State Senator Collins to CPS: ‘Restore Electrical Program or Don’t Come Back to Springfield’

By Chinta Strausberg

Angered that the Simeon Career Academy has cut CPS’ only electrician’s training program, Illinois Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-16^th) late Tuesday night said if school officials don’t restore that program they need not come to Springfield seeking much needed funds.

Collins, who along Rep. Mary Flowers (D-31^st), who graduated from Simeon, and Senator Donne Trotter (D-17^th), who is working to get trade courses back into the schools, recently met with CPS/CEO Dr. Barbara Byrd-Bennett and Simeon’s principal, Dr. Sheldon House.

“We indicated we were not very happy and disappointed with the decision to pull that program,” Senator Collins told this reporter during the Chicago Police Department/Saint Sabina National Night Out celebration held at the Sixth District Police Station.

Having read House’s letter he sent to parents explaining why he eliminated the electrical program, Senator Collins said, “We refuted every allegation that he made….” When House cited “low interests” as being one of his reasons for ending the program, Collins asked, “Where was the outreach for this program.”

Referring to Friedrich von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center, 5039 North Kimball, which is a four-year magnet high school located in the North Park community, Collins said, “We know that at von Steuben Local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (I.B.E.W. ) Local134 is begging and recruiting students to come in and do summer work indicating they can probably enroll into the apprentice program. We know there is a great need for electricians,” she said.

Another argument Dr. House made was that there had to be at least 85 percent enrollment to justify retention of that program, but Senator Collins shot back, “based on their own guide book the percentage is between 60 percent and 72 percent. “

Referring to the program’s instructor, Latisa Kendred, who was on WVON’s Bob Shaw show last Sunday, Collins said last year Kendred had “73 and before that 63. They exceeded what ever the standard was.”

When Dr. House claimed there was no certification of the students, Collins said she confirmed, “Certification is not one of the requirements. Because Kendred is such an excellent teacher, she had her students go through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification, which is part of the program.

And, when House raised the issue about the success of the program, Senator Collins said, “We know that other students (who had taken the course) and who were successful came back. They have copies of their testimonials where they have been successful… All the arguments they are raising are false…based on another agenda they want to put forth.

“We know that if our young people have access to jobs they become very effective and productive citizens,” Collins said. Saying not all students will go to college, the senator asked, “Why can’t they go to a school in their community which is a vocational school. When you pull out the trades, it handicaps our youth. You can’t deal with anti-violence without providing resources to our kids. Most of these trade programs in the schools are critical whether it’s culinary, automotive or electricians.”

Referring to her meeting with Dr. Byrd-Bennett, Collins said, “It was unacceptable to us if they terminate the program. This is an Illinois Black Caucus issue so they will not be able to divide us. If they don’t see the need to provide the resources for our students, we don’t expect to see them in Springfield asking for anything from the General Assembly.”

Kindred has taught the electrical training program for the past seven-years and has been an electrician for 19-years. She was the only African American female electrician teaching this one-of-a-kind trade course.

Kindred has received help from the Illinois Black Caucus including from Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-8^th) who has started an online petition demanding that the course be restored.

Senator Collins said she has learned that IBEW officials did reach out to Simeon who confirmed to her that “nobody had reached out” to the union. Collins told CPS officials, “We are not going to stand by and allow them to do that with state tax payers money. It’s not their school. It’s the community’s school.

“The LSC was not involved. They were handed the budget.” Collins said the LSC had no say in eliminating the program. “I was told it was the principal’s decision, but he couldn’t have made that decision without approval from above. We want that program restored,” Collins said. “Dr. Byrd-Bennett said money was not the problem but rather lack of student interests.” Collins said there needed to have been outreach to the students to perk greater interests in that trade course.