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The destruction of Collins High School... Old 2006 video and Substance reports remind Chicago of the way Michael Scott did backroom deals that destroyed dozens of schools in Chicago's African American community on behalf of Mayor Richard M. Daley

Grady C. Jordan, George N. Schmidt, and Jesse Sharkey - November 20, 2009

[Editor's note. The following articles first ran nearly four years ago in Substance and elsewhere. Originally, they ran at the time of massive community protests against the closing of George W. Collins High School, at 1313 S. Sacramento in Chicago's Lawndale Community. The closing of Collins is particularly relevant this week, as Chicago is assessing the life and work of Michael Scott, who died under unusual circumstances on Monday, November 16, 2009. As of this writing, the Chicago Police Department was still investigating Scott's death, although the coroner's office has already declared the death a suicide.

Scott's political career began in Lawndale, the impoverished ghetto community where Martin Luther King Jr. lived and worked in 1968 during his attempt to focus national attention on the racism and segregation in America's most segregated city, Chicago. Scott's rise in Chicago politics was supported by people from the Lawndale community for years, even as Scott's accommodations to Mayor Richard M. Daley became more and more clear. Above, At the February 22, 2006, meeting of the Chicago Board of Education, Board President Michael Scott tries to utilize his famous charm to calm the large protest against the plan he was about to approve to close Collins High School. Collins was trying to speak in answer to charges just made by Dr. Grady C. Jordan, the founding principal of Collins High School, that the closing of Collins would deprive the students of Lawndale of a general high school that they could attend, and the transfer of those students to nearby schools like Crane and Farragut would be "transferring them from one leaky boat into another." Four years later, after Scott and Arne Duncan had successfully destroyed Collins High School as a general public high school, the University of Chicago's Consortium on Chicago School Research issued a report proving that Dr. Jordan's prediction had been precisely what happened. Despite the opposition from the community that had once provided Scott with his political base, Scott followed the wishes of Mayor Richard M. Daley and the edicts of the Renaissance 2010 program and voted to destroy the Collins High School that Scott's own mother had helped organize to create 30 years earlier. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt. Whether suicide or homicide, Scott's death raises more political questions than have yet been answered, and a look at Scott's role in the closing of Collins High School, including the backroom breakfast meeting depicted in the videos referenced in this story, is worth study. One of the reasons why the destruction of Collins High School as a public school was central to the life and work of Michael Scott was that Scott's own mother had worked tirelessly as one of the community organizers on the West Side to get Collins built.

Collins High School opened in 1976 as a victory for the community. [Full disclosure. I was one of the original staff of Collins High School, teaching English there until January 1978, when CPS had me bumped by a more senior teacher. During my time at Collins, I taught English and worked in several extra curricular activities, including serving as coach of Chicago's first co-educational weightlifting program, under the school's principal, Dr. Grady C. Jordan].

Arne Duncan originally proposed the destruction of Collins High School in 2003, announcing that the schools would not be accepting 9th graders, but, as reported below, the organized community beat back the attack on Collins at the time.

When former Collins High School Principal Dr. Grady Jordan spoke against the plan proposed by then Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Arne Duncan to slowly close Collins High School as a general public high school serving the historic Lawndale community on Chicago's West Side, Dr. Jordan said that dumping the students from Collins into nearby public high schools like Crane and Farragut (both segregated) was like "sending them from one leaky boat to another." Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.But by 2005, Arne Duncan suggested the decimation of Collins as part of Mayor Daley's Renaissance 2010 program, Collins was in the way of the real estate and other plans of Chicago's rulers. By January and February 2006, when Michael Scott supported Arne Duncan's proposal to close Collins, Collins also stood in the way of plans by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley to bring the 2016 Olympic Games to Chicago. But one of the most poignant things about the Board of Education's attack on Collins was that Michael Scott's own mother, by then deceased, had been one of the dozens of West Side community activists, most of them women (led by legendary community activists) to get a "school in the park" (Douglass Park).

The story of the closing of Collins (which is now operated jointly by North Lawndale College Prep Charter High School and the Academy for Urban School Leadership, both of which operate selective enrollment schools in a building that once housed a general public high school, has been partly told, and needs to be retold now that Michael Scott's role in the destruction of dozens of public schools in Chicago's African American community is up for review following his surprising death. George N. Schmidt, Editor, Substance, November 20, 2009].

FIRST ARTICLE: Anatomy of the murder of Collins High School By Dr. Grady C. Jordan (first published in the print edition of Substance, February - March 2006). [Available at www.substancenews.com/content/view/376/81/].

I fully realize that murder is a very strong term.

