Welcome to PURE’s

20 anniversary celebration!th

We hope you have a wonderful time.

This special evening would not have been possible

without the support of our sponsors...

Bernard Graham-BetendTimuel D. BlackSarah Bornstein

Adela Coronado-GreeleyGloria CriteCathy Dale

Sharon EisemanCynthianna HahnWillard C. Hall, Jr.

Anne C. HallettMarj Halperin and Alan Robinson

Eva HelwingSusan Hirsch

Inter-American Magnet School friendsJoan Kennelly and Richard Cooper

Dan and Diana LauberGordon Mayer - Community Media Workshop

Mae McGeeJanet Nolan

Joy and Bernie NovenChristine Ramos

The Sanchez FamilyElaine Siegel

Linda SienkiewiczJohn SimmonsSten Turpin

Domingo TrujilloDr. and Mrs. E. S. Woestehoff

Jill WohlCindy Zucker

and the tireless, enthusiastic efforts of our Host Committee...

Joy and Bernie Noven, co-chairs

Adela Coronado-GreeleySharon Eiseman

Alba GuerraCynthianna Hahn

Marj HalperinSusan Hirsch

Wanda HopkinsJoan Kennelly

Diana LauberJanet Nolan

Christine RamosAntonia Salinas

Elaine K. B. SiegelMichelle Vos

Christina WardenJulie Woestehoff

Finally, special thanks to the wonderfully talented Kristin Hanson, who designed our beautiful invitation materials for free.

PURE's Mission

PURE exists to support and assure a high quality public education

for all children by informing parents about education issues

and parents’ rights, bringing parents into the decision making process,

empowering parents in their role as advocates for their children,

and assisting them in their interactions within the school system.

GOALS 2007-08

PURE’s overall vision is a high-quality education for all children.

To make that vision a reality, we will

Promote more effective parent-school partnerships

Using our training/information/advocacy strategy, we will

increase parents’ knowledge and confidence to help their children and to

engage in school improvement,

provide insight and tools for school staff to work with families, and

assist Local School Councils (LSCs) in holding schools accountable, advocating

for their schools and their children, and involving the school community in the

work of school improvement.

Advocate for more responsible education policies

Using training/information/advocacy, media, organizing, legal, and legislative

strategies, we will

support improved parent involvement policies and programs at the local,

district, state and federal levels,

strengthen accountability systemwide including strong LSCs and a highly-

qualified, responsive central school administration,

promote educationally-sound student testing and promotion policies,

work to improve the No Child Left Behind Act, and

advocate for fair and adequate school funding.

PURE History

PURE originated during the infamous 19-day school strike of 1987. We began holding

classes for our children outside City Hall while the schools were shut down. To give parents a

voice in this struggle, we held weekly meetings at Wells Park which resulted in the famous

march on City Hall. At the culmination of this march, we met with Mayor Washington who

assured us that the schools would be open the following Monday.

After the strike ended, we agreed that sweeping changes were needed to improve our

schools. We continued to meet so that parents would play an active role in planning these

changes. In the spring of 1988, we, along with other school reform groups, were invited to

the office of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to hammer out the school reform law.

We developed a list of 13 objectives we wanted to see incorporated into the law. One of

our most significant points, resisted by other groups, was that the majority of LSC members

should be parents. All 13 objectives were written into the law.

Until the law was passed, our efforts went towards lobbying for passage of the law,

informing the public about the law, and combating special interest groups which were trying

to sabotage our efforts. We also filed a lawsuit charging the Chicago Board of Education

(CBOE) and the Illinois State Board of Education with misuse of $2 billion of State Chapter

I money.

After the law was passed, we organized parents and gave workshops to encourage

parents, teachers, and community members to run for the LSCs. More than 17,000

candidates ran in that first election. After the election we trained thousands of LSC

members in the details of the new law. We held other citywide workshops in areas of

interest for LSCs. We published a newsletter which provided up-to-date information about

education and school reform issues.

