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Jose Ochoa carries painting supplies into one of the classrooms at Wendell Phillips Academy High School. As part of their orientation the Kellogg students are repainting the classrooms at Phillips, 244 E. Perching Road, before the school year starts.

Phillips turnaround to open this autumn
by Daschell M. Phillips

This fall Phillips Academy High School will open as Bronzeville’s first turnaround school. This was also the first time a community committee helped in the navigation of a turnaround school.
As 600 volunteers from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management went to Phillips, 244 E. Pershing Rd., and the three other Academy for Urban School Leadership schools to paint classrooms, clean the grounds and organize storage areas. Tim Cawley, managing director for finance and administration at AUSL, said bright, clean classrooms and clean grounds are just the beginning of the changes Phillips students will experience on the first day of school.
“[Students] will see a lot of new faces, a leadership team that will welcome them and a new staff with higher expectations of them and the energy to engage them individually,” Cawley said about the high school that was recommended for AUSL turnaround by Chicago Public Schools officials in January of 2010 due to low test scores.
In the interest of preserving the history of the school — namely the memorabilia of notable alumni such as author Gwendolyn Brooks, singer Nat “King” Cole and basketball troupe the Savoy Big 5 now known as the Harlem Globe Trotters — and protecting the fair treatment of students and teachers at Phillips, Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) established an oversight committee to monitor the school’s turnaround process. Dowell also required AUSL to reduce its five-year contract with CPS to three years and have regular community meetings to discuss the plans and progress of the turnaround.
“It is great to have the leaders of Bronzeville who are passionate about making the school better working with us,” Cawley said. “The process is constructive and we are looking forward to the school year with positive anticipation.”
Over the months leading up to the school year several members of the oversight committee, which was made up of Phillips students and alumni and Bronzeville community members and community organizations, were in debate with incoming principal Terrance Little about what type of disciplinary procedure to put in place. Little strongly stands behind his decision to implement a zero tolerance policy but members of the Grand Boulevard Federation were pushing for Phillips to adopt the restorative justice approach that was successful with students at Dyett High School.
Education To Success, a restorative justice project created through the partnership of the Grand Boulevard Federation and Dyett, included positive peer and parent intervention and the teaching of communication, problem solving, critical thinking and analytical skills. After implementing the program’s restorative justice approach, which included positive peer intervention council, improved attendance rates by 3 percent, decreased student arrests by 82 percent and misconduct reports went down 46 percent. The program was gaining interest from schools in the Bronzeville area and a second program was scheduled to begin at Price Elementary School but the program was shut down due to state budget cuts.
Cawley said that when it comes to setting new expectations in a new school there should be consequences for bad behavior and bad attitudes or actions won’t change.
“People get concerned when you say zero tolerance,” Cawley said. “We’re not expelling students for getting to class five minutes late but it’s not OK to act out and disrupt class for fellow students and it’s not OK to run in the halls and curse at instructors.”
d.phillips@hpherald.com

Doolittle social worker may keep home
by Daschell M. Phillips

Doolittle East Elementary School social worker Dan Coyne joined the rest of the faculty and staff last week in returning to school to prepare for student arrivals but the question still remains: Will he be able to keep his home in Evanston and still work for Chicago Public Schools?
While receiving accolades from everyone, including CPS CEO Ron Huberman, for his brave decision to donate a kidney to his favorite clerk at his neighborhood Jewel Osco, who was suffering from renal failure, Coyne also received news that he had 60 days to become a Chicago resident or give up his position as a CPS social worker.
Coyne, who has worked for CPS for about eight years and in four schools including Ray, 5631 S. Kimbark Ave., and Doolittle East, 535 East 35th St., elementary schools, stands by the fact that he never withheld his place of residence from CPS but CPS said the waiver that allowed non-Chicago residents to fill vacancies in the much-needed areas such as social work are only offered on a temporary basis but can be renewed or removed based on CPS board resolution.
In June, Huberman said he would personally review Coyne’s case and make a final decision. Coyne, who said he made dozens of calls to the CPS human resources department to get a better understanding of his options, said he was glad that he finally got a call from Huberman’s office Sept. 3 requesting a meeting to discuss CPS’ final decision on the matter.
“I’m an optimist so I am hopeful it will all work out,” said Coyne, who will meet with Huberman and CPS Chief Human Capital Officer Alicia Winkler on Sept. 29. “I am sure we will come up with a win-win situation.”
d.phillips@hpherald.com

Lake Park to move forward
by Sam Cholke

The second phase of development at Lake Park Crescent is going forward, representatives from developer the Davis Group said at a Sept. 2 meeting of the North Kenwood Oakland Conservation Community Council.
The next phase will add 132 units of housing to the development, 81 units in a mid-rise building and 51 units in a series of 3- and 6-unit row houses. All the units will be rental.
“We wanted to show you that we’re actually serious about moving forward with this thing,” said Bill Ketchum, the architect on the project, told the council.
The Davis Group was brought on to redevelop several Chicago Housing Authority projects with Draper and Kramer, which also owns Lake Meadows Apartments.
The council has already signed-off on the midrise building, which is currently in the process of securing building permits and should break ground in January. The council approved the design for the row housing and the developers expected to secure building permits by December.
Developers expect the project to take 15 months to build.
The row housing will be scattered throughout the land south of the existing mid-rise at South Lake Park Avenue and East 41st Place. The remaining lots will be built as for-sale properties at a later date. The lots will be sodded and landscaped in the intervening time.
Also at the meeting, the council put off making a decision about signs and liquor at Michael’s Fresh Market.
Owners of the grocery store have requested a license to serve beer and wine at the Mexican restaurant within the store and a sign to advertise the restaurant.
At its August meeting, the council had requested the storeowners talk to the city and the alderman before coming back to the council. At the September meeting, the owners were again asked to go to the city and the alderman before coming back to the council for approval of any signage or liquor licenses.
s.cholke@hpherald.com

