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Lane Tech Totem Pole Rusted, Hidden by Trees and In Need of Repair: Alumni

By Kelly Bauer | August 5, 2015 5:47am

CHICAGO — Lane Tech's totem pole is in need of repairs.

The school's "totem pole" statue — a gift from the Class of 1983, although students from several grades worked on it — features two metal slats that lean diagonally so their top ends meet, forming an upended "V." The slats are decorated with painted animals, including birds with wings that pop out from the metal. Portions of the pole have rusted, its paint is peeling and it is surrounded by trees that partially obscure it.

In a Facebook group for people who graduated Lane Tech in '83, alumni expressed sadness over the totem pole's condition and called for the school or donors to fund repairs or for the trees to be cut down. Posters also suggested that students could work on the project (if the school still had shop classes) or alumni could repair the statue.

Jeryl Wojcik, who was part of the class of '83 — although she didn't work on the totem pole — told DNAinfo the statue is part of Lane Tech's history.

"It just looks terrible," Wojcik said. "To me, it's just a very significant piece of history that ought to be preserved."

A representative of Lane Tech directed requests for comment to Chicago Public Schools, which did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Walter Brzeski, who actively posts on the Facebook group for the class of '83, told posters that he has contacted the school and was told repairs to the statue would cost $30,000. Lane is facing a $978,000 cut — or 3.6 percent loss — from its $25 million budget and a projected enrollment drop of 87 students. The school has received more than $50 million for a two-year capital improvement project, but that money is slated for renovations to the school.

Wojcik said she'd be willing to donate to a fundraiser to repair the totem pole if one is organized, and she thinks other alumni would donate.

"I would definitely donate," she said. "And I know that there is a lot of interest in fixing this and getting it renovated and back up to looking grand."

Barbara Cook, executive director of the Lane Tech Alumni Association, said the group and the school have been approached in the past to repair the totem pole. The late Pat Dawson, the teacher who designed and helped craft the totem pole, spoke to the alumni association's board of directors and was referred to the school, Cook said. Antoinette LoBosco, former principal of Lane Tech, was also approached about the totem pole, but nothing was done, Cook said.

The association couldn't do anything without the school's OK, Cook said, and she couldn't say if the group would become involved with a project even if Lane approved one.

"It is the property of the school and before anything could even be considered there would have to be the OK from the administration with the school," Cook said.

Totem pole photos courtesy Walter Brzeski.

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