MARGARET LAURINO oncom Commrree Memaenshies ALDERMAN, 39TH WaRD PIE easoAaeir PRresipent PRo Tempore ‘OPERATIONS OF? FR. aeons Countess, Ruves ano Eriics 121 Nowta La Sau Stace Finance Pueiic Service Orrce: (Ciicase, lkunois 60602 = 4404 West Levence Avene 60690-2511 Terepone: (912) 744-7242 Worxrorce DevetorMtent ano AuoiT TexepHone: (773) 736-5594 Fae: (812) 744-0717 Fax (773) 736-2333 ZoniNc, LaNOMARKS AND E-MAIL WAROSSBCITYOFCHICAGO ORG Buoine Stanoasos September 21, 2017 Mr. Frank M, Clark Mr. Forrest Claypool President, Chicago Board of Education CEO, Chicago Public Schools 1 N Dearborn, Suite 950 42. W. Madison, 3" Floor Chicago, IL 60602 Chicago, IL 60602 Dear President Clark and Chief Executive Officer Claypool: Please act promptly to correct the deplorable building conditions at John M. Palmer Elementary School, 5051 N. Kenneth Avenue. Apart from the state of its physical plant, Palmer is an exemplary school in every way. Thanks to its engaged community, its involved parents, its dedicated staff and its dynamic Principal, Palmer has achieved Level 1+ status, CPS" highest ranking. Palmer celebrates the fact that it has one of the most diverse student bodies in the city. ts nearly 900 students speak more than twenty languages, and come from all over the world, including throughout the Middle East and Latin America. Palmer teaches them to be proud of their own heritage, while loving, respecting and earning from the heritages of others. However, for the last seventeen years, nearly a third of Palmer's students have been housed in “temporary” modular units, CPS keeps spending money in an attempt to extend the life of the units but the challenges only multiply as they age. In addition, without fire alarms or a safety alarm system, the modular units pose serious security concerns for the students and staff, Meanwhile, the school doesn’t have a library, or the technological infrastructure to support one. thas a cafeteria to warm up food (which children in the modulars can only reach by walking outside in all weather), but no facility to actually prepare food. As I mentioned in my capital requests since 2014, all of these problems could be solved at once by giving Palmer a permanent addition.Palmer's roof has leaked for years. Following my 2014 request for a new roof, CPS made roof repairs that were inadequate. Every time it rains, the school is forced to close off one of its stairways (a serious fire code violation), and put buckets in classrooms and hallways to eatch water. Water infiltration damages the building in countless ways, and has led to a need for tuckpointing. It is time abandon roof repairs and give Palmer a new roof. Palmer's students don’t have a decent place to play. The current field is a pile of rocks without drainage. Too often, standing water keeps them inside at recess. Every child should have a chance to have fun with their friends and develop a lifelong love of exercise, Palmer needs a new turf field and playground. Please give the Palmer community the capital support it needs. Help these dedicated students, faculty, staff, parents and community to continue moving forward Sincerely, Mergent Lorre Sh 4 Dass Margaret Laurino John C. D'Amico Alderman, 39" Ward State Representative, 15" District CC: Honorable Rahm Emanuel, Mayor, City of Chicago Lindy McGuire, Office of the Mayor Jennifer Dixon, Principal, John M Palmer Elementary School John M Palmer Local Schoo! Couneil: Karen Everman, lan Guenther, Aamir Burki, Ivan Perez, Thelma Morales, William Coleman, Deirdre Asnis, Elizabeth Granato, Nancy Gomez, Cynthia Lohse, Hermine Goetz Friends of Palmer