Walter Blanks, 65, a retired butcher who walks with a cane, viewed Terrell Elementary School from a distance last week and concluded that he might be able to help.
On Monday, joined by 70 other men from churches, businesses and the Robert Taylor Homes itself, he did just that. The volunteers escorted Terrell pupils to and from school in an effort to reduce fear of gang gunfire and increase attendance at a school where about a third of the 605 pupils were absent last week.
“After I heard about this on the news, I knew it was time for the community to let these thugs know that we will do whatever needs to be done to protect our children,” said Blanks, who wore an orange “Parent Patrol” armband as he waited Monday afternoon to walk pupils home.
“We have to do something to change the mentality around here. I don’t live here. I don’t have any children in this school. But this is my community too. And I’ll be back every day until things change,” he said.
Even schools chief Paul Vallas climbed the stairwells of the Taylor Homes on Monday morning and afternoon, accompanying kids to and from school. By morning’s end, school officials were reporting that Terrell had posted only 37 absences, a figure that Terrell administrators said indicated attendance was back to normal.
Pupils and parents said they felt safer Monday with the presence of Terrell’s first all-men patrols standing on the sidewalks, corners and the courtyards of the Taylor Homes, including its infamous cluster of three red-brick buildings called “The Hole.” Next week, the volunteers will be replaced with a paid staff of 10 parental attendance officers, who were hired Friday and began their training this week, school officials said.
The volunteer effort was a success, but it may have been just one factor in the return to normalcy at the school. Some two dozen officers in 12 squad cars were visibly stationed throughout the public housing development.
And a reduction in gang tensions–and gunfire–also lightened the mood at the south end of Taylor. Terrell pupils said gang violence was down over the weekend, an account confirmed by Chicago police.
“They weren’t shooting today, and my momma let me go to school,” said 3rd grader Byron Cox, 9, as he was walking home with his kindergartner sister, Chantelle, 5. “I think it’s fine that they were taking the kids to school . . . so that the kids don’t get hurt.”
Parents noticed a difference too–while also crediting the stepped-up involvement of volunteers.
“I kept all four of my children home last week because I feared for their safety,” said Melvin McKinney, 36, whose children range from 6 to 12 years old.
“But I let them come back today because of the effort that’s being made, not just by the school, but by everyone to protect not just my children, but all these pupils. That’s what made the difference.”
After walking through the Taylor corridors that were filled with graffiti and offered no light bulbs, ministers said they plan to paint and reilluminate the hallways with donated supplies, possibly this week.
Rev. Derrick Hughes, pastor of Centennial Baptist Church, 824 E. 43rd St., also said he and other ministers will meet Tuesday morning with residents of the five Taylor Homes buildings next to Terrell, and he added that ministers will meet with gang leaders to end violence under a truce.
Although school board officials acknowledged the ministers’ meeting with residents Tuesday, they said they had no knowledge of the ministers’ meeting with gang leaders and added the board had no involvement in that private gathering, Vallas said.
Monday afternoon, as Vallas escorted three children up to their sixth-floor apartment at 5247 S. Federal St., he walked through a dark staircase that reeked of urine and was covered with graffiti.
“Does it affect their education? You’re darn right it does,” Vallas said of the conditions at Taylor. “It’s all the more reason to have after-school programs. It’s going to take time but you’ve got to have school-based all-day programs. Do I feel safe? I don’t even think about it.”
After waiting at an elevator entrance that was as dark as a cave, Vallas and several pupils chose to walk upstairs, rather than rely on balky elevators.
“You should stay after school,” Vallas urged one boy who said he didn’t feel safe about attending an after-school academic and recreation program that includes dinner. “You can get a meal, and an adult can walk you home. Now keep your hood on.”
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Meanwhile, the neighborhood chatter among many parents and pupils Monday focused on a cease-fire among Taylor Home gangs, an account supported by police.
“Well, you put so many police there and they interfere with (gang and drug) business, they’ve got to come up with truces,” said Wentworth Cmdr. Donald Hilbring. “There was hardly any gunfire over the weekend, so it’s quieted down a lot.”
Terrell Assistant Principals Ann Pitts and Barbara Williams said they were pleased that Monday’s attendance was 94 percent of enrollment, even higher than the usual 90 percent to 91 percent.
“We’re on the move again,” Williams said, quoting from Terrell’s theme song, McFadden & Whitehead’s “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now,” which is played over the speakers every morning.
“I was a little scared coming back to school today,” said Sirvontis Mack, 10, a 5th grader who stayed home two days last week.
“But my teacher talked to us about our fears and it helped me feel better. It also helps having my cousin waiting for me after school.”
Autaya Johnson, 8, a 3rd grader who was absent two days last week, also was comforted by all the adults taking an interest in her school.
“I’m glad that everybody is helping so that every kid can be safe,” she said “I feel a lot better and safe.”