We became advocates for schools and their parents and teachers:

T We filed a lawsuit against the CBOE when they ordered the LSCs to make a decision

about principal retention by February 28, 1990. The CBOE backed down in court.

T In 1991 we successfully challenged a proposed amendment which would have

permitted schools to reevaluate special education students without their parents'

permission.

T We filed complaints with the U.S. Office of Civil Rights on behalf of special education

parents when schools misused their special education teachers, failed to provide

speech services, and in other ways denied appropriate services to special

education students.

We established by-laws, a permanent Board of Directors, and a membership

which has grown to over 800 members. In spite of these formal actions, we have

maintained that ability to make quick decisions and take action which has made PURE

such an effective organization.

About Our Special Guests

City Clerk Miguel del Valle

Miguel del Valle was sworn in as City Clerk of

Chicago on December 1 , 2006. Prior to hisst

appointment to City Clerk, he had served as a full-

time State Senator since 1987, serving a legislative

district on the near north side of Chicago.

On February 27, 2007, Mr. del Valle ran in his first

Municipal Election and won, thus becoming the first

Latino to hold the elected office of City Clerk of

Chicago.

Clerk del Valle was born in Puerto Rico. He and his

family moved to Chicago when he was four years old.

He has been a Chicagoan for 51 years. He grew up

and attended public schools in the West Town area.

He graduated from Tuley High School (now Roberto Clemente) in 1969 and went on to

Northeastern Illinois University where he received a B.A. and M.A. in education and

guidance.

Clerk del Valle was the first Latino elected to the Illinois State Senate and the first to serve

as Assistant Majority Leader. He served as an elected member of the Illinois Democratic

State Central Committee from 1994-1998, representing the 4 Congressional District.th

More recently he was a member of the Senate Executive, Labor, Higher Education and

Education Committees. He served as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Senate

Education Committee. He as co-chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Education

Funding Reform. He was also co-founder and co-chair of the Illinois Legislative Latino

Caucus. Clerk del Valle is widely known as an advocate of reform in the areas of

education, health care, consumer protection and human services.

continued....

Clerk del Valle has deep roots in the community and a first-hand knowledge of working

with and helping people. He has been a unit director of Barreto Boys and Girls Club and

Executive Director of Association House. Clerk del Valle also worked for the Center for

Neighborhood Technology and the Pilsen-Little Village Mental Health Center. He has been

on the board of not-for-profit organizations like Josephinum High School, the Latino

Institute and the Spanish Coalition for Housing. He also has served as Chairman of the

Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs under Mayor Harold Washington. Clerk

del Valle taught a course in “Latinos and Public Policy” at Roosevelt University.

Clerk del Valle is the founder of the Illinois Association of Hispanic State Employees

(IAHSE). He is the co-founder of Latino Organizations, including: The Illinois Latino

Advisory Council on Higher Education (ILACHE), The Alliance of Latinos and Jews and the

Illinois Hispanic Democratic Council (IDHC). He also developed the annual Department of

Children and Family Services Hispanic Families Conference.

As an outspoken voice for increased minority representation in the legislative and judicial

branches of government, his leadership in redistricting cases in 1981, 1991 and 2001 led to

the creation of more fairly constituted districts on the city, county and state levels and the

election of more African Americans, Women and Latinos to the judiciary.

Clerk del Valle resides on the near northwest side. He and his wife of 36 years have four

children and three grandchildren.

Senator Kimberly A. Lightford

State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford was reelected to her third four year term in the Illinois

State Senate by an overwhelming majority of the people of the 4th District on November

7, 2006. She was first elected in 1998 and merits the distinction of being the “youngest

woman and African-American” elected to the State Senate, where she represents Proviso

Township and the west side of Chicago Austin community. She served as chair of the

Illinois Senate Black Caucus as a freshman legislator for eight consecutive years, another

first. Senator Lightford is the devoted mother of son, Isaiah. When the Senator is not

busy fighting for domestic policies for her communities, she enjoys spending time with her

family in Maywood.

