CPS Hearing on Fuller

Last evening some fifty people gathered at CPS Headquarters in Chicago for a hearing regarding the status of Fuller Elementary School. The CPS has a recommendation on the table to make Fuller a 'turnaround' school to be run by AUSL.

You'll remember, a 'turnaround' is a situation where the entire staff is let go and a new one is put in place. AUSL would put the staff in place and 'train' them.

CPS made a couple of statements regarding the failure of Fuller, over the past four years, to raise its ISAT scores in addition to remaining on probation. Additionally, CPS stated its claim to the fact that they tried to rectify various shortcomings. Following these presentations the AUSL personnel made it pitch to turn around Fuller.

After roughly 45 minutes nearly one dozen people stepped forward to defend the new direction of Fuller under Principal Carrmilla Young. Ms. Young has been on the job less than one year!! As most people noted, Ms. Young, and the school, should be given a better chance of continuing to improve the school.

From those within schools to those in the neighborhood to those who work in areas outside Fuller, the sentiment was the same; Ms. Young and the staff have already made marked progress in its academics and school culture in just a few months. I had the pleasure to speak on behalf of Schools Count Corp and to recommend that Fuller remain in the hands of Ms. Young.

A non-partisan attorney ran the meeting and heard from all sides for two hours. It is up to the attorney to come back to CEO Jean-Claude Brizard, and the School Board, with a recommendation to leave Fuller alone or to go ahead with CPS plans to make it a 'turnaround.'

No matter where one stands on the spectrum of leaving Fuller alone or making it a turnaround, it is hard to argue with the internal progress being made by everyone at the school this year. Great learning is taking place and the children are being attended to in terrific manner. I know this for a fact...I have been in the classrooms at Fuller. Amazing stuff!!

I have been in literally 100 schools since this charity started and few of them stack up to Fuller in terms of the progress they are making on many fronts. From my vantage point, this is a 'no brainer,' Fuller has already turned the corner and does not need to be made a 'turnaround.'

Dick