Steinmetz Star Volume 82, Number 3, January-February 2017 www.steinmetzstar.com
Steinmetz would lose enrollment to proposed Taft South school
Community challenges disinvestment By Ronald Evans and Star staff
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proposed $75 million school to be built at Oak Park Ave. and Irving Park Rd. would hurt Steinmetz, according to community members, Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36), students, teachers, parents and the Local School Council (LSC). Three Dunning neighborhood elementary schools – Dever, Bridge and Canty – would be removed from the Steinmetz boundaries. Instead of feeding into Steinmetz, those students would attend “Taft South,” a grades 7-9 school being proposed by Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38). In the proposal, Taft High School would then become a grades 10-12 school. Nearly 200 Dunning students currently attend Steinmetz. A loss of this number would drastically cut staff and programs at Steinmetz in the future, while adding to Taft, the largest neighborhood school in Chicago. “This is a case of ‘haves and have nots,’” parent Billy Fliesher said at Taft’s LSC meeting on Feb. 7. “You have let me down,” he told Alderman Sposato. Mr. Fliescher said his freshman daughter, who went to Bridge elementary, is doing very well in sports and academics at Steinmetz.
Students at the Jan. 25 Chicago Board of Education meeting Students, teachers, parents and 36th Ward Alderman Gilbert Villegas spoke out at four meetings against a proposal for a school that would take students and resources from Steinmetz.
LSC president Vanessa Valentin and community rep Jose Quilles at the Feb. 8 Steinmetz LSC meeting
Alderman Gilbert Villegas at a Jan. 31 community meeting Photo by Steven Nunez
Steinmetz parent Bill Fliescher at the Feb. 7 Taft LSC meeting
Photo by Steven Nunez
Regional science fair winners advance to city
Taking resources away from Steinmetz would hurt her, he said. “It’s disinvestment,” Ald. Villegas said at the Feb. 8 Steinmetz LSC meeting. Schools in the Belmont Cragin area could use more money and have space for more students. “How does this proposal help Steinmetz?” LSC President Vanessa Valentin demanded of CPS representative James Dispensa at the meeting. Mr. Dispensa downplayed the future loss of enrollment by suggesting the proposal was a “good opportunity” for Steinmetz to work on increasing its enrollment. It should focus on the hundreds of Belmont Cragin neighborhood students who choose not to go to Steinmetz, he said. It’s definite that CPS will be building the school, according to Mr. Dispensa and Ald. Sposato, but the proposal to use it for a middle school and Taft’s freshman campus, with expanded boundaries, needs to be voted on by the Chicago Board of Education, which might not happen for 18 months. The Board of Education members are not elected; they’re appointed by the mayor. Mr. Sposato said Mayor Rahm Emanuel was in favor of the plan. Continued on Page 5
Artists show work at MSI Black Creativity show By Erika Carrasco
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en students in Roseann Mark’s art classes won recognition at the Museum of Science and Industry’s 2017 Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition. Their work was displayed at the museum from Jan. 16 to Feb. 19. At the Feb. 15 reception, senior Nikia Turner was awarded the “Best in Youth-Textiles” prize ribbon.
Nakia Turner
Continued on Page 10 Photo by Steven Nunez
By Angelina Villarreal
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ine students represented Steinmetz at the North High Schools Regional Networks Science Fair on Jan. 29. They competed with 90 other students from 14 different North Side schools. Lizbeth Cervantes, Dayna Dayson, Katarina Fleischer, Alex Hernandez, Bartek Jaworowski, Jasmin Tlatelpa, and
Angelina Villarreal all received first place. Vanesa Sanchez and Josue Valdivia received honorable mentions The first place winners will compete in the City Science Fair, which will be held at the Museum of Science and Industry on March 17. Teachers Halina Kokoszka sponsored the projects and Paul Bagdonas organized the Steinmetz Science Fair.
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Photo by Jessy Martinez
Academic Decathlon finishes strong By Millie Martinez and Aaron Borda
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he Academic Decathlon team placed eighth out of 22 schools in the first round of competition on Jan. 28. For the city championship the team ranked 10th. “We were short two students and yet we still did great,” Coach Davoud Chitsaztehrani said.
First round awards for the Brainiacs – Valeriia Lytvak, Ryan Allibone, Aaron Borda, David Krasnicki, Alina Qureshy and Vincent Fernandez, who had the highest team score.
While the second round wasn’t as successful, it was definitely more enjoyable. Testing went by way faster than in January, and there was also way more interaction between the teams. We actually shared some laughs and played cards with a kid from the Lane team.
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In this issue News 4-7, 10-11
Opinion, 2-3
Freshmen on-track, p. 11
Readers share opinion of uniform
Our true loves, 8-9
Arts & Entertainment 10, 12-14
Sports, 14-16
Imagine24 art competitors, p. 10
Girls basketball senior night, 15