Since the beginning of her political career, Senator Lightford has championed her passion,

education and youth development. She is the Chairman of the Senate Education

Committee K-12 and Vice Chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. Her

commitment to improving public education is demonstrated in sponsoring key legislative

initiatives such as Bullying Prevention, Student Achievement Improvement Grant, and

Special Education and Bilingual Reimbursement now all public acts. In addition, Senator

Lightford currently serves on the Senate Revenue, Public Health and Financial Institutions

committees. Within the district, Senator Lightford currently serves on the Board of

Directors for the Proviso-Leyden Council for Community Action, Inc. and Loretto

Hospital.

Senator Lightford holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication from Western Illinois

University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Illinois at

Springfield.

Senator Lightford has received numerous awards including the Proviso/Leyden NAACP

Good Government Civic Award, Western Illinois University Alumni of the Year, the

Legislative Leadership Award from the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, the

Chicago Teachers Union “Certificate of Commendation for Support of Public Education”,

Loyola Hospital, “Appreciation for Your Efforts on Behalf of the School Based Health

Center” at Proviso East High School and the Illinois Association of School Social Workers

Legislator of the Year.

LeeAnn Trotter

LeeAnn Trotter is NBC5's entertainment reporter, covering everything from restaurants

to celebrities to what's happening around town. This Chicago native joined NBC5 in

December 2005, after working at CLTV for eight years. There, she anchored the

weekend news and hosted the award winning entertainment show, "Metromix: The TV

Show," which earned her a local Emmy and several nominations for Best On Camera

Performance

Prior to working at CLTV, she was the News and Public Affairs Director at WUSN-FM,

where she reported news on the morning show and hosted, "Chicago Up Close," a weekly

public affairs show. She also worked briefly at Fox News and WGN Radio. LeeAnn began

her broadcasting career at WBBM Newsradio 780, where she held numerous positions,

including production manager and traffic reporter.

LeeAnn graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign with a degree in Broadcast

Journalism, and attended high school at the Latin School of Chicago.

Congratulations

and Continued Success

to

PURE for Leading the Charge for

Responsible Education

Barbara Flynn Currie State Representative, 25 Districtth

Illinoins House Majority Leader

1303 E. 53 St. 773-667-0550rd

More PURE generosity...

In addition to the sponsors listed in the insidefront cover of the program book, we are alsoso grateful to those who donated over andabove the price of a ticket or donatedscholarship tickets for parents and LSCmembers:

Center for Conflict Resolution, VictoriaChou, Margaret Goldstein, FlaviaHernandez, Susan Klonsky, John Knoff andEva Sullivan-Knoff, Bernard Lacour, Francesand Eliot Lehman, Ricardo Meza, ZoeMikva, Monty Neill, Mark Paye, Alfred P.Rodgers, John Rosales, Ruth Rothstein,Larry Turpin, Sarah Vanderwicken, BettyWilhoite, and Amy Zimmerman.

PURE’s 20 anniversary celebration!th

December 3, 2007

6 to 9 pm

Lazo’s Restaurant, 2009 N. Western Avenue

Chicago, IL

6:00 pm Mix and mingle: Appetizers - Open bar – PURE videos

6:45 pm Dinner

Welcome – Julie Woestehoff, PURE Executive Director

Entertainment – LeeAnn Trotter, Master of Ceremonies

i Gospel music - Ashley Barnes

i Bolivian Folk Dancing - Corazon Boliviano

i Contemporary music - Hamsa Muhammad

i Violin - Maya Hopkins

7:30 pm Keynote speaker

Introduction by

PURE Founding President Bernie Noven

i Keynote speaker – Chicago City Clerk

Miguel del Valle

7:50 pm Presentation of 2007 ELSIE Awards

i to Senator Kimberly Lightford

by Wanda Hopkins and Julie Woestehoff

i to City Clerk Miguel del Valle

by Julie Woestehoff

Recognition of other VIPs – Julie Woestehoff

i Founding PURE members

i Current and former PURE Board members

i Current and former Local School Council members

i 2008 PURE Board nominees

i 20 Anniversary Host Committee and Sponsorsth

8:15 pm More Entertainment! – LeeAnn Trotter

i Tango singer Alba Guerra

8:40 Last call for silent auction – LeeAnn Trotter

PURE’s next 20 years – Julie Woestehoff

PURE business meeting; please mark your ballots and leave them at the

ticket table

Announcement of winners of silent auction – Joy Noven

9 pm Closing – LeeAnn Trotter

Thank you!! ¡¡Gracias!!

