Responding to community wishes, two Chicago aldermen last week recommended that Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman expand the Andrew Jackson Language Academy to address claims of a poor choice in neighborhood schools by some residents in areas of the 2nd and 25th wards.

“It’s the committee’s unanimous decision to accept CPS’s proposal to reopen the Thomas Jefferson school building for the 2011-12 academic year as an expansion of the Andrew Jackson Language Academy,” wrote Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) and Ald. Danny Solis (25th) in a letter sent to Huberman and dated Aug. 26.

Parents from the University Village and surrounding neighborhoods of redeveloped condominiums and low-income housing met with Huberman on Aug. 9 to explain that John M. Smyth Elementary School is just not a suitable choice for more than 100 kids who did not otherwise gain admittance to three nearby magnet schools serving the area south of the Eisenhower Expressway, such as Jackson.

Fioretti and Solis also called for additional resources for Smyth in an effort to save and improve the neighborhood school already serving and estimated 660 students.

Beyond reopening Jefferson, which closed two years ago, and expanding the Jackson program, Solis and Fioretti requested that CPS redraw the Jackson service boundary to match Smyth’s in hopes of accommodating “neighborhood children who are currently underserved by neighborhood schools.”

Changing maps will include homes in the UIC South Campus Development, which is currently outside Jackson’s proximity zone, they said. Doing so would create more seats for families south of the Ike.

Fioretti and Solis stand together on the issue, which affects residents living in Solis’ ward and those in Fioretti’s ward living near Smyth. Their letter said parents decided to refuse other “options” offered by Huberman at the Aug. 9 meeting. What those options were was unexplained by Fioretti’s office as of deadline Wednesday.

Sending kids to Smyth, Jackson and the Galileo Math and Science Academy are the only other options in the CPS system for neighborhood children, according to University Village Association President John Walsh and Executive Director Dennis O’Neil. Jackson and Galileo are magnet schools, which take students from all over the city by application and lottery. A certain number of seats are allocated for neighborhood students through a lottery, leaving the rest to go to Smyth or private school for kindergarten through eighth grade.

“The issue should be addressed at the September CPS Board meeting so that an expansion of the [Jackson Language Academy] can be reflected in the forms sent out by CPS in October,” said a supporting letter sent to Huberman and signed by Walsh and O’Neil.

After multiple phone calls seeking comment from CPS on the issue failed to gain a response, a spokesperson took written questions from Chicago Journal on Tuesday afternoon and were unable to respond by deadline Wednesday.

Constituents of both wards have for some time cited upper income values and their hefty tax base pumping millions into the school system as reason enough for CPS to grant their wishes, while others have publicly threatened to leave the city rather than send kids to Smyth — one of the lowest performing schools in the city.

This week, Circle Park Apartments resident Sandy Green joined the condo dwellers, whom she considers relative newcomers to the Smyth school neighborhood. Green has lived in Circle Park for 21 years and has volunteered in more than one school while keeping her children and grandchildren out of Smyth during their CPS education.

“It’s a shame they couldn’t turn that school around,” Green said. “It’s not a good school.”

Green blames current Smyth Principal Ronald Whitmore for the continued low performance year after year. Though she acknowledged that Smyth had a bad reputation preceding Whitmore, Green said low test scores persisted after more resources were added. Of an estimated 300 children living at Circle Park, Green said about 30 attend Smyth. The rest are in school all over the city, she said.

Whitmore on Monday refused to comment for this story or answer questions regarding his school without permission from CPS, which did not come by deadline on Wednesday.

Smyth teacher Laura Blackwell said that some residents and media didn’t understand that Smyth had really changed course during the last few years by winning sporting events, reducing discipline problems, establishing university partnerships, doubling scores in reading, math and science and creating the first International Baccalaureate program in the entire CPS system.

Green said those changes made to improve Smyth and attract more talented students, such as the International Baccalaureate Program, have not amounted to much in reality.

“The kids still can’t read and write,” Green said.

In 2009, the last year test scores for Smyth are publicly available, 55.8 percent of student body tested did not meet state standards for reading, 56.6 percent failed math­— a marked improvement over 2005 scores in which students tested failed to reach state educational minimums by a rate of 70.2 percent in reading and 81 percent in math. Last year marked the seventh that Smyth was named on a watch list of schools that failed to meet federal guidelines established in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Not leaving Smyth out of their request sent to CPS, both alderman and the University Village Association closed their letters saying that Smyth still needed substantial work and was in need of additional resources ASAP to better serve the students now enrolled at the year-round school.

