Robert Lindblom Math & Science Academy

Robert Lindblom Math & Science Academy, part of the Chicago Public Schools system, is a selective enrollment, university-preparatory high school in the West Englewood neighborhood of Chicago located at 6130 S. wolcott. The school is named for Robert Lindblom and was originally founded as Lindblom Technical High School.

Early History

Lindblom Technical High School was completed in 1919 and was designed by architect Arthur Hussander.^[1]

John Philip Sousa with Lindblom JROTC Band, 1927. Chicago Daily News archive, Chicago Historical Society

Robert Lindblom

Robert Lindblom was born in Askerparish, Nerike, Sweden on November 17, 1844. He went to a school in Hogsjo, Sodermanland where he also performed services for the government survey. Later he went to Orebro and received education in banking and learned the fundamentals of business. In 1864 he moved to the US and found himself in Milwaukee where he worked for L. H. Higby & Co. in the grain, packing, and elevator business. In 1877 he moved to Chicago where he became a successful operator on the Board of Trade and made many bodacious deals in grain. in the early 1880s, at the peak of speculation, he was unmatched in astute trading and he regularly sold blocks of half a million bushels of corn and wheat at a time. He was a member of some of the best commercial organizations in the country.

The Building

Exterior of Lindblom

Lindblom Technical High School was built prior to 1919 and was designed in a Beaux-Arts style and has a neo-classical facade with Roman columns. Within the building is a 2,000 seat auditorium with 2 balconies, 2 gymnasiums, a large study hall/ballroom on the third floor with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and large skylights, a swimming pool, and a greenhouse. Lindblom also has Access,a community health network located inside of lindblom for students and the community.

The "Seven Pilars" The seven pilars that are placed in front of the school were condensed from the 144 "Rules of Conduct" written by the class of 2009 on August 30, 2009. This was established in order to remind students what is expected from them by attending Lindblom. Each of the seven pilars represent the following :

1) We will set realistic goals and will "begin with the end in mind" (7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Sean Covey).We will keep track of our progress and seek help as soon as it is neeeded. We will be determined to stay focused until our goals are achieved.

2) We will come to school on time and be prepared for all class and colloquia.

3)When involved in group projects, each will do his /her part and will speak audibly and effectively to enhance peer understanding.

4)We will help others who struggle and will be respectful of their needs. We will be positive, considerate, and open-minded as we interact with staff and students.

5)We will belive in ourselves and each other.

6) We will take an initiative and responsibility for a clean campus environment.

7) We will pursue success with a positive attitude and with a willingness to help and encourage others.

Renovation

In 2003, Lindblom underwent a 2-year, $42 million renovation. BauerLatoza Studio was hired by Chicago Public Schools to develop the entire project, that consisted of modernized forms of architecture, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. BauerLatoza Studio had also designed brand new computer and science labs throughout the building.^[2] The grand reopening was held by the Lindblom Alumni Association and the Board of Education on October 14, 2005. The occasion featured Cheryl Burton, c/o 1980, as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

Landmark Status

In December, 2008, Lindblom received preliminary landmark status from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks ^[3]. Noted in the landmark designation is Lindblom's auditorium, Keeler Hall.

The school reopened in the fall of 2005 as Lindblom Math & Science Academy welcoming its first class of freshmen along with the final class of Lindblom College Prep High School graduating in spring of 2006.

Partnership with Baxter

In October, 2008 Lindblom became partners with Baxter International as part of their SCIENCE@WORK initiative.^[4]

The objective of the Baxter Initiative is twofold. First, Baxter is provided support for Lindblom's biotechnology courses. The second was the creation of the teacher professional development program, the Biotechnology Center of Excellence. Teachers from other Chicago high schools can attend professional development at Lindblom in order to create their own biotechnology programs. The initiative also provides support for Chicago's Renaissance 2010 program and the Illinois Institute of Technology’s (IIT) Instructional Development System.^[5]

Sports

Lindblom features a variety of sports, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, water polo, volleyball, cross country/track, swimming, golf, and bowling. In 2006, the Eagles football team won the conference championship with an undefeated regular season record. The playoff run ended in the first round following a loss to Hubbard High School. During the 2007-08 season, the boys basketball team won the conference championship. The 2008-09 basketball team won the regional championship class 3A. Also for the 2008-09 season, the volleyball team won the conference championship. Then in the 2008-2009 school year, Lindblom MSA started its first Girls' Swim Team, where they went undefeated and became Conference Champions. Lindblom had also started its first Boys' Swim Team that school year and they won all but two swim meets, one of which they later reclaimed in a rematch. That same year, Lindblom started its Water polo team, where both the boys and girls team made it to State sectionals. The 2009-2010 football team finished the season with a record of 6-3-0. The team, coached by Charles Frazier aka Chuck, had the most productive season in over 40 years.

New activities & programs

Lindblom now has an Academic Center program which enrolls 7th and 8th graders in a high school environment. The program began at the start of the 2008-09 academic year, where the school had 7th graders in the high school. As of the 2009-2010 academic year, Lindblom has students in grades 7-12.

