AT CLARK STREET Keith Bromery, director of CPS communications, announced he will leave the post effective March 1 but has not yet said where he is going, He was hired as board’s chief spokesman in March 2000 and was previously manager of media relations at Ameritech. Joi Mecks, deputy director of communications, will handle Bromery’s duties until a replacement is named. … Pamela Dyson, former King High principal, was named director of elementary school reviews, a new post that reports to Chief Education Officer Barbara Eason-Watkins. Dyson will oversee the rollout of the board’s new reading initiative.
Sandra Givens, director of teacher accountability, has retired. A replacement has not been named. …Also retired is Geraldine Oberman, director of compliance in the Office of Accountability. She is succeeded by Janet Elenbogen, who previously was in charge of internal quality reviews.
Brandi Turco has been named chief of staff to the Board of Education. Turco, previously a senior assistant, replaces James Wright, who resigned and went to work in a private law practice. Greg Minniefield was appointed deputy chief of staff to the board, a new post. … Another senior assistant, Jorge Oclander, was named executive director of the Academic Accountability Council. He replaces Tami Doig.
LAWSUIT The board filed a lawsuit Feb. 15 to compel the state to contribute more money to the Chicago teachers pension fund. Under current state law, contributions to pension funds for downstate and suburban teachers are paid through the Teachers Retirement System; Chicago teacher pensions are paid out of a separate fund. Officials of the board and the Chicago Teachers Union contend that the system shortchanges CPS teachers.
PRINCIPALS Two acting principals have been awarded four-year contracts. They are Yvonne Calhoun, Hoyne, and Patricia Vaughn-Dossiea, Chalmers. … Gregory C. Wiley, a teacher at Lawndale, is now contract principal at Cather. … John Butterfield, principal at Mather, has had his contract renewed. … Linda Coles, previously principal at Keller Regional Gifted Center, was named acting principal of King High School, replacing Pamela Dyson. (see above) … Adrian G. Willis was named interim principal at Keller.
PRINICPAL RETIREMENTS Frank Blatnick, Yates; Harry Randall, assistant principal, was named acting principal. … Beverly LaCoste, Wells Prep and Phillips; LaCoste will remain as acting principal at both schools until June.
LSC ELECTIONS April 3 is the deadline for parents, teachers and community residents to sign up to run for a seat on a LSC. Candidates may register at schools through the LSC election coordinator; elections will be held May 1 and 2. …LSCs using PENCUL to select a principal may now apply for matching grants up to $600. PENCUL and the Chicago School Leadership Cooperative teamed up to offer the grants to match $200 that LSCs would put up themselves. For more information, contact the Cooperative at (312) 499-4800 or PENCUL at (312) 261-3183.