Fioretti and Solis said a previously discussed plan to add a “regional gifted center” at Smyth along with full-day preschool, more foreign language programs and performing arts courses will help lift the school into an “outstanding educational resource” for the neighborhood.

“We strongly urge CPS to begin these programs as soon as possible to assist Smyth in improving the options for its students,” they wrote.

Contact: gskinner@chicagojournal.com

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By Jay from RS
Posted: 09/21/2010 11:39 AM

Integration is key. Allow the children to grow together. What happens if their children are not accepted into the new school? All of their children WILL be accepted and you are crazy if you think this will be a fair lottery. Open the gifted program and implement whatever afterschool programs, mentors, extra help etc is needed to bring it up to par. to satisfy the new residents. Change takes time and Smyth is on the right track. Integrate the children. Smyth IS acceptable with a few changes.

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By Shame on who? from Chicago
Posted: 09/14/2010 6:05 AM

Joe of Little Italy you comment "...shame on us for turning our backs on these children..." Shame on who? >50% of my and many other residents property tax go to Chicago Public Schools for a system I will not even directly use, but will pay for wasted pensions for crappy teachers & unappreciative families who abuse or waste that chance. How much further do you want me to go when my kids will be black listed by Jones College Prep or Whitney because they don't meet the 'diversity goals'?

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By KT from UV
Posted: 09/09/2010 1:38 PM

Smyth is unacceptable to me as a parent, not only because it is completely segregated, but because the only reason I can think that someone would accept sending their child to that school is because they did not prioritize education as much as they prioritize other things. The main difference for magnet schools is not racial integration. It's that the parent actually took the time and effort to apply. This change will allow ALL of us in the neighborhood that choice. Thank you Ald. Solis!

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By 5911 from Pilsen
Posted: 09/08/2010 11:06 AM

The problem is not the children but the parents. CPS needs to understand that the problem is at home, some children go to school with a negative attitude, they learned from home and bring it to the school. These children are the ones bringing down the scores. Target the problem, first educate the PARENT (S)/Legal Guardians. This is not about race but principlals, discipline and respect, these are suppose to be taught at home and are not.

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By j dilla from chatham
Posted: 09/07/2010 0:57 AM

What many of you fail to understand is Smyth is not a BAD school! The school struggles with the issues of lower socio-economic issues. The same issues that took place in the Robert Taylors, Stateway, Ickes, etc... This is the real conversation so let's have it. Skinner, South Loop, Jackson, Franklin, Skinner North, etc... no longer deal with that population.

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By Jon from Little Italy
Posted: 09/04/2010 7:38 PM

I get the need for a better performing neighborhood school, but have we considered the effect this will have on the kids at Smyth? Shame on the apathetic parents who send their children to a poor performing school. But shame on us for turning our backs on these children who also deserve the right to a quality education & chance to turn their lives around. ("equal access"? - if their parents don't care, do you think they're going to sign them up for this new school? think again!)

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By Joe from West Side
Posted: 09/04/2010 11:10 AM

Jefferson closed due to lack of demand at the time. With the rebuilding of the area and families staying or moving back to the city the demand is now there. Particularly for those who moved in the area a few years ago and now their children are hitting that school age. If this parents had the clout people are assuming they do, then their kids would have already been in Jackson and Skinner and this proposal wouldn't be on the table.

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By Bettina Moser from University village/Little Italy
Posted: 09/04/2010 9:32 AM

To clarify: Jefferson Elementary closed in 2003. See www.ncbg.org/documents/Closed_School_List.pdf

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By Laura Blackwell from UV/Smyth Teacher
Posted: 09/04/2010 8:27 AM

I'm certain that most educators are not against the expansion of a great school. But please don't call us (Smyth) "mediocre" or "not good enough." We are working very hard to improve our school. Please read my letter to the editor, under the opinion section. We are making positive changes, and that should also be supported and encouraged.

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By UV West from West Loop
Posted: 09/03/2010 10:27 PM

@Jay - You are right that these parents would rather leave than send their children to an all black low-performing school. Including many black families who are on-board with the Jackson plan. Not because of the race, but because of the lack of diversity. It is the diversity that drives the parents to stay in the city or these "influential" parents as you call it would have already moved to the North Shore and sent their kids to mostly white New Trier district which is #1 in the state.

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By CPS from Chicago
Posted: 09/03/2010 5:49 PM

The other thing folks should think of in areas like West Loop, Bronzeville, Pilsen is when you openly picket, discuss, display signs, or write articles about the fears of Gentrification, and claim "we don't want whitey living hear because the neighborhood will improve and the cost of living goes up". Where are the cries of segregation then? Do you expect a parent working two jobs for his kids future opportunity to put them in a test program with kids that have anger issues from home?

