The Catalyst Board of Directors will hold a meeting March 1, 2021 from 3:00-5:30 pm. The agenda and meeting information are below. If you have questions, please contact Catalyst's Director of Administration Michael Kasang at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Or dial: +1 916-287-3004 PIN: 794 022 279#
*3:00-3:15- Welcome: Dr. Colleen Reardon, Chair and Mr. Gordon Hannon, CEO
Review of agenda
Review and vote for approval of November 23, 2020 Board of Directors meeting minutes; February 26, 2021 Finance Committee meeting minutes, and January 28, 2021 Academic Committee meeting minutes
*3:15-3:25 -Public comment (limited to 2 minutes per speaker)
*3:25-3:50-Academic Committee: Dr. Catherine Burns
Strategic plans
Re-opening next steps
*3:50-4:10 - Finance and Strategic Issues Committee: Mr. Steve Brown
FY21 budget YTD
*4:10-4:25 – Austin Renaissance Council and KCA update: Terry Toth and Ed Siderewicz
*4:25-4:45- New Committee on Advocacy, Equity, and Community- Claiborne Wade, Larry Williams, Gordon Hannon
*4:45-5:00 - Reflection on Campus initiatives and social justice: Culture of White Supremacy – Gordon Hannon and Board Members
The Catalyst Board of Directors' Finance Committee will hold a meetings to review FY21 YTD financials on February 26, 2021 at 8:30 am.
This meeting will be held by viceo conference- please contact Catalyst's Director of Administration Michael Kasang at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or 773-897-5816 for conference call information.
The Catalyst school communities are excited to celebrate Black History Month throughout February! More details will be shared in the coming weeks, but some of the exciting events scheduled include Black History Month Assemblies, the Black History Quiz Bowl, the Catalyst Living History Project and the Black History Literacy Challenge!
Catalyst Circle Rock’s Kehrein Center for the Arts held a socially distanced, advanced screening of the film Judas and the Black Messiah on Wednesday. Judas and the Black Messiah was directed and produced by Shaka King and details the betrayal of Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), chairman of the Black Panther Party in the late 1960s, at the hands of William O'Neal (Lakeith Stanfield), an FBI informant. The film had its premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on February 1, 2021, and will be released today simultaneously in theaters and digitally on HBO Max. The film was lauded by critics, who praised King's direction, the performances, and its timely themes. For his performance as Fred Hampton, Kaluuya was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actor Guild Awards.
Attending last night’s screening was Fred Hampton, Jr. and his Mother, Akua Njeri, who was with Hampton the night he was killed in a police raid in December of 1969. Both shared their thoughts and engaged the limited audience in conversation after the movie.
We hope that your family will join a dynamic, loving school community in Chicago's Austin and Chicago Lawn communities! Catalyst Schools' values-based, college-preparatory school communities nurture academic, social, and emotional growth in Chicago students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade. We are enthusiastic about your interest and we invite you to contact us at any point with questions or comments.
*Catalyst is a public charter school open to all Chicago students. We serve all students no matter what their race, ethnicity, ancestry, country of origin, language spoken, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, academic ability or need for special educations services. We believe all children can learn and we take an individualized approach to each student’s development.*
The deadline to be included in the 2021-2022 lottery is March 15, 2021. The Catalyst lotteries will be held at the times, dates and locations below:
Catalyst Maria Kindergarten-8th Grade; 10th-12th grades
6727 S. California Ave. Chicago, IL, 60629
Auditorium Stage – March 16, 2021 at 9am
Catalyst Circle Rock Kindergarten-8th Grade
5608 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60644
Multi-Purpose Room – March 17, 2021 at 9am
Applications are still accepted after the lottery, and scholars will either begin the enrollment process if a seat at the desired grade level is available or will be added to the waiting list for the desired grade.
The Catalyst Schools' lottery policy is located here.
The Catalyst Circle Rock and Catalyst Maria applications may be accessed through the link below:
Please join our efforts as a champion for changing lives at The Catalyst Schools. If you would like to speak with a Catalyst staff member about your donation, please call us at 773-295-7001.