Above, Illinois State Senator Ricky Hendon tells a crowd of people that filled the Collins High School auditorium on February 2, 2006, that he would not tolerate the closing of Collins. Behind Hendon are chairs marked for Mayor Daley, Arne Duncan (then CEO of CPS), and Michael Scott (the President of the Chicago Board of Education). Within a week, Hendon had met secretly with Scott, Congressman Danny Davis, and Arne Duncan to cut a deal that would allow the destruction of Collins to move forward. Caught on video by "Hood News" (see the links with these articles) Hendon had a scatological exchange with one of the videographers who caught the typical back room Chicago deal for the future. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.But what mayor Daley, Arne Duncan and the Board of Education are proposing to do to Collins High School evokes very strong reactions from me. Many people are aware that I was the first or “Founding” principal of Collins High School. What is not known by most people is the fact that I was deeply involved with the North Lawndale Community in their long struggle to get a high school for their children. Then, as now, the Board of Education showed very little respect for the people of North Lawndale. However, those were very strong, determined people, and they refused to quit.

At the time, during the early 1970s, I was director of the Lawndale Urban Progress Center. In that position, I took some actions that were very decisive in securing the final victory. At the time, I had no idea that I would be principal of any Chicago school or if I would ever work for the Chicago Public Schools again. Around that time, I took I took and passed the Principal exam and was then more or less drafted by the community to be the first principal. So for me, being principal of Collins was not “just another job”. It was something akin to a mission. To now see how Mayor Daley and his Board of Education are going about destroying it in such a cavalier fashion angers me.

In 1999, just seven years ago, Collins High School came off probation, one of the few to do so.

What happened over those seven years and who has been primarily responsible? The responsibility for the downward slide can be laid squarely on the CPS central office. The principal, Clement Smith, who led the way off probation, with valuable and help from Assistant Principal Learna Brewer, retired. Central office sent in an acting principal with no high school experience. The LSC finally selected a contract principal. Paul Vallas (who was CEO at the time) and the Board of Education refused to allow the contract principal to assume the job.

This was the seventh instance that I am personally aware of that Vallas and the Board refused to follow the law. All of those principals so denied were Black. For that and other reasons, I still do not understand how Black members of the Principals Association, especially those in leadership positions went along with naming the Principals Association Headquarters for Beverly Tunney who sat there and did nothing to protect those members jobs.

Over the next few years, CPS sent a number of people lacking in experience as high school leaders into the principals office at Collins. Over the past ten years, Mayor Daley and his team have run one gimmick after another at the high schools. In addition to probation, there has been reconstitution, reengineering, etc. In addition, Collins was one of those school selected for Intervention. Intervention was an absolute, unrealistic farce. It was under the direction of some one who had never run a high school. At Collins, a former kindergarten teacher was brought in to call the shots and supervise the principal. Maybe you are beginning to understand why I say CPS murdered Collins High School.

Assuming that Mayor Daley and his school team want to improve the quality of education in our high schools, it is clear that they do not have a clue as to the proper approach. With all of the gimmicks and false starts that they have instituted, a key main ingredient is always missing: Namely, what are the specific problems that are being addressed?

I am not aware of any analysis or diagnosis that has resulted in any determination of the problem(s) that are negatively impacted student achievement at the various high schools. All of us recognize the outward symptoms and manifestations: Poor attendance, discipline problems, etc. But are the problems under girding these symptoms? They have spent untold millions on external partners, probation managers, ad infinitum instead of properly diagnosing the problems. I admit that I do not know the many players at the central office any more. If any one who happens to read this know of some truly high school experts among them, please inform me.

In 2003, CPS drove a stake into the heart of Collins. They publicized that Collins was being phased out. They said that in September of 2003, they would not accept freshmen. Even though they rescinded the action, the dirty deed had been done. The seeds of destruction had been sown. We now see the bitter fruit. By stating in 2003 that Collins would be phased out, they cast a pall of uncertainty over the school. When that happens, many of the better students choose to go else where. Many of the teachers who had worked so hard and effectively to bring the school from probation left for other schools. Every school wants good teachers. I do not mean to denigrate in any way those teachers who are there. But it takes time to build a winning team. Collins is not being given the time. We know this is not an educational decision. This, like most of the decisions of the Daley School Team, is a political/economic decision.

When 2003 decision to close Collins was announced, a group of alumni, parents, and community people came together in an attempt to save the school. A letter dated September 2, 2003 was sent to Arne Duncan. The letter expressed their willingness and desire to work with the school and central administration address the problems. In that regard, they asked for information regarding the nature and scope of the problems. They also asked to be informed of the level of achievement necessary to remain open and other pertinent information. It would seem that the CEO would welcome the enthusiastic support of these stakeholders. Everyone seems to agree that this kind of support is not only crucial but essential if we are going to turn our schools around. Arne Duncan never responded. Daley and his School Team have total contempt for Black communities like North Lawndale. Arne Duncan is seen often talking to downtown white business people about what they are going to do to schools in the Black community. But in effect he said to those People in Lawndale: Drop dead!

