Hello Save Old Town School Community!
The big news since our last newsletter is that the Old Town School’s board of directors has decided to delay putting 909 W. Armitage on the market until at least March 31. It’s an indication that that the board and administration are listening to the many voices calling on them to rethink the sale of the building and open a dialogue with the community about the School’s financial and enrollment challenges.
The decision was announced the same day as four representatives of Save Old Town School met with two board members and the School’s acting executive director to discuss ways of involving the community in the School’s future decisions. We learned that the School plans to form three “working groups” -- focusing on enrollment, communications and “909 alternatives” -- that will include staff, teachers, students and board members.
Conversations are continuing with acting executive director Rashida Phillips, and Jim Newcomb, a board member appointed as special advisor to the administration. We hope we’ll have more to say about those conversations soon.
In the meantime, Save Old Town School is continuing to move ahead in forming committees to conduct research and make recommendations on ways to improve the School. More on the committee structure below!
You may also be interested to know, if you didn’t hear already, that the Old Town Teachers Organization has moved forward with plans to affiliate as a union with the Illinois Federation of Teachers. On Dec. 10, the teachers’ group submitted paperwork needed for a faculty vote to take place, and said it will ask the School to voluntarily recognize the union as the bargaining representative for the teachers.
Representatives of Save Old Town School have met with OTTO leaders to share information and discuss areas of mutual interest, most recently on Dec. 9th.
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