TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 29, 2013
COMMITTEE ON PENSION, HUMAN RESOURCES AND CIVIL SERVICE
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Request for authorization to continue District participation in the "Power Lunch" Program of Working in the Schools
Body
Dear Sir:
This past June, twenty-two (22) District employees completed the tenth academic year of participation in the Working in the School (WITS) Power Lunch Program. WITS is a 501(c)3 organization that promotes literacy and the love of reading among Chicago's youth by providing one-on-one tutoring and mentoring. The District volunteers had a very positive experience, building a relationship with their students and seeing the students' reading ability improve. The WITS professional staff coordinators were very enthusiastic in their thanks to all the Power Lunch volunteers.
District staff is requesting authorization to continue participation for the 2013-2014 academic year. Most participants have indicated their desire to volunteer for this worthwhile program again. The schedule would likely be the same as in past years. Two District employees are assigned to one student, so employees attend this program every other week. The program begins approximately the first week in October and runs through May. Last year employees were scheduled to read on 26 Wednesdays. A bus, provided by WITS, picks up the volunteers at the Main Office Complex on Wednesdays. There will be a change this year as Peabody School, where we have read for the past several years, was closed in June. Our assigned school for the 2013-2014 school year is Manierre Elementary School at 1420 North Hudson Avenue. It is hoped that this program might be spread to other District locations. Staff at plant locations have expressed interest in participating in this reading program at schools near them, and, dependent on Board of Commission approval, WITS is delighted at the prospect of being able to expand the program to those outlying schools.
If the Board of Commissioners approves, the Human Resources Department will coordinate the program with staff from WITS. Volunteers would need approval from their respective departments, and they would agree to forego their lunch breaks on reading days.
Requested, Denice E. Korcal, Director of Human Resources, DEK
Respectfully Submitted, Kathleen Therese Meany, Chairman Committee on Pension, Human Resources and Civil Service
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for August 29, 2013