The John M. Palmer Elementary Local School Council is a publicly elected body, functioning as the management team of the school. Local School Councils are made up of the Principal, 2 teachers, 6 parents and 2 community members. Their primary responsibilities are to select and evaluate the school principal, renew the principal’s contract, develop the School Improvement Plan for Advancing Academic Achievement (SIPAAA) and developing the operating budget for the school year, and assist in curriculum decisions.

Local School Council meetings are open to the public. We welcome and encourage you to attend! Meetings are usually held on the second Wednesday of each month, at 6:00 pm, in the main building. The LSC bulletin board outside the school office will have meeting notices, in compliance with Open Meetings Act procedures. Also, check the Palmer Flyer for meeting dates and times.

Your 2010-2012 LSC members are:

Maria Gray, Parent Representative - Chairman
Tom Bracy, Parent Representative - ViceChairman
Richard Szontagh, Community Representative
Keith Hammerberg, Parent Representative
Nick Ledezma, Parent Representative
George Mueller  - Parent Representative

Elvira MusicOkic - Parent Representative

Grant Bramley - Community Representative
Pam Lutzow - Teacher Representative

Cheryl Linker-Peppler, Teacher Representative - Secretary
Donald C. Anderson, Principal

The first Local School Councils were seated in October 1989 amid a surge of media attention focusing on school reform. It was not easy in the beginning, as Board of Education rules and regulations seemed ill defined and circuitous. For the first time, civilians (parents) were inside the workings of the Chicago Public Schools. The biggest advantage parents had was the tremendous media pressure - eventually our questions got answered and our concerns addressed. Over time, the Local School Council movement took root and has become an effective advocate for quality education and school reform, involving parents and communities in the important decisions affecting their children’s lives.

The LSC (Local School Council) establishes various advisory sub-committees to assist with fact-finding and decision-making, such as Curriculum , Bilingual, Special Education, Technology Committee, Space Utilization, and more! Anyone can serve on one of the various advisory committees--you do not have to be a member of the LSC to contribute to the well-being of our students and community. Your input, skills, and involvement is critically important to the success of our students. Look for advisory committee meeting notices on the LSC bulletin board and in the Palmer Flyer.