers to Local School Councils and principals
of schools in the area for distribution to parents. This project derived
from the Schools Committee’s conversations with Local School
Council members and principals who expressed a need for after-school
and days off programs. This list will also be online at Hydepark.org.
The Schools Committee is always seeking members willing to come to
our periodic meetings. The next one is on Thursday, Nov. 15, from
6:30-8pm at the United Church of Hyde Park, 1448 E. 53rd St., Blackstone
entrance. You can help with various projects such as the one just
described. We are committed to bringing issues of importance before
the community so that we can make our schools places to which parents
will continue to be proud to send their children. Call Nancy Baum
at (773) 288-5464 or contact her at nbbaum@sbcglobal.net.
HPKCC Board Members who are on the committee include: Peter Cassel,
Judy Dupont, Tracy Lampkins, Julie Monberg and Gary Ossewaarde. Other
wonderful members of the community are also regularly involved: Annika
Frazier-Muhammad, Zoe Mikva, David Nekimken. the Reverend Larry Turpin,
and Julie Woestehoff.
Nancy
B. Baum
5221 S. Blackstone Ave
Chicago, Il 606
nbbaum@sbcglobal.net
Home: 773-288-5464
Mobile:773-401-8151
Top
Minutes
of the December 12, 2007 Schools Committee meeting.
Minutes
of the December 12, 2007 HPKCC Schools Committee Meeting
Present: Nancy Baum (presiding), Julie Woestehoff, Gary Ossewaarde,
Zoe Mikva, Judy Dupont, Larry Turpin, and Valencia Rias (Designs for
Change for Local School Councils)
1.
The data base was discussed again. Nancy was told by Barbara Currie
that Rebecca Janowitz needs to be contacted in order to discuss a
collaboration for next year. Nancy delivered copies to all LSC members
at Shoesmith and Zoe sent it to the Canter Principal. The committee
would like to see a copy go into the hands of every parent in the
district. Nancy will write a letter to principals and ask each to
forward a copy to each LSC member. Perhaps LSC’s can handle
distributing to parents. Then follow-up with a phone call. Gary said
to be sure to mention the website which is http://www.hydepark.org/education/HPKCCYouthProgramDatabase.htm
Nancy will try to collaborate with Preckwinkle’s and Currie’s
offices to prepare the 2008-2009 data base.
State Representative Kwame Raoul has agreed to speak at the recognition
ceremony. James Harris will be contacted to be the Master of Ceremonies.
Larry Turpin will be MC if James can’t do it. On a further note
a couple of possibilities presented themselves: to do a workshop in
bringing after-school programs to schools; to hold an activity fair.
In any case, the Local School Elections will be held in April, so
any activity other than the recognition ceremony would take place
after the April elections were over.
The LSC recognition ceremony scheduled for Monday, February 25, 2008,
at Canter School, was discussed. Nancy will send each principal an
e-mail with a Save-the-Date message. Judy Dupont will check with Ray
(Joy Clendening-PTA head) about providing entertainment and Nancy
will try to contact Kenwood School Jazz Band. Nancy will call the
Herald (Daschell Phillips at 358-3135- is the new education reporter)
to ask them if they would like to do a story in the Herald. Committee
members will try to go to LSC meetings and invite people personally.
The schools and committee member associated with it are as follows:
Shoesmith (Nancy), Canter (Zoe), Kenwood (Annika), Dyett (James),
Kozminski (Larry), Murray (Julie, Ray (Judy), Reavis (Nancy) Bret
Harte (Gary) and Ariel. Julie will get the names and addresses of
the LSC members and send invitations to the event. The invitation
will also be e-mailed. Nancy will contact the Medici for food donations
and purchase; Cornell Florist for carnations. Pins from last time
will be inventoried as well as existing paper goods. George Rumsey
can be asked to do the program and prepare the certificates and include
names that Julie obtains.
Valencia Rias explained that she staffs a group that gathers LSC members
from the South Side (but not necessarily including Hyde Park and Kenwood)
to a once-a-month meeting which is attended by 150 people at various
times. The group is affiliated with a united LSC federation whose
goal is to help LSC overcome difficulties with school administrations.
There are various State Reps involved with the group, notably Rep.
Golar, who conducts subject matter hearings. In conjunction with State
Reps, the group is gathering narratives and establishing multi-level
relationships with State Reps. Valencia is eager to establish contact
with our local LSC’s and expand the group’s influence.
The next meeting of the Schools Committee will be (now) Monday, January
7, 2008 (changed from the originally discussed Wed. Jan. 9, 2008 date.
Minutes
of the November 15th, 2007 Schools Committee Meeting.
By Nancy Baum, chair
Present: Nancy Baum (Presiding), Julie Woestehoff, Larry Turpin, James
Harris, Judy Dupont, Ismael Turay, Elizabeth Burns (of City Year Chicago)
Elizabeth Burns, senior corps member, introduced herself as a volunteer
for City Year, an organization that is an offshoot of Americorps.
Volunteers ranges in age from 17-14 and volunteer for a year or 1700
hours of service in order to work off education debt or future education,
or in order to gain life experience. She leads a group which works
at North Kenwood Oakland Community School. From 8:30 to 2:00 they
have a one-on-one pullout system whereby they tutor students one-on-one,
using the model of the Chicago Center for Urban School Improvement
(U. of Chicago). This group has been in Chicago for 10 years. They
have an after-school program at Kenwood Oakland for 6th, 7th, and
8th graders (Project Heroes); they have a weekend program somewhere
else, but city-wide (Young Heroes) that takes place from Martin Luther
King Day until May. They have programs at Howe, Brenson, Spencer,
Marquette, Revere, Donaghue, Bethune and 2 others that I missed.
