New facility would train teachers, cut class sizes Chicago Public Schools officials announced plans Tuesday to draw on untapped powers and open a new "contract school" to train budding teachers and help relieve overcrowding in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood. The new Wright Laboratory School, the brainchild of Golden Apple Foundation founder Martin "Mike" Koldyke, would operate under contract to the Chicago Board of Education. The school would operate in space leased from Wright College at 3400 N. Austin for $500,000 a year, School Board president Gery Chico said. The school would differ from Chicago charter schools in that board-paid teachers would belong to the Chicago Teachers Union and the school would have to comply with all state and federal laws. However, like a charter school, the Wright Lab School would not have a local school council. The Foundation for Urban School Leadership, a new arm of the Golden Apple Foundation, would recruit the principal, as well as teachers. Each classroom would be served by a "master teacher" and two student teachers, officials said. The school should open in the spring of 2002 for 300 pre-kindergarten through fourth-graders, and eventually serve 400 pre-K to eigth-grade students, said Jorge Oclander, a top Chico aide. The concept of a "contract" school was included in the 1995 amendment to the Chicago School Reform Act that gave Mayor Daley power over city public schools, but this would mark its first use, Chico said. In addition to training new teachers, the school would relieve overcrowding at five schools in the Belmont-Cragin area. Also Tuesday, Chico said the system will start a small, $195,000 pilot program with Wright that will offer college courses to up to 40 classroom assistants so they can provide better help in city schools. Rosalind Rossi -- This is the CPS Science Teacher List. To unsubscribe, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For more information: <http://home.sprintmail.com/~mikelach/subscribe.html>. To search the archives: <http://www.mail-archive.com/science%40lists.csi.cps.k12.il.us/>