The Lindblom Debate Team competes in the Chicago Debate League at both the high school and middle school levels.

Schedule

Lindblom Math & Science Academy is on a block schedule. Students have four classes per day:Three that last 100 minutes; one that lasts 50, and one 50 minute lunch period. This allows us to focus on depth over breadth. 100-minute classes meet two days a week and 50 minute classes meet four. The school also offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses, where students can earn college credit after the completion of the course and an AP exam at the end of the school year.

Events

On October 22, 2009 the Lindblom math and science held it annual fall concert. The concert featured the Beginning and advance Band and the beginning and advance choir. The event started at 6:00pm and was kicked off by the beginning band. the special guest of the night was the group that performed a song called Chi-C-A-Go, the group of students were led by Seniors Ryan Foster, Paris Jackson, Robert Williams, Charleen Tulos, Juniors Richard Thomas and Davontay Kwanning and 7th grader Rashad Foster. The event was just over an hour and was finished off by a performance of Miheal Jackson's Biily Jean which was covered by the band and choir.

Colloquium

Colloquium is a mini-course that meets for three hours a day during every five day week. There are two areas of focus: 1) Rare engaging opportunities in math and science education We are a math and science school. For us, it means offering courses that are unique to any school.

2)Services to Englewood Community The second group of offerings focuses on our service to the community in which we reside. We work throughcommunity organizations to provide service that the community has identified.Our service opportunity bring real academic skills to their views of service.

Security

Lindblom has a shuttle bus service before and after school that goes to the orange, red, and green lines. The bus picks students up from the train stations and also accommodates sports teams.

Notable Alumni

• Raymond Buck^[6] - founder, chairman & CEO, Trebco Engineering & Computer Systems, Award winning mechanical engineer and MBA who led design engineering efforts at Cummins Engine Company on the industrial emissions smokeless diesel engine program that first met U.S. Federal EPA requirements that significantly reduced (Nox emissions and Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM)), was manager of design engineering over the Award winning Cummins Dodge Ram and Ford F-150 pickup truck mid-range diesel engines, and is also known as the inventor of the ground breaking, Trebco Personal Intranet Software Suite ^[7] of over 25,000 algorithms and programs for business, education, tutoring, math, science, and engineering that revolutionized user's access to data, calculations, information, knowledge and technology.
• Cheryl Burton – Emmy Award winning journalist for WLS-TV in Chicago
• Joseph J. Ceithaml - Emeritus Dean of Students, Pritzker School of Medicine
• Erik R. Fleming - Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 72nd district
• Chet Giermak – All-American collegiate basketball player at The College of William & Mary
• William H. Hooks - Circuit Court Judge (at large), Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County
• Edward J. Kionka - Professor of Law Emeritus, Southern Illinois University School of Law ^[8]
• Ali LeRoi - Co-creator and executive producer of the UPN and later The CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris
• Ethel L. Payne - An award-winning African American journalist. Known as the "First Lady of the Black Press", she was a columnist, lecturer, and free-lance writer.
• Gene Rayburn - American radio and television personality.
• John W. Reagan – one of the Golden Thirteen, first African-American commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy^[9]
• Jerry Sanders (businessman) – founder and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices
• Henry Smidl - Coach of Lindblom gymnastics program and member of the US Gymnastics Hall of Fame.^[10]
• Eileen Jackson Southern – first black woman to be appointed as a tenured full professor at Harvard University
• Steve "Silk" Hurley – House Music pioneer, music producer and world famous DJ.

Notes and References

1. ^ City of Chicago Department of Community Development, Lindblom High School proposed for landmark status, Available online at http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?blockName=Planning+And+Development%2fI+Want+To&deptMainCategoryOID=&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Planning+And+Development&topChannelName=Dept&contentOID=537022695&Failed_Reason=Invalid+timestamp,+engine+has+been+restarted&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&Failed_Page=%2fwebportal%2fportalContentItemAction.do&context=dept
2. ^ http://www.bauerlatozastudio.com/hp-proj5.shtm
3. ^ City of Chicago, "Lindblom High School proposed for landmark status", December 4, 2008
4. ^ Baxter International, "Chicago Public Schools Receive Major Corporate Donation for Science Education", Available online at http://www.baxter.com/about_baxter/press_room/press_releases/2008/10_23_08_science_at_work.html, Cited September 15, 2009
5. ^ Ibid
6. ^ http://www.linkedin.com/in/trebcocomputersystems
7. ^ http://www.hugedrive.com/published/WG/show.php?q=VFJFQkNPQ09NUFNZU1Q=-719eab2e
8. ^ http://www.law.siu.edu/fac_staff/kionka/bio.asp
9. ^ Stillwell, Paul, "The Golden Thirteen; Recollections of the First Black Naval Officers", Naval Institute Press, 2003, p. 124
10. ^ USGHF, "Bio of Henry Smidl", http://www.gymnasticshalloffame.org/files/bio/h_smidl/h_smidl.html

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http://www.baxter.com/about_baxter/company_profile/sub/corporate_overview.html