adopud by Tlie Qity Gouncil °f <** Gity of Ghicago, Illinois
FEBRUARY 13, 2013
Resented by
on
MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL 8. ALDERMAN EDWARD M. BURKE
^$fy\2tB&$ ' Jennifer O'Connor, a Chicago Public Schools teacher, has been credited with rescuing two young children from a highly abusive home environment by contacting child welfare authorities; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this tragic case by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer O'Connor, a first grade teacher at the Fermi Elementary School in the Woodlawn neighborhood, observed a child in her class wearing only long-sleeved shirts and hoarding food in his desk; and
WHEREAS, When asked by Jennifer O'Connor what his favorite meal was at home, the boy replied that he had been forced to eat cat food and was taking fruit from school to give to his younger sister; and
WHEREAS, The boy further revealed that he had been beaten, bitten and burned with a hair iron; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer O'Connor notified the school counselor, Kenitta Morris, as well as the school's principal, Dr. Pamela Sanders, and placed calls to the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services' hotline; and
WHEREAS, Acting on the information provided by Jennifer, law enforcement authorities removed the children from the home and arrested their grandmother, who was ordered held on $200,000 bond; and
WHEREAS, Ironically, the children had previously been placed in the custody of the grandmother after their mother had lost custody of them; and
WHEREAS, This tragic case highlights the fact children removed from unsafe environments can continue to face the risk of abuse; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer O'Connor, a seven-year veteran of the Chicago Public Schools, is an individual who is exceedingly worthy of our honor and esteem; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this thirteenth day of February, 2013, do hereby officially recognize and commend Jennifer O'Connor for her alertness and decisive action; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jennifer O'Connor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an additional copy of this resolution be forwarded to Barbara Byrd-Bennett, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools, and David J. Vitale, President of the Chicago Board of Education, so that it can be included in her personnel file.
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
February 13, 2013
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Alderman Burke, a congratulatory resolution concerning Jennifer O'Connor.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
Mayor