We are trying to establish new standards. We want to get rid of the negative idea that we will hire anyone who has a bachelor s degree and is breathing. In July, the board hired Brenda J. Bell to oversee the restructuring of the substitute center. The schools are our customers. We want to ensure that they get quality and reliable substitutes.
Ponce says the board has no master plan for closing the substitute teacher gap.
Their goal, he says, is to make incremental progress. We have no time to stop and come up with a plan to get this ready for the Fall of 1999. But what we will do is head in the direction we want to go and start making new improvements. If something doesn t work out, we will bounce right back and try something else. Independent coverage of Chicago school reform since 1989.