In various neighborhoods
they conduct a Community Service Day (for N. Kenwood it is February
22, 2008 (a Friday). There will be a Bronzeville Day on Feb. 29, 2008.
They are eager to expand their outreach and have a goal of expanding
their current number of 100 to 300 eventually. Their mission is to
build democracy through community service and entrepreneurship. They
were mentioned in Time Magazine recently in reference a call for a
need for a community service component for all young people that would
replace the “draft” system. The group of volunteers is
diverse: Elizabeth comes from Iowa, and the others come from various
educational, ethnic and economic backgrounds. Elizabeth plans to join
the Peace Corps next and hopes to go to the Middle East. The Schools
Committee agreed to ask George Rumsey to invite Elizabeth to our next
HPKCC board meeting and to contact Gabriel Piemonte of the Hyde Park
Herald to do an article on the group, as Nykeya Woods has left the
Herald, but started an article on the group. Also, it was thought
that the principal of Canter School should be contacted, as the school
needs a lot of work.
Elizabeth asked
each member of the committee how they came to be on this committee
because she wanted to get to know the committee more intimately. Nancy
stated that as a resident of Hyde Park now retired she wanted to give
some attention to the school district her property was in, Shoesmith;
Judy Dupont, as well, though her children attended private school,
was curious about the public schools in the area; Ismael Turay has
children in the Shoesmith and Kenwood schools and explained how difficult
it is to get Hyde Park and Kenwood residents to send their children
to a school that has sub-par academic achievement and that attracts
students who live on the fringes of Hyde Park instead; James Harris,
who hails from California, heads an organization called Civic Empowerment
that trains young people and adults in civic empowerment; Larry Turpin
is the pastor of the United Church of Hyde Park and husband of Julie
Woestehoff; they came from Rogers Park and are skilled in community
development; Julie Woestehoff is executive director of Parents United
for Responsible Education that plays a major role in making sure that
education is in the forefront of the Illinois State and Chicago City
governments.
Nancy’s
report on the Grant workshop: There were several people who thanked
us via e-mail for the wonderful program. We have no feedback on how
many people are actually going to apply for a grant.
Youth Activity
Provider List: James reported that changes seem to come too often
and he would like to finalize the list. We will ask Gary if the list
is on the internet. We will ask activity providers to establish a
link with Hydepark.org. We will try to partner with Barbara Currie
and Tony Preckwinkle, since they already publish a booklet and we
like their format. Maybe the U. of Chicago and Leslie Hairston would
help finance an updated booklet annually. We will ask activity provider
to become members of the Hyde Park Kenwood Community Conference in
exchange for our updating their information annually. The booklet,
if we get one together in time, will be sent home with report cards
in April of 2008.
Nancy distributed
the data base to the LSC of Shoesmith. The Schools Committee plans
to hold another Recognition Day for LSC members, as we come to the
end of another 2-year elected term cycle. We selected the date of
Tuesday, November 26th, 2008, from 6:30-8 and hope to get the cafeteria
of Canter School for this event rather than holding it in a Kenwood
theater. Nancy will contact the Canter School Principal. We will plan
more of the event at our next meeting.
The next meeting
of the Schools Committee will be December 11, 2007 from 7-9 at the
United Church of Hyde Park. Top
Minutes
of the January 7, 2007 meeting.
Update
was done on status of data base: Schools Committee members who go
to Local School Council meetings should try to find out how people
want to access the data base. The LSC meetings schedule is as follows:
Canter: 1st Tuesday, 6:30; Dyett: 2nd Friday, 5:30; Bret Harte: 2nd
Tuesday, 6:15; Kozminski, 1st Wed, 6 pm; Murray: 3rd Wed, 6pm, Price:
2nd Mon, 5pm; Ray, 2nd Monday, 6:30 pm;
Reavis: 1st Thurs, 6pm; Shoesmith: 1st Wednesday, 6pm, Kenwood: ?
The Youth Programs data base is on the following web site: www.hydepark.org/education/HPKCCYouthProgramDatabas.htm
LSC members should also be informed of our planned LSC recognition
ceremony for February 25, 2008 at Canter School. Julie Woestehoff
brought typed labels for LSC members and Principals and will prepare
a flyer that should be distributed at LSC meetings. Nancy will mail
flyer and a letter of invitation to each LSC member requesting an
RSVP. Entertainment has not yet been secured. Nancy will contact Annika
about this, and Kozminski and Michael Keno at Murray School. The Herald
needs to be reminded to write an article about the event, follow-up
calls will be made. George Rumsey will be asked to prepare certificates,
but we will need an accurate up-to-date list of names which we will
hopefully soon have. Nancy will call each school for lists or as least
contact the most recent LSC chair, or other people she knows.
Schools Committee members who attend any LSC meetings are asked to
remind LSC’s about our event, give them the link to the data
base and try to get an accurate list of members. Nancy will try to
get the invitation out in the next two weeks, that is by the 22nd
or so of January, 2008, asking people to RSVP by the 15th of February
which should give us time to nail down food needs, etc.
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 6, 2008! See
you then. Top
May
5, 2008 meeting. HPKCC (Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference) Schools
Committee
Minutes
Monday, May 5, 2008, at 7 PM, at the United Church of Hyde Park
Present: Nancy Baum (Presiding), Zoe Mikva, Gary Ossewaarde, Julie
Woestehoff, Tracy Lampkins, Annika Frazier Muhammad, Ted Fetters (Rep.
Currie’s Office), Anthony Travis, Sheila Wesonga, Valencia Rias
and Vernon Winston.
Planning a Fall networking dinner for school principals and LSC chairs:
The date of Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, was selected for this event,
to be held at Canter School. Subject to confirmation by Colleen Conlan,
Principal of Canter. Ralph Martire was mentioned as a possible resource
person or speaker. Sheila Wesonga, an independent consultant and grant
writer has agreed to speak about ways to obtain and sources for grant
money. Each school will be invited to come prepared to tell about
a grant they may have obtained.