In summary, from the time that Collins came off probation until today it has been under the total control of CPS central office. They have chosen all of the leaders and programs. If it has failed, CPS failed. And now to have the unmitigated gall to say they are going to close Collins because of low performance and send the children to other schools with low performance is immoral. I looked at the performance records of all of the high schools on the west side — with the exception of Whitney Young. From Ashland to Austin and from North Avenue to 26th Street. In overall performance, all are “below 20 percent.” (Collins was not the lowest). I am sure that all of them are working very hard in very difficult circumstances and suspect leadership from the top. The point is, it is ridiculous to consider moving any student from one of these schools to the other for performance. Rather, Daley and his team should stop wasting taxpayers money on gimmicks such as Ren 2010 and bring together some people who know something about high school operation and plan a program and strategy to improve all of the high schools. All of our communities deserve this.

As for Collins, it was born in struggle. I was there. If, unfortunately and as I do not expect, it dies in struggle, I will be there. A Luta Continua. 

'HOOD NEWS' VIDEOS STILL AVAILABLE ON YOU TUBE REMIND PUBLIC OF HOW MICHAEL SCOTT OPERATED BEHIND THE SCENES WHILE TRYING TO CHARM THE PUBLIC WHEN THE TV CAMERAS WERE ROLLING. caught on in the backroom! — http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=joeblow849#g/u

Selling out the community Danny Davis, Ricky Hendon, Michael Scott and Arne Duncan (Part 1of 3). Here is a backroom meeting on the westside of Chicago with some major players..A tip was given regarding this meeting to discuss the closing of Collins High School to turn them into Daley ran Charter Schools public schools on the Westside. We don't know what WAS being discussed but it sure looks shady.

Selling Out the Community Danny Davis, Rickey Hendon, Arne Duncan and Michael Scott Part 2

Selling out the community Danny Davis, Ricky Hendon, Arne Duncan and Michael Scott Part 3 Opponents of school closing catch politicians' secret meet

JESSE SHARKEY: A backroom deal in Chicago? [http://socialistworker. org/2006-1/579/579_02_Backroom.shtml, By Jesse Sharkey, Socialist Workers, March 10, 2006, Page 2].

CHICAGO ACTIVISTS opposed to a school-closing plan broke in on a backroom meeting that they believe was aimed at sealing the deal. Top school officials were found at a popular West Side restaurant Edna's — across the table from U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and state Sen. Ricky Hendon, whose districts include Collins High School, one of the schools slated to close.

Last month, the Chicago Board of Education (CBOE) voted unanimously to close four Chicago schools as part of its citywide privatization plan, called Renaissance 2010. The closings, announced a month earlier, aroused an outpouring of anger at the four high schools — Frazier, Farren, Morse and Collins — and the surrounding communities, all poor Black neighborhoods.

Davis and Hendon were among the most militant-sounding critics of the closures plan. At a town-hall meeting against the Collins closing, Davis and Hendon both denounced the city's plan as racist, and emphasized their long connection to the North Lawndale neighborhood. "We're going to show them how we fight," Hendon told the cheering crowd.

Several days later, at the Chicago Board Of Education hearing, Hendon threatened to cut off funding if the Collins closure went through. "You're not going to see a penny," he told Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan.

But Hendon seems to have been sending a different message behind the scenes. Last month, neighborhood activists spotted Hendon, Davis, Duncan and CBOE President Michael Scott in a back room at Edna's. Scott is also a local real estate developer with substantial business interests in the gentrifying West Side neighborhood.

After being alerted about the gathering, reporters from a local public access show, Hood News, burst into the room, with video rolling. "Is this the sellout crew?" the reporter asked. "Is this a secret meeting about Collins High School?" Ricky Hendon told the reporters, "Kiss my ass!" while Davis went for his cell phone and called police.

None of the participants would tell reporters what was on the agenda for the secret meeting. It is illegal under the Illinois Open Meetings Act for multiple elected officials to meet about policy in secret.

But it soon became clear what deal had been made when the board announced that Collins High School would close as planned--but only for one year, according to the board.

Hendon and his supporters hailed this as a victory, but the board had only ever planned to leave Collins closed for a year. Under Renaissance 2010, the board's scheme is to reopen closed schools as new charter schools, with new students and nonunion teachers.

Far from a victory, Hendon's deal gave the board exactly what they wanted--while delivering nothing to the teachers, parents and students in the neighborhood he and Davis pledged to represent. 

Final edited version of this article posted at www.substancenews.net November 20, 2009, 5:00 p.m. CDT. If you choose to reproduce this article in whole or in part, or any of the graphical material included with it, please give full credit to SubstanceNews as follows: Copyright © 2009 Substance, Inc., www.substancenews.net. Please provide Substance with a copy of any reproductions of this material and we will let you know our terms — or you can take out a subscription to Substance (see red button to the right) and make a donation. We are asking all of our readers to either subscribe to the print edition of Substance (a bargain at $16 per year) or make a donation. Both options are available on the right side of our Home Page. For further information, feel free to call us at our office at 773-725-7502.

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