HE KEEPS GOING AND GOING The evening of Feb. 8, schools chief Paul Vallas spent more than 2½ hours answering questions, first on live TV for WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight,” then informally after the show had gone off the air and finally for a taping for the “Jim Lehrer News Hour.” Two days later, Vallas doubled his talking time, answering questions first at a forum organized by the CityWide Coalition for School Reform, then informally after the event had ended and finally for a taping by the CENter project. All of which prompted one school reform wag to call him the Energizer rabbit.
MOVING IN/ON Sherye Garmony-Miller, principal of Gregory Elementary School, has been named Region 6 education officer. She succeeds Powhatan Collins, who was put in charge of High School Services and Support.
IN THE WORKS The School Reform Board is about to name a director of cultural affairs to oversee art and music programs, according to CEO Paul Vallas.
FAIRS AND CONFERENCES A “Science and Resource Fair” for anyone interested in math, science and technology education will be held March 15-16 in Batavia. Sponsors are the Fermilab Lederman Science Education Center, the North Center Regional Education Laboratory, and the Mathematics and Science Consortia. To register, contact Susan Dahl: phone (708) 840-3094, fax (708) 840-2500, E-mail sdahl@fnal.gov. … The Illinois Association for Year-Round Education will hold its third annual conference, “Rethinking Time — Putting Children First” March 23 at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, and $10 for association members. For more information, call (312) 534-4125… “Emerging Roles in Shared Leadership” is the topic of a Chicago Teachers Union Quest Center conference scheduled for April 26-27 at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza. Admission is $20. For more information, call (312) 329-6272.
MI ESCUELITA Beginning March 4, “Mi Escuelita” (my little schoolhouse), the nation’s first Spanish-language educational pre-school series, will air from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays on WSNS-TV, Channel 44/Telemundo. The pilot series is funded by a $850,000 grant from the General Assembly; WSNS is donating the broadcast time.
MARCH ON SPRINGFIELD The Illinois PTA, Illinois AARP, Chicago Urban League and several other community groups are organizing parents for a March 27 march on the General Assembly to demand adequate and equitable funding for schools and reduced reliance on local property taxes. For more information, call (312) 408-2580.
SPECIAL MUSEUM HOURS The Museum of Science and Industry will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. during Chicago public schools’ spring break, March 24-31.