Spring
Forum: It is hoped that a subject for our anticipated Spring 2009
forum will reveal itself through discussions at this networking dinner.
We had thought about a topic such as, “What’s Happening
in the Schools? How Can We Be Part of the Solution?” Perhaps
State Rep. Currie could come and talk about what is happening at the
state level. Other ideas will be entertained.
Data Base of After-School Activities: At Rep. Currie’s suggestion
Nancy contacted 4th Ward Alderman Preckwinkle's office on updating
and distributing the pamphlet “Raising our Hyde Park Children”
and adding our information to it. Nancy spoke to Pam Cummings....
Murray and Shoesmith have already added our data base to their web
sites. The address of our data base in www.hydepark.org/schools. Sheila
Wesonga has agreed to continue talking to the Alderman’s office
about this matter. Ted Fetters agreed to add the data base to the
Rep. Currie’s web site.
Increasing membership on the Schools committee: Annika Muhammad-Frazier
stated that the purpose of the Schools Committee was not readily comprehensible
to the LSC members. This led to a discussion of a rewording of our
mission statement to read as follows: “The mission of the Hyde
Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee is to provide
community support for the schools and to provide a place where Local
School Council members can get together to share information.”
Julie Woestehoff agreed to create a pamphlet outlining the accomplishments
of the School Committee in the last few years. A letter and the pamphlet
will be sent to each principal asking that the LSCs select a member
to represent them at our meetings. The selection could take place
at each LSC’s July organizational meeting. Some Schools Committee
members selected a school that they would follow up with to encourage
this to happen: Kenwood (Ted); Canter (John Keller, a friend of Ted’s);
Murray (Julie W.); Bret Harte (Zanette Sanders); Ray (Heather Ettleman);
Shoesmith (Ismael); Reavis?; Dyett? Kozminski?
Proposed tee shirt design contest for school children to advertise
and sell at the Annual Hyde Park Garden Fair: Julie Woestehoff will
contact the Hyde Park Art Center, The Teacher’s Company, the
Community Partners Division, Gallery 37, school art teachers etc.
to get more information.
New Business: Murray is having a summer school emphasizing high school
readiness which is a voluntary program. There is a link on the CPS
web site. King College Prep is holding a Leaders to Leaders Conference
on Wednesday evening of this week. Murray is holding a forum of the
4 finalists for the position of new principal, Wednesday of this week
at 6 pm. Murray is holding a spring gala, Sat. May 17th called Jazz
on the Lawn. Annika distributed the booklet “Project Exploration
Discover Your summer 2008” available on the web site: www.projectexploration.org.
Adjournment
HPKCC
holds networking dinner for LSCs, principals Sept 28, 2006
HPKCC
2006 No. 4 Conference Reporter. By
Nancy B. Baum
HPKCC Hosts
Networking Dinner for School Principals and LSC Chairs
On
Thursday, September 28, the HPKCC Schools Committee hosted a networking
dinner at Miriam Canter Middle School for area principals and local
scholl council chairpersons. Two dozen representatives of the HPKCC
and the schools attended. shoesmith, Harte, Kozminski, Reavis, Ray,
Kenwood, canter, Murray and Ariel were represented as well as members
of the HPKCC schools Committee chaired by Nancy Baum. Julie Woestehoff
of PURE (Parents United for Responsible Education) arranged for
the guest speaker, Mae Jefferson of he Chicago Public Schools Office
of External Partnerships about fund-raising and other resources
for public schools.
Ms.
Jefferson's talk, which was the highlight of the evening, focused
on the program of "Free Things for CPS Schools". Businesses,
organizations, or individuals can donate valuable excess items such
as furniture, bookcases, office supplies, musical instruments, etc.,
to the Chicago Public Schools and receive a tax deduction. This
office also sponsors Principal for a day, volunteer tutoring programs,
and Futures Exchange (pairing companies, organizations, and individuals
with Chicago Public Schools.
The
talk by Mae Jefferson was well-received by the group who were happy
to hear how easy it is to make use of its services. The office was
created because of he overwhelming number of requests by citizens
wanting to help. The phone number for those interested in helping
is 773 553-1540 and the e-mail address is Futures-Exchange@cps.k12.il.us.
Other
issues were raised during the dinner, primarily, planning activities
for children after school and on days when school is only in session
for half a day.
The
HPKCC Schools committee's purpose is to bring community support
to our local school councils. The networking dinner helped to open
up exchanges between members of the community and administrators
and LSC members so that the community can better understand and
appreciate our wonderful local public schools.
Top
Concerning
the September 28 2006 networking dinner for principals and LSC chairs,
Schools Committee Chair Nancy Baum, Schools Committee chairwoman,
wrote in the October 11 Herald. (The following is with a couple paragraphs
not in the Herald letter.)
Networking
for schools
On
Sept. 28, the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee
hosted a networking dinner at Miriam Canter Middle School for area
principals and local school council chairpersons. Two dozen representatives
of the HPKCC and the schools attended including those from Shoesmith,
Harte, Kozminski, Reavis, Ray, Kenwood, Canter, Murray, and Ariel.
Mae
Jefferson of the Chicago Public Schools Office of External Partnerships
spoke about fund-raising and other resources for public schools.
Jefferson's talk, which was the highlight of the evening, focused
on the program of "Free Things for CPS Public Schools".
Businesses, organizations, or individuals can donate valuable excess
items such as furniture, bookcases, office supplies, musical instruments,
etc. to CPS and receive a tax deduction.
This
office also sponsors Principal for a Day, volunteer tutoring programs,
and Futures Exchange (pairing companies, organizations and individuals
with Chicago Public Schools).
