Education not equally available

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Updated: March 6, 2012 8:16AM

Mary Mitchell’s column (Devoted parents seek top schools, January 31) sheds light on something Chicago likes to ignore: There is an unfair geographic distribution of quality public schools.

But let me be clear. I was misquoted. All neighborhood schools are not bad. The problem is there are not enough great public schools in Chicago – period. With over 123,000 students in underperforming CPS seats, we cannot afford to get into a charter vs. traditional school debate.

With so many of our kids at risk, the conversation cannot be “either-or,” it has to be “all of the above.” Chicago needs more high-performing magnet, selective-enrollment, charter, turnaround and traditional schools in our communities of greatest need.

There are examples everywhere in Chicago of great schools of all models preparing students for college, career and success in life with no excuses. We just don’t have enough of them. That’s why we focus on creating top-performing schools that set high expectations for every student, and have longer school days and other innovations that help get more students to college.

In a city where half the kids still drop-out, we need every public school to deliver for kids, no matter what kind.

Phyllis Lockett

President and CEO, New Schools for Chicago

A story in last week’s Sun-Times [“Cash-strapped Zion may sell city hall to felon’s finance company” Jan. 17] sadly missed the point that the City of Zion faced near extinction in 1998 when ComEd announced the closing of its nuclear power plant. Overnight, 65 percent of the elementary school budget evaporated and the city deliberately passed two referendums that essentially doubled its taxes . . . all to save its schools.

Armed with little more than faith, the leaders lifted Prohibition after 70 years and attracted Wal-Mart, FedEx, Culvers, Country Inn & Suites, Maine Plastics, Coral Chemical, Grand Appliance, CVS, Aldi, Applebees, Walgreens, PNC Bank and, eventually, the Lake County Fielders.

I have been honored to be part of that renaissance as I watched a deeply religious community, and one of Lake County’s poorest, finally discover its potential. As I explored development opportunities, other investors came forward and I was able to become a minority partner in some of those efforts. I do not, and never have, ‘controlled’ any of the sites or companies as the Sun-Times has inaccurately stated.

The city pursued more than 200 projects during my own investment period; I was involved in five, which is hardly ‘prolific’, if I understand the term. I have no privileged seat at the table or personal influence with the City Council or Mayor Harrison. For the Sun-Times to imply otherwise is beyond comprehension or reality.

Rick Delisle, Zion