Alderman Harry Osterman
48TH WARD RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Chicago's George B. Swift School has been a valuable educational asset in our community since the year 1914; and
WHEREAS, located in Chicago's Edgewater Community, George B. Swift Specialty School is a Pre-K through 8th grade elementary school with an integrated Fine and Performing Arts Magnet program; and
WHEREAS, Swift School was named after the 36th and 38th Mayor of the City of Chicago (1893/1895-1897) whose public service included five consecutive terms; and
WHEREAS, Swift School ended its first academic year in 1914 with 760 pupils, 18 teachers and principal in a building with 24 rooms, assembly hall, gymnasium, swimming pool and equipment for manual training and cooking; and
WHEREAS, by end of the 1960s, Swift attendance area begins to evolve into gateway neighborhood for refugees from troubled nations; Cubans are among first to arrive and by the end of the 1970s, the student body reflects influx of Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian refugees fleeing war-torn Southeast Asia; and
WHEREAS, in 1993 the Chicago Board of Education designated Swift School as a Specialty School for Reading and Language Arts and in 1995, the school added fine arts to its curriculum; and
WHEREAS, in 1997 construction began on a 44,000 square feet addition to main building as well as renovation to the existing building. In 1999, Swift School accommodated over 400 students; and,
WHEREAS, Swift School saw an influx of Bosnian refugees fleeing strife in Balkan countries and the school continues to evolve as a learning center serving streams of refugees and immigrants, most recently from countries in Africa. Swift School and the Edgewater community welcomes these students with open arms; and
WHEREAS, for a century, Swift School has served the children and families of the 48th Ward with a quality, multifaceted education and in 2013, Swift's school rating climbed to Level I at the top of the CPS academic tier. In the same year, the first ever Friends of Swift organization was formed to garner participation and support for parents and community members; and
WHEREAS, Swift will end its 2014 academic year with student enrollment of 690, 46 teachers, nine paraprofessionals and two administrators, with student and faculty attendance at 95.7% and 96/0%, respectively. Class of 2013-14 includes 33.5% Hispanic students, 31.0% Black, 15.8% White, 14.8% Asian, 5.1% Other. School's diverse population speaks 65 languages, includes immigrants and refugees from 50 countries. Swift will award diplomas to 66 8th graders in its 100th graduating class; and
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WHEREAS, Swift celebrates its 100th anniversary with culminating open house May 29, 2014 and will be presented with an honorary street sign marking the Thorndale and Winthrop intersection as "Honorable George B. Swift Way"; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That we the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 30th day of April 2014, do hereby recognize George B Swift School's success in the last 100 years and its lasting impact on the students of the City of Chicago and encourage citizens of Chicago to support Swift School in its future endeavors.
»-Harry Osterman Alderman, 48th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented t6 George B.
Swift School. // / y^