The talk by Mae Jefferson was well-received by the group who were
happy to hear how easy it is to make use of its services. The office
was created because of the overwhelming number of requests by citizens
wanting to help. The phone number for those interested in helping
is 773-553-1540 and the e-mail address is Futures-Exchange@cps.k12.il.us.
Other issues were raised during the dinner, primarily, planning
activities for children after school and on days when school is
only in session for half a day.
The Hyde-Park Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee’s
purpose is to bring community support to our local school councils.
The networking dinner helped to open up exchanges between members
of the community and administrators and LSC members so that the
community can better understand and appreciate our wonderful local
public schools.
Top.
More on "Free Things" and other resources is
in Education Resources
Index page.
Committee
holds gala award ceremony for LSCS
February
23, Thursday, 7-9 pm. HPKCC Schools Committee presented "They
Are Our Schools-Take Responsibility." Our ceremony
honored and gave certificates. pins and a red rose to the
local school council members, sought to pump up enthusiasm
for residents and parents to run in this spring's elections. We had
performances by Kenwood children, followed by a few words from
Arne Duncan, CPS Superintendent. The assemblage
was reminded how rare councils with real responsibility and power
are in the country and that studies by such organizations as Designs
for Change show a direct linkage between active lscs and a school's
success. A special honor was given to retiring Area 15 Instructional
Officer Virginia Vaske. See
list of LSC members honored, in
LSC page.
Our
deepest thanks to Kenwood Academy, including Principal and staff,
the Jazz Band and its director and Tenors of Distinction; Pastor Larry
Turpin, Century 21, Parents United for Responsible Education, Computer
Resource, and others.
The
following is from the Winter 2006 Conference Reporter.
2006 Awards Ceremony for Local School Council Members [note:
if you want to see the fine photos, join
the Conference and ask for the winter 2006 Reporter issue.]
The
HPKCC Schools Committee proudly hosted a ceremony on February 23 to
recognize the accomplishments and contributions of the many volunteers
who serve on HPK local school councils (LSCs). The event was held
in the Kenwood Academy Little Theater.
After
entertainment provided by the talented Kenwood Academy Jazz Band,
conducted by Gerald Powell, the enthusiastic audience was welcomed
by the Reverend Larry Turpin, who served as master of ceremonies for
the evening. Remarks on what it means to serve on an LSC were provided
by Lori Watts-Branch, chair of the Murray LSC. Then Nancy Baum, of
the Schools Committee, presented all LSC members and their principals
with a certificate, pin, and red carnation.
Next,
Elizabeth Kirby, Principal at Kenwood Academy, recognized Virginia
Vaske, retiring Area 15 Instructional Officer, for her special contribution
to Hyde Park Schools. Following this presentation, the audience was
moved to cheers by the musical performance of the Kenwood Academy
Tenors of Distinction, conducted by Kenneth Lenon, Chair, Department
of Music, and featuring Chad Foster, Cherub Philip, and Mathew Robinson.
The
evening concluded with remarks from Arne Duncan, CEO of the Chicago
Public Schools, who commended those currently serving on local school
councils, and encouraged everyone to stay involved and recruit new
members.
The
Schools Committee of HPKCC is co-chaired by Homer Ashby and Nancy
Baum. Members are Judy Dupont, Annika Frazier-Muhammad, Judy King,
Ethel Myles-Henderson, Zoe Mikva, Julie Monberg, Gary Ossewaarde,
Loren Santow, Helena Smith, Reverend Larry Turpin, and Julie Woestehoff.
Special
thanks go to the Hyde Park Herald (promotion), Century 21
Kennedy Ryan Monigal (donation of flowers), and Computer Resource
Center (certificates and programs).
The
following is from the March 1, 2006 Hyde Park Herald. By Erin Meyer:
The
Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference distributed 100 certificates
to Hyde Park local school council members during an awards ceremony
at Kenwood Academy Feb. 23. The event was held to recognize current
LSC members and drum up more candidates to run in the upcoming LSC
election scheduled for April 19 and 20.
"We
need 17,000 people to run for these positions citywide," said
the Rev. Larry Turpin, pastor of the United Church of Hyde Park, who
spoke as master of ceremonies. "This is the only place in the
country where you have democratic, parent majority councils,"
he told the parents, teachers, community representatives and principals
in attendance. "Our LSCs make all the difference in how the schools
are run. They have real power."
All
the speakers at the ceremony, including Chicago Public Schools Chief
Arne Duncan, encouraged anyone with a stake in the community or its
children, to run for an LSC. "If you are currently on a local
school council, run again. If you have never been a member of an LSC,
run for the first time," said Duncan, a lifelong resident of
Hyde Park.
He called
the relationship between the schools and community in Hyde Park "extraordinary."
"Hyde Park shaped my value system and beliefs," Duncan said.
"It has a lot to do with why I am raising my kids here."
Local
school councils are the product of a 1988 school reform act that established
an el3cdted council at each public school to hire and fire principals
and make decision about budgets and school improvement priorities.
"We
would like every school in Hyde Park to be a place parents would want
to send their children," said Nancy Baum, member of the HPKCC
Schools Committee. The HPKCC printed and distributed certificates
to LSC members from schools in Hyde Park, including Ariel Community
Academy, Miriam Canter Middle school, Dyett Academic Center, Bret
Harte Elementary, Kenwood Academy, Charles Kozminski Community Academy,
Philip Murray Language Academy, William H. Ray School, Reavis Elementary
and Beulah Shoesmith Elementary.
Hyde
Park parent Ismail Turay Sr. was the only LSC member to receive two
certificates for his participation at Shoesmith Elementary, as community
representative at Kenwood Academy [and] Kenwood Academy, as a parent
representative. Turay has three children in pubic school in Hyde Park.