Weekly Outlook - the week starting September 8, 2010

ONGOING

Groovin’ on the Grove. Quad Communities Development Corporation (QCDC) is hosting its’ third annual community festival, the “The Groovin’ & Gospel on Grove Festivals”, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Saturday, September 11 and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday September 12 on 4400 S. Cottage Grove Ave. For more information visit qcdc.org

New exhibit. “The African Presence in Mexico: From Yanga to the Present” examines the missing chapter in Mexican history that highlights the African contributions to Mexican culture over the past nearly 500 years. Through Nov. 14. DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 East 56th Pl.

Community market. The Quad Communities Development Corporation presents the 3rd Annual Bronzeville Community Market. Through Oct. 30. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. / Quad Communities Development Corporation, 4659 S. Cottage Grove Ave. / 773-268-7232 Wednesday, Sept. 8

Live jazz. Renee Baker’s Project 6 - Renee’ Baker (violin), Karl Seigfrield (bass), Greg Blackburn (flute), Tony Porter (cello), Bruce Nelson (vibes and percussion), Todd Matthews (violin), Steve Berry (trombone). 8:30 p.m. / Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak Rd. / 312-791-9050 / velvetlounge.net

Guitar lessons for beginners. Learn to tune your guitar, basic chords, strumming, finger picking and rhythm. Teens and adults welcome. All programs are free and open to the public. 4-5 p.m. / Hall Branch Public Library, 4801 S. Michigan Ave. / 312-747-2541

Thursday, Sept. 9

Live jazz. Nathan Brown Quintet Nathan Brown (bass), Pat Terbrack (alto), Ryan Nyther (trumpet), Ross Margitza (piano), Xavier Breaker (drums). 8:30 p.m. / Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak Rd. / 312-791-9050 / velvetlounge.net

Friday, Sept. 10

Live jazz. Dee Alexander Evolution Ensemble Dee Alexander, James Sanders, Tomeka Reid, Shanta Nurullah, Junius Paul, Ernie Adams. 8:30 p.m. / Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak Rd. / 312-791-9050 / velvetlounge.net

Saturday, Sept. 11

Live jazz. Dee Alexander Evolution Ensemble Dee Alexander, James Sanders, Tomeka Reid, Shanta Nurullah, Junius Paul and Ernie Adams perform. 8:30 p.m. / Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak Rd. / 312-791-9050 / velvetlounge.net

Sunday, Sept. 12

Fundraising cruise. “Rock The Boat!” with the DuSable Museum of African American History during the Museum’s inaugural fundraising cruise. The event will take place on Sunday, Sept. 12, beginning at 5:30 p.m. aboard the Spirit of Chicago, which is located at Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Ave. For more information, visit dusablemuseum.org

Live jazz. AACM Showcase, with artistic director Mwata Bowden (woodwinds/percussion) at 7:30 p.m. Jazz Jam at 9:30 p.m. Isaiah Spencer with Kevin Nabors (saxes/percussion), Hans Lutz (bass), Marquis Hill (trumpet) 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. / Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak Rd. / 312-791-9050 / velvetlounge.net

Monday, Sept. 13

Basic computer classes. Join a Cybernavigator in seven classes devoted to learning basic computer skills. In these lessons, participants will learn how to use the mouse and keyboard, e-mail basics, Internet basics, online job searching and how to use the Chicago Public Library website.10: 30 a.m. / Hall Branch Public Library, 4801 S. Michigan Ave. / 312-747-2541

Wednesday, Sept. 15

Music. Chicago Underground Duo Chad Taylor (drums) and Rob Mazurek (cornet). 8:30 p.m. / Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak Rd. / 312-791-9050 / velvetlounge.net

MEETINGS

Wednesday

CAPS Beat 214/221. 6:30 p.m. St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 4058 S. Michigan Ave. / 312-747-5109

Thursday

CAPS Beat 232/233 6:30 p.m. / Coppin AME Church 5627 S. Michigan Ave. / 312-747-5109

Monday

CAPS BEAT 2112. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. / College of Optometry, 3240 S. Indiana Ave., in the conference room.

Tuesday

CAPS Beat 211. 6:30 p.m. / Davis Apartment Complex, 3632 S. Indiana Ave., in the community room / 312-747-5109

CAPS Beat 2123. 6:30 -7:30 p.m. / Kennicott Park, 4434 S. Lake Park Ave. / 312 747-2930

The Weekly Outlook covers community events occurring from Wednesday, the date of this issue, through the following Wednesday. The deadline for event information is noon, Thursday before Wednesday publication. Address details of local events to: Calendar editor, Lakefront Outlook, 1435 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago, IL 60615