1989 News Briefs
March: Byrd contract extention
The Chicago Board of Education reluctantly extends Supt. Manford Byrd Jr.'s contract for a year; Byrd generally opposed decentralization.
May: Board appointments
A seven-member Interim Board of Education, appointed by Richard M. Daley, takes office. Chicago Urban League President James W. Compton becomes board president.
July: Budget shifts
The Interim Board cuts the bureaucracy and beefs up schools—465 administrative jobs are eliminated, and art and music teachers return. The salary for a beginning teacher rises 12.5 percent; other teacher salaries rise an average 5.4 percent.
August: Almo appointment
The Interim Board demotes Supt. Manford Byrd, Jr. to consultant and selects another veteran Chicago administrator, Charles Almo, as interim superintendent.
October: LSC election I
The first local school council (LSC) election draws 17,256 candidates for 5,420 seats, about 3 candidates per seat; 227,622 parents, staff members and community members vote. Also, 66,561 high school students vote for student LSC reps.