Senator Mattie Hunter (D)

3rd District

District Office:

2929 S. Wabash Avenue

Suite102

Chicago, IL 60616

(312) 949-1908

(312) 949-1958 FAX

PADRES UNIDOS DE PILSEN

y

CASA AZTLAN

Congratulations to PURE for

20 years of service

Antonia Salinas Carlos ArangoPresident of Padres Unidos de Pilsen Executive Director of Casa Aztlan

1831 S. Racine Chicago, IL 60608 Tel. (312) 666 5508 www.casaaztlan.org

KUDOS TO PURE

FOR CONTINUING TO BE THERE

FOR PARENTS AND LSCS THROUGH

THICK AND THIN

Sarah Vanderwicken

Congratulations!

to PURE

for

20 Years of support of LSCs and Chicago Public School Parents

I believe that children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way.

Kimberly A. LightfordState Senator, 4th District

******

Thank you

to Senator Kimberly A. Lightford

from

South Austin Coalition Community Council

for supporting our

2007 Education Summit

The History of PURE’s “ELSIE” Award

PURE presented the First Annual ELSIE Award at our 10 anniversary celebration on Septemberth

27, 1997. In instituting the Annual ELSIE Award program, the PURE Board of Directors on behalf

of the PURE membership strongly affirmed the crucial role of local school councils in the

improvement of the Chicago Public Schools.

PURE has continued to present the ELSIE on an annual basis to honor local school council

members who, in PURE’s judgement, represent the best of school reform: perseverance in their

LSC responsibilities, courage and integrity in the face of challenge, and, above all, dedication to

improving Chicago public schools for our children. The ELSIE winners are LSCs which PURE has

helped through training, advocacy, and other assistance, and others who have worked with PURE

to support LSCs.

Common thread: The ELSIE LSC stories share a common theme. The challenges confronting these

LSC members have been directly or indirectly related to principal selection issues. It is probably not

a coincidence that the LSC principal selection role is the aspect of the school reform law the

Central Office has tried hardest to change. Our ELSIE winners have been fighting on the front

lines of school reform, and their sacrifices have helped hold the line for other LSCs.

In presenting this award, PURE also wishes to thank every one of Chicago’s 6,000-plus local school

council members who work so hard for our children with very little public recognition. PURE is

proud to work with LSCs every day, and we are delighted to be able to offer them this tribute.

10 years of LSC “ELSIE” winners

1997- the first ELSIE Award winners: Gale LSC

The first ELSIE Award winners provided a model of multi-racial and multi-cultural collaboration

during their fight with CPS to hire the contract principal of their choice (Ms. Martin). CPS sued

this LSC for refusing to back down on their choice. Gale LSC members and Ms. Martin won the

lawsuit, and won again on appeal. This precedent-setting case strongly affirmed the authority of

LSCs to select principals. In his ruling, Judge Green also contributed a memorable description of

CPS actions, which he called “naked assertions of power which fly in the face of the school reform

legislation.”

1998 ELSIE Award winners: Stowe LSC

Stowe LSC members began to experience harassment and retaliation after they voted not to renew

their principal’s contract in 1998. The LSC called the CPS Central Office for help many times, but

instead of helping the LSC, CPS launched an investigation of the LSC members. Despite this

attack, the LSC embarked on a careful principal selection process. They selected Dr. Charles Kyle,

an outstanding educator and a researcher who had published a ground-breaking study of CPS drop

out rates in the 1970's.