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By CPS Failures from Chicago
Posted: 09/03/2010 5:33 PM

Jay, this is what happens when people blindly vote DEM. The diversity/gifted/magnet charade causes local kids to get shut out all the time based on race; then parents have to pay for private school and a property tax bill with 50% going to CPS. Studies show overwelmingly that Voucher programs would be the best option for all, but the DEMS & Teachers Unions, would lose all power to continue to make fools of poverty-challenged community. This is what is about to become of healthcare.

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By Jay from RS
Posted: 09/03/2010 3:47 PM

We are not against change. Lets make that clear. When we wanted another school opened, no one cared, the answer was no-no-no. Now a few new residents call for a new school and it happens in 0.2 seconds. Its wonderful that they\'ll open a new school but its a sad fact that this is what it takes to get one. When year after year you have no other choice and in walks someone else and the changes are made its like a slap in the face to us. If you can\'t understand then SHAME ON YOU.

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By Armando from West Loop
Posted: 09/03/2010 3:41 PM

Thank you George. Jay, I don't know all the details with Jefferson 2 years go. What matters is what we do going forward. The time has come for us to act and take ownership of our community of which education is so critical in keeping folks in it. To the parents of Smyth, this could be an opportunity to improve your school for the sake of your children and community. It is on you now to challenge your principal, kids, and yourselves.

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By Jay from RS
Posted: 09/03/2010 3:28 PM

We took a stand also and were IGNORED. The issue is not the new school its the poor being looked over year after year. Why are some demands taken and others tossed to the side? We are not resisting change, we've been demanding change, been trying to get new schools but guess what the answer was? No, No and No. Now yall want everyone to be happy go lucky cause a intergrated school is coming. No matter how yall try to turn it around its not right.

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By Jay from RS
Posted: 09/03/2010 2:35 PM

I understand the need for better schools but if it was needed that bad, Jefferson shouldn’t have been closed in the 1st place. Why is the need now greater than it was 2 years ago when they closed it down? Where was everyone then that is now calling for it to be re-opened? The truth is the families will leave instead of sending they’re children to school with majority black students. And the aldermen have to accommodate them to continue to build a mixed community. Can’t both schools be integrated and multi-racial starting 2011 school year? It upsets me to know low income Smyth students and parents voices wasn’t heard all those years and it’s a shame!!

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By George from West Loop
Posted: 09/03/2010 2:10 PM

No wonder most people who want to guarantee a solid education for their children just throw their hands up and move to the suburbs. Some of the resistance to change being shown in these comments are appalling. These parents should be thanked, not criticized, for chosing to stay in this great city and take a stand to fight for something better! We all win. Kids become a product of their environment and Smyth is in a vicious circle of substandard performance and lack of parental involvment.

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By UV West from West Loop
Posted: 09/03/2010 1:53 PM

@Jay - Instead of the skeptism, it is more productive to welcome positive change. The Smyth demographic does not represent the diversity of the parents fighting for this new school. Is is the current and past Smyth parents (at least most per CPS numbers) that are the ones who watch their children come home with failing grades and continue to send them back. Instead of being skeptics to positive change, they should sit at their kitchen table with their own children and help them with homework.

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By Armando from West Loop
Posted: 09/03/2010 1:26 PM

As someone who has been involved in this effort, I feel the need to respond. What we're asking for is a school within the neighborhood. South Loop has one, West Loop now has one, and Little Italy/UV needs one badly. The need is obvious and overdue. Not doing so will continue to force families to leave which has a negative impact on our community and city. I applaud the efforts of the UVA and Near West Neighbors, as well as Alderman Fioretti and Alderman Solis for answering the call to act.

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By Jay from RS
Posted: 09/03/2010 10:53 AM

"It is important to point out that this expansion being proposed by the Aldermen will still follow the same lottery based admission policy as Jackson, so that means nobody will get an automatic spot" ^ I don't believe it and a lot of Smyth parents whom I've been speaking with don't believe it either.

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By Jay from RS
Posted: 09/03/2010 10:40 AM

Integration is the key. Smyth has been making great changes so someone please tell me, whats so wrong with the new students attending Smyth instead of opening a entire new school for them? We all want better schooling for our children. When new residents moved here, maybe they didn't know that Smyth was the only option but since they didn't get picked for another school its only right to tell them the same thing was told to us year after year. But as usual they will get the expansion. Sad

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By Jay from RS
Posted: 09/03/2010 10:27 AM

The fact that new residents (upper income) can demand a new school and get it at the drop of a hat disturbs me. The issue is all new residents children will be hand picked while a select few at Smyth will get in. Why can\\\'t the new residents be intergrated within Smyth and implement the gifted program or whatever else is needed to continue lifting up Smyth. Something in the milk ain't clean and its starting to smell.

