Chicago News Blog

Rufus Williams, the president of the Chicago Board of Education, told the Tribune late tonight that he plans to tender his resignation to Mayor Richard Daley on Friday.

“The mayor wants to go in a different direction…I’m stepping down for him to do that,” Williams told the Tribune. “It’s been wonderful service and I’ve been happy to have had that opportunity, at this point because we have a lot of things going on I think the mayor will want to have somebody else in that spot, for whatever reasons he wants to do that.”Williams said Daley hadn’t expressed displeasure about his performance as board president when the two had previously met, but found out that was the case after Daley commented to reporters. Williams declined to elaborate about his recent talk with Daley, other than to say the two met and had a candid conversation and the mayor let him know he wanted to make changes.

“I heard the answer. I don’t think it helps us as we try to move forward to have anything loose in there…what he wants to do and his priority only he can answer,” Williams said. “The conversation that we had leads me to issue my resignation.”

Williams said that former school board president Michael Scott would return to the role. Scott could not be reached for comment.

Williams said he did not know when his resignation would take effect, saying he would stay as long as the school system needed him to make the necessary transitions.

Williams, 52, was appointed to the school board in 2005 and became president in July of 2006 under former Chicago Schools Chief Executive Officer Arne Duncan.

Duncan was appointed by President Barack Obama to become U.S. Department of Education Secretary. Daley appointed longtime loyalist Ron Huberman to head the schools. At that time, Daley hinted that Williams might be replaced.

Williams said he was trying to move the district and the board toward more accountability and to have clear lines of responsibility by district officials. He said he was also trying to have the district become as transparent as possible.

At board meetings, Williams often was the focus of dissent by the public as he and the board voted to close schools and push forward the Renaissance 2010 initiative that calls for 100 new schools, many of which are under private control.

Williams said he did not know yet if he would be sitting on the board at the Feb. 25 meeting when the board will vote on a proposal to close and reorganize 22 schools.

“I’ve always tried to do what was best on behalf of our children,” Williams said.

Williams, who graduated from Orr High School and attended the Chicago Public Schools, said he was proud of his tenure with the board. He said among his key programs was a program he started to bring in more than 1,000 African-American men to read to children in the school system.

“It has been wonderful to engage, involve move forward all of the children in our system,” said Williams.

–Carlos Sadovi

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A local man connected with a fatal hit-and-run case in Florida is expected in Cook County court Monday to update a judge on his sobriety efforts, law enforcement officials said today.

Ft. Lauderdale police have named Ryan LeVin, 34, as the owner of a Porsche that struck and killed two British tourists last week. LeVin, the son of a wealthy Chicago-area family, has said he was not driving the car when it hit the two men as they walked back to their beachside hotel.

As Florida authorities continue to investigate the deaths, LeVin remains on probation for a 2006 incident in which he ran over a police officer and sparked a high-speed chase on the Kennedy Expressway. He pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated fleeing and was sentenced to 30 months’ probation in 2007.

In exchange for his plea, LeVin agreed to attend drug abuse counseling. It appears he did not immediately comply with that condition, as court records show the judge again ordered him to begin a treatment program in December 2006.

Ft. Lauderdale authorities have not contacted local prosecutors about the hit-and-run case, Cook County state’s attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said. It’s unclear what role, if any, the Florida case would have in next week’s hearing.

LeVin’s relatives extended their condolences to the victims’ families Thursday, but put distance between the tragedy and their successful direct sales company. LeVin’s parents own Jewels by Park Lane, a company that sells its goods through at-home parties led by consultants and touts itself as proof of the American Dream.

“We express our deepest sympathies to the families affected by this week’s tragic accident in Florida,” the company said in a statement. “We understand the accident involved a vehicle owned by Ryan LeVin, a member of the family which owns Jewels by Park Lane. Ryan LeVin has not been involved in the management or operation of our company and is not currently employed by our company. The LeVins are addressing this issue as a personal family matter.”

In court records connected to the 2006 case, Ryan LeVin listed his job as vice president of national sales for Park Lane. His probation permits him to travel for company business as long as he gives his probation officer a week’s notice.

There is no record of him traveling to other states on behalf of Park Lane since his November 2007 conviction in his court file.

As part of his probation, he also is allowed to visit Florida for one-month periods to care for his parents’ properties.

His Illinois and Florida attorneys both have declined comment on the case.

–Stacy St. Clair

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A Winter Storm Watch will be in effect from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon for the Chicago area, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow is expected to begin falling across northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana late Friday evening and continue through Saturday afternoon. The snow may become heavy at times, with snowfall rates as high as 1 to 2 inches per hour possible, the weather service said.

Storm total snow amounts of 6 to 8 inches are expected by late Saturday afternoon, according to the weather service.

See weather updates and Tom Skilling’s complete seven-day forecast at chicagotribune.com.

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Two men were shot on the West Side this evening, officials said. One victim was reported in critical condition.

At about 7:30 p.m., police responded to a report of shots fired in the 1800 block of North Richmond Avenue, said Chicago Police News Affairs spokeswoman JoAnn Taylor.

One man in critical condition was transported from that scene to Mt. Sinai Hospital, said Fire Department spokeswoman Eve Rodriguez.
 
The other wounded man was found nearby in the 2900 block of West Cortland Street, Rodriguez said. He was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in “stable” condition, she said.

Witnesses told police that an offender walked up to the two men and started shooting, then fled on foot.

Police are investigating and are not sure of a motive for the shooting, Taylor said.  
 
–Deanese Williams-Harris

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That was Annette Nance-Holt’s directive to her son. Two years after the 16-year-old was gunned down protecting a friend, his mother has put herself on the front lines of the anti-gun movement. Found

Annette Nance-Holt sits in her son’s favorite chair, the plush black one that faces the back door of the West Pullman home they shared. It’s been nearly two years since the 16-year-old was gunned down on a CTA bus after leaving Julian High School.

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South Loop residents concerned about a recent spate of burglaries probably took little comfort from hearing three experienced—and incarcerated—burglars discuss their targets at a recent Chicago Police Department forum.

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Chicago Police Officer Maudessie Jointer, who moderated the burglary prevention forum and has been a burglary victim herself, offered the following tips:

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Distraught long-time resident is left homeless

There’s only a deep, fenced-in hole on West 15th Place in Chicago Heights where Ralph Adams’ house used to be.

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Bank-owned homes to get new life

The house at 1691 Paul Ave. in Glendale Heights needs a lot of work. Its interior walls are covered in ice, its ceiling tiles have crashed to the floor and a 2-foot-high water mark reveals a former flood.

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