1999 ELSIE Award winners: Zapata LSC

At Zapata, there was a clear attempt by the school administration to interfere with the LSC

election process; after the election, harassment was extended to other LSC members. PURE’s

Ismael Vargas reviewed the LSC basic training in Spanish for the new LSC members, which gave

them a foundation to know and feel confident in their role as LSC members. Ultimately, two LSC

members and a former Zapata teacher filed and won a civil rights lawsuit in federal court over the

extreme behavior of the principal.

2000 ELSIE Award winners: Finkl LSC

The first arbitration case brought to challenge an LSC’s decision not to renew the contract of their

school principal ended in victory for the LSC. On March 13, 2000, an independent hearing officer

ruled in favor of the Finkl Local School Council which had voted not to renew their principal’s

contract. This was the first ruling in a principal contract review case allowed under 1999

amendments to the school reform law (originally SB652). Finkl, which had been the only

comparable school in its area on probation, came off probation its first year under the leadership of

the LSC-selected principal, Ms. Susan Jensen, and was recently hailed by the Chicago Tribune as

one of the most improved schools.

2001 ELSIE Award winners: Boone LSC; Lindblom LSC

Why the Boone LSC? After the April 2000 LSC election, a CPS Regional Education Officer

voided the results and called for a new LSC election at Boone. The LSC members filed a successful

lawsuit and officially took office in October, having lost over three months of doing school business

while this issue was being resolved in the courts. Winning the lawsuit probably also helped LSC

members elected at Salazar whose election was also overturned. Within a few days, CPS officials

reversed their decision to overturn that Salazar election and cancelled a special election they had

ordered.

Why the Lindblom LSC? Over several years, Lindblom suffered through a series of CPS-appointed

interims after the LSC-supported contract principal was forced out. CPS first tried to block

Lindblom’s LSC from exercising its right to look for a permanent replacement, and then to refuse

to recognize the principal selected by the LSC. Even after the Board finally approved the LSC’s

pick, the CPS-appointed interim closed the position of the two LSC teacher representatives who

had to fight to get their jobs back.

2002 ELSIE Award winners: members of the Canter, Truth, and Wendell Smith LSCs

Why Canter? The Canter LSC won a significant victory in court on April 30. They won the rightto do what most every other CPS school was doing on May 1 and 2 , that is, hold an LSC election.nd

CPS first just tried to assert that there would not be an election at Canter this May because CPS

was changing the school curriculum and its boundaries as of July 1. Once PURE explained to the

LSC and to the community via the local newspaper that CPS had no authority to cancel an

election for a particular school, CPS decided to sue the LSC, and the LSC won. CPS then informed

the LSC that they would not be allowed to begin principal selection even though their contract

principal had resigned and taken another position. However, the LSC moved ahead and

successfully completed the selection process. PURE ED Julie Woestehoff, a member of the Canter

community, served on the principal selection committee.

Why the Truth LSC? Gentrification was all happening all around the Sojourner Truth School. In 2001, investigators began to tear into the school internal accounts and other finances, and CPS

removed the long-time, highly effective principal. After the removal of their beloved principal, the

Truth LSC took up their duty to select a new principal. CPS insisted they would not be allowed to

begin a search. The LSC stood firm that they would. The LSC eventually won. However, Truth

was closed in 2004, one of the first to be closed under Renaissance 2010.

Why the Wendell Smith LSC? Early in 2000, the Wendell Smith principal ignored the objections

of the Smith LSC and submitted an unapproved budget to the central office. CPS ignored the

LSC’s complaints that the budget and SIP the principal was implementing had not been approved.

Instead, they sent in investigators who determined that the LSC was causing all of the problems at

the school. CPS declared a crisis and disbanded the LSC. A lawsuit against the Board was

unsuccessful; however, two of the ousted members were re-elected the following year.