Usman, 10 and Aisha, 9 attend Murray Language Academy. "The work
LSCs do makes such a difference in the lives of our children"
Turay said.
Turay's
son, Omar, is currently a junior at Kenwood and plays saxophone with
the Kenwood Academy Jazz Band, which performed for LSC members at
the ceremony. "Osmar insisted that I run for LSC so I put him
in charge of my campaign," Turay said.
The
HPKCC Schools Committee offers information on LSC elections on their
website hydepark.org.
Top
Report:
the March 14 2005 HPKCC Schools Committee Forum,
State of the Schools in Hyde Park and Kenwood
By
Homer Ashby, Schools Committee Chairman. March 18, 2005
On Monday,
March 14, 2005 the Schools Committee of the Hyde Park Kenwood Community
Conference sponsored a forum on “The State of the Public Schools
in Hyde Park/Kenwood.” Approximately 70 residents from the community
were in attendance.
The
evening began with musical selections from the Kozminski string ensemble,
recorder ensemble, band and orchestra. Their playing was both beautiful
and inspiring.
Moderator
for the evening, Homer Ashby, then explained the purpose of the forum
which was two-fold: 1) Bring community residents up to date
on what is occurring in the public schools in Hyde Park/
Kenwood, and 2) To garner input from residents for the future
agenda of the Schools Committee.
There
were two presentations by the two Area Instructional Officers for
our area. Virginia Vaske oversees the elementary schools and Norma
Rodriguez oversees the one high school in our area, Kenwood Academy.
Their power point presentations were informative and dynamic. In the
question and answer period afterwards Ms. Vaske indicated that there
are no plans for schools in her area regarding Renaissance 2010. Norma
Rodriguez highlighted the many extra-curricular programs established
at Kenwood Academy.
Representatives
from each of the nine elementary schools (Ariel, Canter, Dyett, Harte,
Kozminski, Murray, North Kenwood/Oakland Charter, Reavis, and Shoesmith)
and Kenwood Academy were invited to make brief presentations on recent
developments and concerns at their schools.
From
the presentations and the discussions five items were highlighted
for follow-up:
-
What might be the impact Renaissance 2010 for our area schools,
- inadequate
funding by the State of Illinois (Illinois ranks 49th of 50 in school
funding),
- uneven
administration of No Child Left Behind,
-
sanctions on the schools, and
-
partnerships among schools.
Top
Coverage
of the March 14 Forum, particularly re 2010
HP educators
chime in on Renaissance 2010
Hyde
Park Herald, March 23, 2005. By Kiratiana E. Freelon
[Note
that this report combines matters discussed at the forum with the
reporter's interviews at a later date.]
Just
three months after Theodore Moran applied for a Renaissance 2010 school
in Bronzeville, the local school council representative found himself
signing off on a Shoesmith school budget that cut several coveted
programs. While he wants to see better schools overall, as promised
under Mayor Richard M. Daley's school reform plan, he wonders what
impact there will be on existing schools that face system wide deficits--a
sentiment aired at a forum March 14 at the Hyde Park Neighborhood
Club.
"I
know very well that when you add new staff and focus a new staff on
trying to make Ren. 2010 work, it does slice away energy and resources
on areas that still have great need," Moran said.
Renaissance
2010 proposes to create 100 new schools, designed to split evenly
among contract, charter and performance schools. Of the 18 "Renaissance"
schools that will open this fall, five will be in Bronzeville, an
area whose schools have generally performed worse than Hyde Park schools.
Supporters see the plan as a way to improve the entire school system.
"In order for the system to improve, each community school, each
program needs to reach its fullest potential," said Phillip Hampton,
director of Chicago Public School community relations.
"Hyde
Park has always had good public schools, but people are very pleased
to see there will be good public schools adjacent to Hyde Park as
well," said Rebecca Janowitz, a former Local School Council member
and CPS liaison for the University of Chicago Donoghue School, 707
E. 37th St., Transition Advisory Council (TAC). Through the TAC, Janowitz
oversaw the community's involvement in developing the new U. of C.
Renaissance school, which plans to use the noted instructional techniques
of North Kenwood-Oakland Charter school, 1119 E. 46th St., and to
include the distinct cultural history of Bronzeville in its curriculum.
HP
Schools Targeted: - No
Hyde
Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee Chair Homer Ashby
assumed that because Renaissance 2010 targets the lowest performing
schools, Reavis and Kozminski might be affected by the plan because
they failed to meet state and national standards last year. "There
are some schools in Hyde Park area who are not performing or not doing
as well as they or we would like," Ashby said. "The concern
is whether those schools will be [considered for closing."
CPS
schools chief Arne Duncan said no Hyde Park area schools will close.
"We're really focusing on those neighborhoods that don't have
great options," Duncan said. Area 15 Instructional Officer Virginia
Vaske elaborated. "Renaissance 2010 identifies really low performing
schools," Vaske said. "There are no Hyde Park schools that
fit that profile."
Budget
Crunch and Financial Burden
Yet
even with his school's assured safety, Kozminski Principal Lionel
Bordelon sees a negative effect of Renaissance 2010 on the entire
school system. "Ren. 2010 is what I considered a systematic dismantling
of the public schools," Bordelon said. "The existing public
schools are struggling with budgets and are under funded." Bordelon
said CPS neglects to mention that Renaissance 2010 schools are funded
out of current budget. "They should make the state get off their
chair and take care of its responsibility to fund public education.,"
he added. "I am going to give you a Volkswagen budget and expect
a Mercedes result."
With
deficits looming, many Hyde Park schools cut programs and lost staff
in their recent budget proposals. Cydney Fields, principal of Ray
Elementary School, 5631 S. Kimbark Ave., said Ray may lose a Spanish
teacher and was recently notified that it will have to pay CPS for
internet access. Vaske said all but one of her 21 schools in area
15 will lose teacher positions this fall.
