TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
COMMITTEE ON PENSION, HUMAN RESOURCES AND CIVIL SERVICE
Mr. Richard Lanyon, 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, thirty (30) District employees completed the seventh 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 2010-2011 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. A bus, provided by WITS, picks up the volunteers at the Main Office Complex at 11:30 AM on Wednesdays, takes them to Peabody School, located at 1444 West Augusta, and returns to the District about 1:00 PM. Two District employees are assigned to one student, so employees attend this program every other week. The program begins approximately the second week in October and runs through the first week of June. Last year employees were scheduled to read on 26 Wednesdays.
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, Gloria Alitto Majewski, 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 September 2, 2010