2003 Elsie Award winners: Songhai Elementary LSC members

When the LSC’s vote came up short of the number needed to renew the principal’s contract –

effectively making it a non-renewal vote – the Area Officer told the LSC that AIOs can cast the

deciding vote or break a tie in principal contract renewal. As often happens in a non-renewal

situation, the LSC became the object of retaliation and interference, but with the help of PURE’s

Johnny Holmes, they carried on, setting up a working principal selection committee. The non-

renewed principal filed for arbitration. He decided to represent himself, and then failed to show up

at the hearing.

2004 ELSIE Award winners: Thorpe LSC members

PURE’s Wanda Hopkins assisted the LSC in principal selection and on other problems they had

with their former principal who became very uncooperative once his contract was not renewed. He

would not allow the LSC to meet in the building, refused to work on the SIP and budget, etc.

2005 ELSIE Award winner: Sandra Brigando, a former Sandoval teacher LSC representative

We recognized Ms. Brigando, who encountered significant personal and professional challenges as

the LSC went through arbitration to defend their decision not to retain their previous principal.

PURE’s Ismael Vargas, who was the chair of the first LSC to experience arbitration, also helped

advise the Sandoval LSC. Ultimately, the LSC won their arbitration case.

Full ELSIE stories and pictures, including the also wonderful non-LSC winners, are posted on the PURE

web site: http://pureparents.org/data/files/elsiestories07.pdf.

http://pureparents.org/data/files/elsiestories07.pdf.

Many thanks to...

PURE’s Board of Directors 2006-07

President: Cathy Smith Dale Former LSC parent, M. L. King, Jr. College Prep HS

Vice-President: Julieta L. Bolivar LSC parent representative, Salazar Bilingual Academy

Secretary: Gustavo Barrios DeLeon Former teacher LSC representative, Stowe

Members:

Miriam “Mimi” Bolivar Student, ACE Charter HS

Darryl Gibson Former LSC parent representative, Carver Military and Fuller

Geneva Harris Former LSC representative, Spalding, Shoop

Antonia Salinas LSC parent representative, Juarez HS

Elaine K. B. Siegel Education attorney, E.K.B. Siegel and Associates

iiiii

Thanks to the nominees for

PURE’s Board of Directors 2008

Julieta L. Bólivar LSC parent representative, Salazar Bilingual Academy

Ivan Bólivar Student, ACE Charter HS

Cathy Smith Dale Former LSC parent, M. L. King, Jr. College Prep HS

Catherine Ferree LSC teacher representative, Disney Magnet

José Gutierrez LSC representative, Edwards Elementary and Curie H.S.

Ivry Hobbs Former LSC teacher representative, retired principal, CPS

Steven Ross LSC Vice-President, School of Technology at South Shore

Antonia Salinas LSC parent representative, Juarez HS

Elaine K. B. Siegel Education attorney, E.K.B. Siegel and Associates

Ismael Vargas Former LSC chair, Finkl Academy

Michelle Vos Paralegal, E. K. B. Siegel and Associates

Rebecca Williams LSC parent representative, Lewis Elementary

PURE’s Staff

Julie Woestehoff Executive Director

Johnny O. Holmes Senior Advocate/Trainer

Wanda Hopkins Senior Advocate/Trainer

Thanks to the wonderful volunteers, in-kind contributors, and consultants who helped

make our work successful this year: John Knoff, Sten Turpin, Kristin Hanson, Gloria Crite, Ivry

Hobbs, Anthony Hopkins, Anders Turpin and Larry Turpin. Special thanks to Joy and Bernie

Noven, Christine Ramos, and the rest of the Host Committee listed earlier in this program book

for their fantastic work making PURE’s 20 anniversary a great celebration! th

Great thanks to our 2006-07 funders for supporting PURE’s work!

21 Century Foundationst

Alphawood Foundation

Ben & Jerry’s Foundation

Polk Bros. Foundation

Woods Fund of Chicago

and our hundreds of PURE members!

Financial Report FY07*

INCOME

Income from foundations $ 80,000

Income from contracts $ 41,700

Memberships and donations $ 3,300

total $125,000

EXPENSES

Program services $ 80,000

Management/general op $ 15,000

total $ 95,000

*unaudited preliminary figures

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