But
CPS Budget Director Pedro Martinez, said his office is making sure
the new schools will not cost more than already existing schools and
that they will balance each other financially, he said. "We added
new schools but we have kids that are going to those schools that
would have been going to the closed schools," Martinez said.
Renaissance
2010 will, however, hit CPS' capital budget hard, Martinez said. for
example, Douglas Elementary, 3200 S. Calumet Ave., will undergo extensive
renovations before it opens. To limit the financial burden, CPS expects
Renaissance contract and charter schools to bring resources and school
partners to the table, Hampton said. A civic business group, New Schools
for Chicago, pledged to provide $50 million for the new schools.
Duncan
sees no contradictions in financially supporting charter and contract
schools amid a budget deficit because better schools will strengthen
to case for receiving more money from the state. "The more we
create great schools, the more people are going to want to invest
in public education," Duncan said.
Per-pupil
Expenditure
In the
long term, Hyde Park schools can also expect Renaissance 2010 schools
to lay the foundation for CPS' new per-pupil funding scheme, which
it expects to gradually introduce to the entire system's schools.
In an effort to achieve more equitable and transparent spending, Martinez
plans to fund the 18 new Renaissance schools using a per-pupil formula,
rather that the existing staff-based-formula.
Elementary
and high schools will receive a dollar amount for each student based
on his or her needs, about $5,000 and $6,000, respectively. The new
system would allow principals more freedom over their budget, Martinez
said.
Fields
worries that giving principals a lump sum of money will encourage
the hiring of new teachers with smaller salaries but less experience.
"That concerns me if there is not some kind of formula to figure
[experience] in," Fields said.
Vision
and mandate for the Schools Committee:
From
the Autumn, 2004 Conference Reporter, the members publication
of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference
By Homer Ashby, Schools Committee Chairman
The
Schools Committee of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference has
been revived and is hard at work examining issues that impact the
schools in Hyde Park-Kenwood. One of the first tasks of the Schools
Committee has been a review of the Schools page of the Conference's
website. While the Schools page is loaded with important information
about the schools in our community, the information can be organized
better so that the webpage is much more user friendly.
The
Schools Committee is eager to hear from the community regarding its
concerns about schools. In that way the Committee can better plan
its programs so that they are responsive to community interests .
To that end the Schools Committee is in the process of planning a
community forum early in 2005. Virginia Vaske, Chicago Public Schools
Area Instructional Office for this region, has graciously accepted
our invitation to participate in the forum so that we can learn the
latest developments and plans for the public schools in our community.
Please be on the lookout for the date and time for this forum.
Finally,
the Schools Committee has adopted a vision for the parents, children
and schools of our community. The vision is that "parents in
our community would feel comfortable sending their children to any
school in Hyde Park Kenwood." This is a lofty goal, but one that
we feel our community can attain if we can meet, talk, plan, and work
together. We invite you to join us in this cause.
If
you have an interest in working with the Schools Committee, please
call the Conference office at (773) 28808343 or email hpkcc@aol.com.
Top
Reports
from committee meetings
HPKCC
Schools Committee Minutes of Jan. 24, 2007
Present:
Nancy Baum (Presiding), Gary Ossewaarde, Julie Woestehoff, Julie Monberg,
Larry Turpin, Annika Frazier-Muhammad.
1. New
members were recruited from among the community representatives to
the various LSC’s as follows: Tony Wilkins (Canter) (now on
our e-mail list); Camille Jarvis (Reavis); Chenita Hardy (Renaissance);
and William Sweetland (Bret Harte). Julie suggested that the next
mailing include a post card for easy response.
Minutes were read and corrected to read: Present, Gary Ossewaarde
and Annika Frazier-Muhammad. Date of Forum corrected to read Wed.
March 28, 2007.
Nancy apologized that Lenora Austin unable to attend today’s
meeting.
2. Pamphlet
Report:
A. James Harris reported on his calls made to various organizations:
Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director Lenora Austin, had
nothing to say about loitering except that businesses had been sent
guidelines. Deputy Director Daisy LaZama of City of Chicago Children
and Youth Services, which funds service providers to the Hyde Park
Neighborhood Club and would be interested in funding more service
providers in the Hyde Park area if they are brought to her attention.
Ald. Leslie Hairston’s 5th Ward office: Maurice Lee stated that
students in that ward were actively engaged in activities and doubts
that students that may be loitering are from the 5th Ward, and is
furthermore unaware of activities addressing the loitering issue.
Ald Preckwinkle of the 4th Ward suggested that a survey of needs be
conducted among school principals to assess the needs. Elizabeth Kirby
of Kenwood spoke of the complexity of the problem: students of Kenwood
either were or were not involved in after-school activities provided
by Kenwood. Students outside of Kenwood Academy cannot participate
in what is offered. Justin of Sen. Kwame Raoul’s office, stated
that community discussion of youth loitering was needed.
B.
Barbara Flynn Currie: Nancy spoke to State Rep. BFC who thanked the
committee for the work we are doing. She suggested an agency called
Teen Reach, an after-school initiative task force. There is an application
process and quite a bit of money can be made available. The next application
period is in two years. Larry will look into putting together a network
of service providers who might find a grant writer (Blue Gargoyle
might have one already) to put together an application for the whole
community.
