Update 8/9/2011
Senator Mulroe reports that CPS and Illinois Department of Public Health reps met today about the Taft HS pool permit. It is anticipated that the permit issue will be resolved shortly and work to repair the pool will be completed in the next 2-3 weeks in time for the first day of school. Thanks to Senator Mulroe for investigating and intervening.
Update: 7/13/2011
The Northwest Side Press reported today that the Taft High School Parent, Teacher & Student Association have met with local Aldermen to ask for their support for a few issues, including the reopening of the Taft High School pool, which has been closed for repairs since May 2010. According to the principal, " The Illinois Department of Public Health is refusing to issue a permit for the installation of a new drain because the contractor did a portion of the work before a state permit was to be issued, according to Tarvardian".
Meanwhile, I received an email yesterday from Senator Mulroe explaining that he has spoken to his contact at the IDPH and provided needed information. He is now waiting to hear back from them about next steps...
The reason: The pool needs repairs and the State of Illinois Department of Public Health has not issued the necessary permit for the work to be done.
State Rep McAuliffe and State Senator Mulroe should be able to look into this? Has anyone asked them?
What can we do to expedite the repairs and get the pool open for the students and the community?
- Comment here
- Call State Politicians and let them know....
closed over a year? someone needs to make a few phone calls. Teens need to swim. obesity prevention and mental health reasons to name just 2 reasons, besides maybe just needing to have fun sometime in life.
ReplyDeleteRahm swims every morning at the elite, rich folks, City Club. Would be nice if Taft HS students could swim in the school pool. Rahms children go to elite private schools. I would bet my paycheck they have access to the school pool.
ReplyDeleteRahm hates CPS schools and wouldn't lift a finger to help. He only wants crummy charter schools in Chicago.
ReplyDeleteThis is disappointing. As a freshman in high school, I was a skinny runt with no confidence. It was swimming that changed my life. I joined the swim team and built strength, endurance, made friends and found confidence through hard work, team work and competing. After graduation, I joined the Navy, eventually became a diver and earned a college degree. Do what you can to expose teens to swimming, and get the pool open.
ReplyDeletego Taft!
ReplyDeleteReaders,
ReplyDeleteI have left a couple of messages for Senator Mulroe's Legislative Aide about steps taken to obtain the necessary permit for the pool repairs, and am waiting to hear back. I'm sure there is red tape involved at the Illinois Department of Public Health with finding/writing the permit to authorize the repairs of the pool.
Hopefully, we will hear something soon.
Readers,
ReplyDeleteI received a phone call from Senator Mulroe's legislative aide this afternoon from Springfield. Kimberly said she will be returning from Springfield tonight. She will be in the office tomorrow, can access her file & notes then, and can look into the IDPH permit problem... Stay tuned.
I do want to hear what happens with the pool. Keep us informed.
ReplyDeleteThe principal is to be held accountable. Stop finger pointing in other directions.
ReplyDeleteReaders,
ReplyDeleteI wanted to keep everyone updated about the pool situation. Senator Mulroe's aide, Kimberly needs information from the Engineer at Taft High School in order to look into the permit from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Taft is on their summer schedule, so the offices are all on a shortened day and everyone is more difficult to reach.
I left a detailed message for the Engineer at Taft (Lawrence) to call Kimberly at the Senator's office and I also called Kimberly and let her know she needs to talk to Lawrence at Taft to get the info she needs to help get the permit.
I will keep making phone calls and send reminders.....
Will also keep all of you up to date.
What a ridiculous problem. I hate red tape and the inefficeincies of government. Kudos to Sen. Mulroe for having common sense.
ReplyDeleteIl dept of public health needs to review their procedures. No way a permit should take that long. Did they expect the school to build a whole new pool?
ReplyDeleteWay to go Senator Mulroe!
ReplyDelete- a Taft parent
Finally! Thanks to al involved.
ReplyDelete