Gale School

Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy Soundex Code S420

1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, Chicago, IL 60626

Opened: on Monday, September 4, 1922

This school was named for Stephen Francis Gale (1812-1905)

In December, 1932, a branch of Sullivan Junior High School was established at Gale School.

Listed in: Rogers Park 2016, page 31.

Lead Paint Problems

'CPS Knew About Damaged Lead Paint at Gale for Five Years, Documents Show

By Benjamin Woodard, DNAinfo.com on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 6:43 p.m.

ROGERS PARK — Chicago Public Schools knew there was lead paint in first-floor bathrooms of Gale Math and Science Academy at least five years ago, but the district didn't remove the paint until this summer, records show.

Neighborhood activists, who have been fighting for years for more resources for a struggling Gale, released the records Wednesday, October 22, 2014, after obtaining the results of lead testing done at the school through a Freedom of Information Act request.

"We know that this is not something that’s going to be limited to Gale, and it’s incredibly dangerous and needs to be addressed at other schools," said Daniel Dilliplane, a member of the Chicago Light Brigade, which published a report critical of CPS.

A CPS spokesman, Bill McCaffrey, said late Wednesday that CPS staff would evaluate Gale that evening "as a precautionary measure" and determine "what steps, if any, are necessary to provide students with a healthy learning environment."

"Chicago Public Schools’ top priority is the safety and well-being of its students, teachers and staff," McCaffrey said. "Our facilities team continuously monitors buildings for any unsafe conditions, which includes preventing any buildings with lead-based paints from posing a health threat."

The documents released by the activists included a letter to CPS from a consultant dated July 28, 2009. He notes that he was called to the school to investigate paint in the boys' and girls' bathrooms.

His findings indicated all walls tested positive for lead-based paint. He also observed "damage" to the paint on the ceilings and walls, as well as the bathrooms' radiators, which also tested positive for lead, according to the report.

Local School Council members and other community residents have said they've been pleading for years with CPS to clean up the school and fix other facility issues there.

The Gale Math and Science Academy annex building at 7650 N. Marshfield Ave.

Lead poisoning can harm nearly every system in the body and cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems and, at high levels, seizures, coma and even death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In another report, dated September 18, 2013, the same consultant group found lead paint not only in the bathrooms, but also in classrooms on the third floor of the school, at 1631 W. Jonquil Ave.

Dilliplane said these same classrooms show evidence of peeling paint.

Two other tests were performed this summer, after several media reports about the paint and other facility problems, such as a faulty fire alarm system. The testing came after CPS announced it would remove lead paint from six bathrooms at the school.

On June 25, a survey of the school's roof tested negative for lead-based paint, according to the report.

On July 9, an extensive survey found lead-based paint in several other rooms, including a third-floor counselor's room, the gymnasium office, a second-floor classroom and on handrails on the first floor, according to the report.

The CPS "Facility Performance Standards" states that in all buildings constructed in 1978 or earlier, "it must be assumed that all paint products are lead-based."

The CPS "Facility Performance Standards" states that in all buildings constructed in 1978 or earlier, "it must be assumed that all paint products are lead-based."

Schools should "repair or remove surfaces with lead-based paint that is damaged or is subject to damage in areas occupied by students and staff," the standards state.

Gale's main building on Jonquil opened in 1922.

LSC member Kyle Hillman said the school's prekindergarten and elementary school students attend classes in Gale's older building. Middle school students use Gale's newer annex across the street at 7650 N. Marshfield Ave.

Dilliplane said he was concerned students at Gale, a school that has been on academic probation for five years, could have been harmed by lead.

"There’s a lot of information about the effects of lead chips ... and lead dust from paint," he said.

Photos

RPWRHS photo B032-0101 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace class photo, 6B Room 305, June 1937.

RPWRHS photo B032-0102 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace class photo, unidentified class, February 1939.

RPWRHS photo B035-0103 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace class photo, unidentified class, April 1952.

RPWRHS photo B035-0104 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 1A Rm107, class photo, March 1953.

RPWRHS photo B035-0105 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 3B Room 103, class photo, March 1953.

RPWRHS photo B035-0106 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 2A Room 107, class photo, March 1954.

RPWRHS photo B035-0107 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 3A-4B Room 206, class photo, March 1954.

RPWRHS photo B035-0108 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 3A Room 201, class photo, March 1955.

RPWRHS photo B035-0109 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 4B-5B Room 302, class photo, March 1955.

RPWRHS photo B035-0110 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 4A Room 204, class photo, March 1956.

RPWRHS photo B035-0111 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 6B-6A Room 306, class photo, March 1956.

RPWRHS photo B035-0112 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 7B Room 310, class photo, December 1958.

RPWRHS photo B035-0113 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace Safety Patrol, class photo, December 1959.

RPWRHS photo B035-0114 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 8B Room 301-303, class photo, December 1959.

RPWRHS photo B035-0122 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace Graduation, class photo, 1960.

RPWRHS photo B066-0101 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace class photo, 6B Room 305, January 1964.

RPWRHS photo B066-0101 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace school building, April 20, 1923.

RPWRHS photo C043-25611 shows a voter registration booth sponsored by Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy PTA in 1948.

RPWRHS photo J008-0101 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace class photo, 6G Room 305, 1933.

RPWRHS photo L009-0361 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, Black History Month assembly , February 7. 1990.

RPWRHS photo L009-0391 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, Dr.Floris Van Minden entertained the youngsters. May 12, 1987.

RPWRHS photo L009-0403 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, Fabiola Rodney got to hold the flag during the pledge of allegiance. June 11, 1987.

RPWRHS photo J008-0101 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace class photo, Graduation Room 304, June 1934.

RPWRHS photo L009-0353 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace 3rd Grader's Twana Hunter & Angela Roberson, August 7, 1984.

RPWRHS photo L009-0357 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace students Michal Washington 5th grade, Steven Shepard 7th grade, and Fred Shotlow 7th grade, May 8, 1985.

RPWRHS photo M071-0101 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace class photo, November 1933. Grade not identified.

RPWRHS photo M071-0102 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace Patrol Boys acting, 1940.

RPWRHS photo M071-0103 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace Patrol Boys performing, 1940.

RPWRHS photo M071-0104 shows the Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace Patrol Boys, 1941.

RPWRHS photo P011-765491 shows Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, Cub Scout Pack 3837, circa 1947.

RPWRHS photo P028-0102 shows Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, class photo, G4 Room 204, March 1970.

RPWRHS photo P028-0103 shows Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, class photo, G5 Room 306, March 1971.

RPWRHS photo P028-0104 shows Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, class photo, G6 Room 309, March 1972.

RPWRHS photo R044-0126 shows Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, class photo, Room 204, circa 1930.

RPWRHS photo S013-0241 shows Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, building, July 1989.

RPWRHS photo S013-0353 shows Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, building, May 1975. Same photo as S013-0444.

RPWRHS photo S013-0444 shows Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, building, May 1975. Same photo as S013-0353.