C. Preckwinkle’s office, which produces the booklet “Raising
our City Children” prints 1000 booklets per year at a cost o
$3100.00. Their office indicated they would have no problem adding
our findings to their next booklet which is distributed annually at
the September 57th Street Children’s Book Fair. Additional copies
are currently available from their office and at the Chamber of Commerce
office. The committee decided that 10,000 booklets are needed in order
to reach each and every child. Nancy will follow up with Currie’s
office with this information in order to ascertain what avenues should
be followed to obtain additional funding. It was decided that distribution
would have to occur at each school’s beginning-of-the-year parents’
night. (Nancy mailed one copy to each of the Schools Committee meeting’s
attendees and will try to get the text on line as soon as possible.)
Others who wish a pamphlet should let Nancy know or go to the above-mentioned
offices and obtain a copy.
3.
Visit to Canter School: The assistant principal Zeneeta Abdul-Ahad,
who gave Julie a tour, states that school needs after school programs
esp. from 3:15-5:00, when parents come for their children. Programs
in history, debate, computers, media, engineering, entrepreneurship,
animation, graphic design, music, knitting, quilting, would be welcome.
Julie will try to interest someone she knows in the quilting. There
exists an after-school program at Canter in yearbook, journal, sports,
drama, music, art and Spanish, a homework center and Latin Muntu Dance,
but it only goes until 3:15. Gary and Nancy had another tour by Carolyn
Epps, the principal. We were struck by how run-down the building appears
to be, but were pleased by how small the classes are. All teachers
regardless of subject teach writing. Student are preparing for a creative
writing contest. Gary suggested the Herald could publish excerpts
after contest over. The PTA raises funds for enrichment and is willing
to pay for after-schools activities. In a conversation with Nancy,
Tony Wilkins said that a new addition in planned for Canter to be
paid for out of TIF funds (along with a new parking structure in the
Harper Court area). What is need is to raise Canter’s visibility
and get people to send their kids there? Kids’ scores are improving
dramatically in math and reading and kids are winning state science
competitions. School is not at capacity. Julie Woestehoff stated that
more kids from Murray planned to attend Canter next year.
(Gary reports that Bret Harte’s LSC is interested in having
an area-wide basketball league with existing teams that could combine
sports, academics and mentoring. Mr. Pizer of the White Sox is an
active fundraiser for Bret Harte.)
4. March
Forum: Julie W. Composed a letter to all after-school service providers
asking them to participate in the forum and to provide pertinent information
such as type of program, no. of days per week, capacity, cost, how
to apply, how advertised, responsible person, phone, address, etc.
This letter will be e-mailed to all principals and mailed or e-mailed
to as many service providers as we can identify to invite them to
come to our forum and speak briefly about the program. Save-the-Date
flyers will go to PTO’s, PTA’s, LSC’s, PAC’s
and the Herald and to whomever else we can think of.
Annika will contact Nichols Park, Phil Jackson, Larry Hawkins, Boy
Scouts (Girl Scouts?) Calvert House, PACS, LSCS, PTAS, PTOS to find
out when they meet.
Julie M. will contact St. Thomas Apostle School, St Paul and the Redeemer,
Museum of Science and Industry. Larry:
Interfaith Council.
Nancy: HPNC, JCC
Other areas needing contacting include the other parks, Looking Glass
Theater, Boy Book Club (South Shore), AYSO, Shoesmith, Little Black
Pearl, Blackstone Library, Dyett and Washington Park Junior Life Guard
program.
Gary will eventually add our information to the web.
The
forum will consist of an overall presentation on perhaps “Building
Assets” (Which is a book that we might try to have available
for the Blackstone Library and other libraries or places). Then
we will have a networking hour on continuum of services available
in Hyde Park, refreshments, etc.
Nancy
Baum
Report
of the May 30 2007 Schools Committee meeting report. With David Sinski
of After School Matters, and others from CPS. What is there?
By Nancy
Baum
David
Sinski, Executive Director of After School Matters came to this meeting
to talk to us about what the organization does. This includes the
following: Gallery 37 (since 1990), a successful summer jobs program
in which professional artists work with teens. Job readiness, communication
skills, hands-on and project-based (painting, sculpture, performance).
Art works created were sold in a store in the Cultural Center and
proceeds plowed back into the program. Benches were created for airports,
mosaics and mural appeared throughout the city. The Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation Charitable Trust funded a program to reduce unhealthy behavior
in teens such as pregnancies, vandalism, etc. Elementary school was
a first focus, but After Schools Matters had a program for teenagers.
There is a vast network today in Chicago extending to 58 campuses
shown on a map that David Sinski brought to the meeting.
David Sinski introduced two colleagues: Patrick Milton (773-553-2134),
After School Matters liaison with CPS, Office of Post-Secondary Education;
and Trinanein Almo, Regional Operations Manager, Region Four, (312-744-9323),
a Hyde Parker working with several schools in Region Four.
After Zoe Mikva explained the history of Canter as a designated middle
school (Murray needed space for a Pre-Kindergarten, Ray needed more
space), and touted Canter as having a chance to be successful she
outlined the Canter funding need for after school program from 3:30-5:30.
(Funds are available only from 2:00-3:30 plus discretionary funds
of $20.00/hour for teachers who want to stay to do needed programs.)
Parents sometimes do not pick up children until 5:30. Canter School
is therefore interested in more and better after school programs.
David Sinski explained that After School Matters contracts with independent
instructors who submit a 10-week curriculum. In addition it evaluates
proposals from teachers’ organizations once a year from late
February to early March for the following Fall school session.
Proposals for Summer are accepted in January.
3000 jobs have been created for summer teens working closely with
school campuses, parks and libraries. The goal is to reach 50% of
a CPS teen population of 109,000 (There are 210,000 teenagers total
in the population). Teens work closely with campuses and build on
the school day and other activities already in the schools such as
public art projects. Organizations involved include Dept. of Youth
Services, Blue Gargoyle, the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, Hyde Park
Art Center. To call for grant proposal forms, contact Daisy Lezama,
Chicago Dept. of Youth Services, 312-743-0258. Proposals are accepted
from groups working with high schoolers, but could be from middle
schools or elementary schools.
