File #: 25-2407    Version: 1 Name: 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF JAMES WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Type: Consent Calendar Resolution Status: Approved
File created: 4/9/2025 In control: Board of Commissioners
On agenda: 4/10/2025 Final action: 4/10/2025
Title: PROPOSED RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF JAMES WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEREAS in 1874, the first section of the Garibaldi Street Primary School was erected at 27th & Garibaldi Street, now known as Shields Avenue. Two additions were later built in 1897 and 1927, and WHEREAS in 1875, the Board of Education renamed the Garibaldi Street Primary School to Ward School, and in 1908, it was again renamed the James Ward School, and WHEREAS the School was named after James Ward who became a member of the Chicago Board of Education and served from 1857 to 1863, and WHEREAS James Ward served as the chairman of the committee on School Buildings and Grounds and, as chairman, he was responsible for the planning and supervision of the construction of schools in Chicago, and WHEREAS on January 9, 2001, ten days shy of leaving office, President Bill Clinton made a stop at James Ward school to celebrate the increase in standardized test scores over the last eight years, symbolizin...
Sponsors: JOHN P. DALEY, TONI PRECKWINKLE (President), FRANK J. AGUILAR, ALMA E. ANAYA, SCOTT R. BRITTON, BRIDGET DEGNEN, BRIDGET GAINER, BILL LOWRY, DR. KISHA E. McCASKILL, DONNA MILLER, STANLEY MOORE, JOSINA MORITA, KEVIN B. MORRISON, SEAN M. MORRISON, MICHAEL SCOTT JR., TARA S. STAMPS, MAGGIE TREVOR

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PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

CELEBRATING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF JAMES WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

WHEREAS in 1874, the first section of the Garibaldi Street Primary School was erected at 27th & Garibaldi Street, now known as Shields Avenue.  Two additions were later built in 1897 and 1927, and

 

WHEREAS in 1875, the Board of Education renamed the Garibaldi Street Primary School to Ward School, and in 1908, it was again renamed the James Ward School, and

 

WHEREAS the School was named after James Ward who became a member of the Chicago Board of Education and served from 1857 to 1863, and

 

WHEREAS James Ward served as the chairman of the committee on School Buildings and Grounds and, as chairman, he was responsible for the planning and supervision of the construction of schools in Chicago, and

 

WHEREAS on January 9, 2001, ten days shy of leaving office, President Bill Clinton made a stop at James Ward school to celebrate the increase in standardized test scores over the last eight years, symbolizing his commitment to federal funding for improving public education, and

 

WHEREAS the James Ward School now serves 515 students, in classes Pre-K through 8th grade, and

 

WHEREAS the James Ward School community is made up of a variety of ethnic groups contributing to its rich history, and

 

WHEREAS James Ward School believes that all children are entitled to the best possible education and as a multicultural school, James Ward respects and embraces diversity and cultural understanding through foreign language education, and

 

WHEREAS James Ward is a neighborhood school recognized for its World Language (Spanish) Program, and

 

WHEREAS 2025 marks the 150th Anniversary Year for James Ward School and a special celebration is planned to commemorate this historic milestone, and

 

WHEREAS James Ward today is a thriving, modern educational institution, proud of its diversity but always looking ahead toward improving the lives of its students, and

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of Cook County that the Board does hereby extend its congratulations to all the students and faculty, past and present, of James Ward School on the joyous occasion of its 150th Anniversary, and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and an official copy of same be presented to James Ward School to commemorate this historic milestone.

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