MOVING IN/ON Charles Daas is the new executive director of the North River Commission (NRC), a community organization that promotes affordable housing, economic development and education reform. Daas, formerly director of the Chicago Mutual Housing Network, replaces Michael Reardon, who is now with Neighborhood Housing Services. … Tamara Scheinfeld, previously deputy director of the CPS small schools office, was named program officer for the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation. She will work primarily with education grants. …Teachers Peter Ardito of Prosser Career Academy, Diana Sheffer of Ogden Elementary and June Davis of Taft High School, will take leaves of absence to serve as field representatives for the Chicago Teachers Union/Illinois Federation of Teachers.
AT CLARK STREET James Dispensa, former deputy chief information officer, was named director of school demographics and planning. He replaces Giacomo Mancuso, who retired in September. … Vilicia Cade-Horton has been promoted to director of high school programs in the standards-based instruction department.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS CPS announced that it has set up a three-pronged plan to get public input on which schools would be closed and reopened under Renaissance 2010. Over the next month, the district plans to use its web site, mail-in forms and public hearings to gather feedback on how to select schools for closure and how to support students and staff through the transition. The board plans to release the public’s recommendations and its final decision after its January meeting.
PRINCIPAL CONTRACTS Michael Johnson, former principal of North Kenwood Oakland Charter, is the contract principal of Reavis, replacing Sherman Chambers, who retired. … Darryl Moore has been promoted from interim to contract principal at Nash …. Julius Anderson, principal of C.E. Hughes, had his contract renewed. … Anita Ward, assistant principal at Yale, is the new principal of Burnside Scholastic Academy, replacing Rayna R. Murphy, who retired. … Jerlyn Maloy, acting principal at Lawndale, is now acting principal at Lavizzo. She replaces Millicent Lavizzo-Russell, who died in September.
SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE Alliant Credit Union and the National PTA will award five $1,000 scholarships to students who will be applying to or enrolled in college in the fall 2005. Only children of members of Alliant and a PTA/PTSA are eligible. Applications are due Dec. 31.
STRIKE CONCLUDES The Cook County College Teachers Union and City Colleges reached an agreement in early November, concluding a three-week strike that began Oct. 16. The strike, which involved 510 full-time City College teachers, centered on health care and salary. The new contract includes 4 percent annual raises and an increase in health insurance premiums. Classes resumed Nov. 8; fall semester classes will be extended into January to make up class time lost during the strike.
NEW SMALL SCHOOLS The School Board approved reopening DuSable High School next fall with three new small schools. The Daniel Hale Williams Prep School of Medicine will focus on math and science and preparing students for medical careers; and the Bronzeville Scholastic Institute and the DuSable Leadership Academy will focus on leadership skills. … Proposals are being sought for a small high school focused on world languages to be housed in the new Little Village High School. The new school, slated to open next year, is projected to serve up to 125 9th-graders. Three other high schools were approved for this site in October. They include the Greater Lawndale School for Social Justice, the School for Multicultural Arts and Infinity Math, Science and Technology High School.
PRINCIPAL AWARD Kenneth Hunter, principal of Prosser, received an ambassadors in education award from the MetLife Foundation for building positive relationships between his school and its community. Hunter, who was nominated by students, teachers and community members, will get a $5,000 grant for community-building projects.
PARENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL Black Star Project, a parent involvement program, is partnering with Toyota Motor Sales to launch a three-year parent training university. The program, open to CPS parents and other parents throughout Chicago, will offer courses on conflict resolution, financial management and other topics related to building strong families. Toyota donated $240,000 for the effort.