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By UV West from West Loop
Posted: 09/03/2010 6:35 AM

It is important to point out that this expansion being proposed by the Aldermen will still follow the same lottery based admission policy as Jackson, so that means nobody will get an automatic spot. What it does mean is that with the proposed boundary changes it would guarantee more lottery slots be award to children in the area, including those who attend Smyth if they choose to apply. It's time to stop crying segregration while accepting mediocrity for our children and accept positive change.

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By West Loop from WEST LOOP
Posted: 09/02/2010 11:24 PM

Kudos to the community for organizing and demanding better schooling options for everybody in the neighborhood. According to the article the boundary being proposed for the Andrew Jackson Language Academy extension is the same as the current Smyth boundary. To my undertanding this means that all residents regardless of socioeconomic status would have the same opportunity to apply for the proximity lottery. I do not see this proposal as being exclusionary.

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By TRickets from West Loop
Posted: 09/02/2010 11:23 PM

Thanks for the touch of hypocrisy Mr. Askew. How lucky we are that you got rolled like a cheap suit in the last Aldermadic election , especially after you turn-coated for the puppet Alderman Haithcock. We've never had it so good in the West Loop. How much campaign costs did she wipe out for you? I do not know which would be worse, the "People's 2nd Ward Republic of Fioretti" or the potential of the you leading the "2nd Ward Society of Socialism and Free Stuff".

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By Nothing is Free from Chicago
Posted: 09/02/2010 5:39 PM

Hope & Change is not FREE. Some want 'green' (yet kids travel across the city), want neighborhoods to improve and be safer (but not gentrify or see increased taxes or home value so people 'more like you' can be your neighbor). In the last 40 yrs the CPS schools have been taken over by elements that forced SEGREGATION by destroying value of family, public education, accountability, and safety, ruining the system for ALL. Urban Econ 101 folks. MLR, those values come from home by parents.

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By Rich from West Loop
Posted: 09/02/2010 5:11 PM

The difficult fact to grapple with is that the school and the teachers make not a lot of difference -- it is the students and parents that make a school.

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By MLR from East Garfield Park
Posted: 09/02/2010 1:01 PM

I’m befuddled. This is segregation and nothing less. I can verify that all of the teachers at Smyth are highly qualified and have also undergone intensive training in order for the school to receive IB authorization. Clearly the International Baccalaureate Organization recognized the strengths of the school, hence authorizing it under their umbrella—which is NO easy process. So what seems to be the problem? Oh yeah… the neighborhood kids (the poor ones) that is, along with their behaviors, trials, tribulations, broken English, etc…. So much for CHAnge. I guess when Daley and CHA wanted to push for mixed-income housing, they didn’t think the issue of schooling through thoroughly. “Upper income values”… good point. But shouldn’t the neighborhood kids (you know, the poor ones) have exposure to those values as well? Again, this is merely segregation. I don’t care how you sugarcoat it.

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By David Askew from Near West
Posted: 09/02/2010 10:35 AM

If income bracket and a threat to leave the city is all it takes to gain a slot in a magnet school, then tell me where I and my neighbors sign up for access to Whitney Young. Crane is my neighborhood H.S. and that option is unacceptable. How many parents do I need to join me? What well-connected neighborhood organization should we partner with? This sounds like political pandering to a select powerful few instead of serving the masses...and perpetuates segregation.

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By Jay from RS
Posted: 09/02/2010 10:10 AM

Its a shame that they will expand a school for the new residents of the area when year after year they tell low income students at Smyth that they can\'t attend other schools cause they\'re not in its boundaries. Now new residents are appaulled at the thought of sending their children to Smyth. They should be told the same thing OUR children were told. You are not in the district. Implement whatever programs are necessary to bring the school up to par. Where were the aldermen when we demanded bett

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By Laura Blackwell from UV
Posted: 09/02/2010 8:26 AM

Since Ms. Green does not send her children to Smyth, how can she know whether or not Smyth is a good school? Scores have increased for several years. It takes time for a school to make major improvements. UV Resident

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By Laura Blackwell from UV
Posted: 09/02/2010 8:11 AM

Correction, Smyth School has the only school-wide International Baccalaureate Program in the city.