Lorie Watts Branch, Murray LSC member, wanted to know what can be
done for Canter School now, how it is determined where money goes,
whether parents get financial support for this, and if Canter could
piggy-back on monies allotted to Kenwood which has 7th and 8th grades.
The answer is that there is an application process which comes on
line when it is available (sic), the programs go to high need communities
(based on poverty rate, availability of other youth programs, academics,
crime rates, numbers of young people where there are no existing services).
There exists an Office of Extended Opportunities, mostly for K-8,
which mainly does academic enrichment in math and reading at the initiation
of the Community School. Supplemental programs for underperforming
schools are already mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act.
Youth action state-funded grants. In this program kids apply on line
for 25 available slots. School personnel helps set up interviews.
Kids must commit and can’t wait to see if they get on the basketball
team, for instance. Student must exhibit skills involved in the program,
e.g., art dance, sports. This program is done in 27 parks in high
crime districts. There is a $15.00/day stipend for students who must
attend. A liaison at the school understands that teen or what his/her
individual needs are. Shoesmith is involved in this program.
Kenwood School has drop-in programs in Hipology, Yoga, Dance, and
Book Club, with open enrollment which meet twice a week from 3:30-6:00
from February to May.
Programs include the following: 6 weeks and 8 weeks programs: True
Star, King College Prep, journalism, crimebusters, nutrition and fitness,
teen mentoring programs for younger kids.
In the Fall, Kenwood students trained in mentoring could link with
Canter. Potentially, Canter students could link with younger kids.
There are groups on a mailing lists who want to provide services,
including community organizations, independent instructors, etc. who
do workshops. The impetus for programs such as these come directly
as a result of surveys of students who were asked what they wanted.
After School Matters contacts the schools by letter.
Regional Directors of After School Matters work with LSC’s and
PACS. No Child Left Behind does not impact After School Matters because
NCLB refers to performance on ISBE scores.
At Kenwood, the SES AIM HIGH PROGRAM seeks teachers.
Since our group is ignorant of what is going on we must go to LSC
meetings to find out what we have and what is needed. Parents need
to know what opportunities exist. Teenagers need guidance, as they
will not be pro-active. Our forum in March showed the number of programs
that already exist, but since many are private they are costly. The
After School Matters programs need to be allotted fairly across the
board.
Someone mentioned a band of juvenile delinquents coming from an unknown
school or neighborhood who commit assaults on people and property.
It was decided that two or three people should contact the Chicago
Public Schools Office of After School Program, 773-553-3576 or 3590,
Tawa Jogunonsimi, Community Schools Initiative Program Manager to
talk to her about what is going on and inquire as to how schools whose
test scores do not mandate intervention may apply.
The Committee discussed finding ways to allow each school to showcase
what it does best: Kenwood: Music; Canter, Shoesmith: unknown.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 26th at 7 pm at United Church
of Hyde Park.
Daisy Lezama, from Dept. of Child & Youth Services (312-743-0258)
will be at our next meeting (or send someone). They have money and
have few programs in Hyde Park, but would be glad to consider more
with established nonprofits. They do have programs with Hyde Park
Neighborhood Club, so these should be available to our students without
cost.
Since someone mentioned that students at Kenwood complain that they
have nothing to do after school and the administration tells them
they have to leave, James Harris will attend the Kenwood Local School
Council Meeting on June 5 to get a report for our next meeting and
to invite people to come to our meetings. The PACS meeting for Kenwood
is at 5:15.
Nancy
B. Baum
nbbaum@sbcglobal.net
Mobile:773-401-8151
Top
Letter
to the Herald and report to community by Chairman Nancy Baum. July
2007
In the
July 11, 2007 Herald an article written by Nykeya Woods that appeared
about the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee’s
June 26, 2007 meeting may not have completely reflected what our meeting
was about.
The
Schools Committee, whose mission is to have every school in the neighborhood
be one that every parent would be proud to send their children to,
has been working to increase community participation in our neighborhood
schools. To date we have done the following:
1) Encouraged
citizens to participate in Local School Council elections and facilitated
training for new LSC members through appropriate agencies
2) Established liaisons between committee members and each of the
Local School Councils and school principals
3) Acquainted local parents of ancillary programs available to school
children in our area.
In an
effort to create a data base of ancillary programs we conducted a
public forum in March called “After School Matters in Hyde Park”
at which interested community members heard about a wide variety of
programs. This initiative came directly as a result of discussions
with members of LSC’s concerned about programs for children
on half-days and school holidays. We are working on both an internet
list and a hard-copy list to be distributed this fall.
In addition,
our committee has had considerable contact with Carolyn Epps, the
principal of Canter School who, along with Canter’ LSC, has
expressed a need for after-school activities that would engage these
middle-schoolers in activities from the time school ends until 5:15
pm when their parents come to pick them up. In her article Nykeya
Woods rightly pointed out programs currently available to schools
throughout the city and funded through the City of Chicago’s
Youth Services. Funds for such programs must be applied for one year
in advance by organizations that wish to provide such activities.
At our last meeting the Schools Committee suggested that Canter might
like to try out a pilot program and the Schools Committee can work
with Canter to try to find appropriate providers who would be willing
to apply for funding. Activity providers can apply in Spring 2008
for 2009. This gives all concerned parties a lot of time to work out
meaningful programs. The Schools Committee will contact activity providers
and principals about their interest in attending a special block-grant
workshop sponsored by the Schools Committee.
The
next regular Schools Committee meeting will be on Monday, Sept. 17,
2007, at the United Church of Hyde Park. Interested individuals should
contact Nancy Baum, 773-288-5464 for further information.
Nancy
Baum, Chair
Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee
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