PRINCIPALS The following interim principals have been signed to four-year contracts: Valerie Bratton (Wacker Elementary), Artie Borders (Gregory Elementary), Linda Klawitter (Lenart Regional Gifted Center), Careda Taylor (Kenwood Academy High School) and Barbara Peck (Bateman Elementary). … Bobby L. Roper, principal of Lawndale Community Academy, has retired; he was a CPS employee for more than 37 years. … Lonnie White, who was suspended for alleged financial mismanagement, has resigned as principal of Gershwin Elementary.
NEW NAME The Fridtjof Nansen Elementary School in West Pullman has been re-named the Ronald H. Brown Community Academy, after the late U.S. secretary of commerce.
TV BULLETIN BOARD Chicago Learns TV 21 is inviting educational organizations to post announcements on its new bulletin board, which runs daily from 11:30 p.m. through 4:30 p.m the following afternoon. Free membership is available through the end of December. For information, call program coordinator Kaiya Larson at (312) 738-1400. Look for monthly updates on Catalyst.
EXEMPLARY SCHOOLS FOLLOW-UP In September, Catalyst reported that 17 schools chosen last May for Exemplary Schools or Master Principals awards had received only $5,000 each though the School Board had been promised them two-year grants ranging from $46,000 to $93,000 to serve as learning sites for their peers. Now, each has received a close-out payment of $20,000. The board’s Best Practices Office, which managed the programs, has disbanded. The Office of Accountability will handle a revamped Exemplary Schools award for academic achievement; and the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association will handle the Master Principals awards and recognition for Exemplary Programs. Anna Correa has resigned as principal of Stockton Elementary to oversee these programs. … Olivia Watkins, who headed Best Practices, has been moved to the Office of Schools and Regions.
STUDENTS’ VOICE ON REFORM BOARD The Reform Board has changed the rules for election of a student representative to the board. In the past, only student members of local school councils were eligible. Beginning this year, student council officers also will be eligible. Other criteria include: a grade-point average of at least 2.0, an attendance rate of at least 90 percent, and no incidents of misconduct or violation of the Uniform Discipline Code. Also, candidates must be at least sophomores.
TEACHER RESOURCE CENTER has opened on the sixth floor of the Harold Washington Library. It includes an extensive book collection, a complete ERIC microfiche collection and more than 550 education journals, college catalogs and scholarship directories. Also, teacher guides and lesson plan preparation guides. For more information, call the Education/Philosophy Information Center, (312) 747-4690. Hours: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
BIOLOGY TEACHER HONORED Marilyn Havlik, a biology teacher at Kenwood Academy High School, has been named the 1996 Outstanding Biology Teacher in Illinois by the National Association of Biology Teachers. She is the fifth Chicago public school teacher to receive the award since 1977.
PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION The Teachers’ Task Force and Parents United for Responsible Education are sponsoring a free forum on promoting understanding and trust between teachers and parents. When: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12. Where: Room 306 HCC, Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan. For more information: (312) 341-3610.
CATALYST ON THE AIR John Ayers, president of Leadership for Quality Education, will be among the guests on the Dec. 8 edition of “City Voices,” broadcast from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on WNUA-FM, 95.5. The topic will be Mayor Daley’s school team.
COMMUNITY SERVICE FELLOWSHIP Dec. 6 is the deadline for letters of intent to apply for community service fellowships awarded by the Chicago Community Trust to promote individual leadership. Applicants must be employed full time in leadership positions in non-profit or public sector organizations in Cook County. The year-long fellowships provide up to $100,000; two or three will be awarded for 1997-98. For more information, call Janice Bennett at (312) 372-3356).