Sam Barnett | catalyst-chicago.org

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School closings

As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.

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Sam Barnett

School facilities bill heads to governor's desk June 01, 2011 By: Sam Barnett Once declared dead, a senate bill that would lengthen the process for closing CPS schools and force district leaders to be more transparent is now sitting on Gov. Pat Quinn's desk. Read More \| (3) Comments	For the Record: Schools CEO salary May 27, 2011 By: Sam Barnett Even though Jean-Claude Brizard’s current annual salary puts him on the low end of the market compared to other leaders of large urban school districts, the fact that it is more than his predecessor is likely to spur questions as he contends with a $720 million budget deficit. Read More \| (3) Comments
CPS releases new guide to bring back recess May 23, 2011 By: Sam Barnett For six years, Lynn Morton and her parent activist group POWER-PAC have fought for recess in Chicago’s elementary schools. With the release Monday of a new Chicago Public Schools guide to implementing recess, it looks like the work is finally paying off. Read More \| (8) Comments	National debate re-emerges April 29, 2011 By: Sam Barnett Chicago’s debate over social promotion has faded for the most part. In Illinois, few followed the city’s lead in making standardized test scores a primary factor in retaining children. Many large districts and charter schools say they look at multiple factors before holding children back and don’t pass students along for social reasons—but don’t fail large numbers of students either. Read More \| (0) Comments
CPS officials plan to expand summer programs April 27, 2011 By: Sam Barnett Chicago Public Schools officials unveiled at Wednesday's school board meeting expansive plans to get more students doing something productive over the summer. Read More \| (7) Comments	Reprieve for neighborhood schools leaves new schools homeless April 26, 2011 By: Sam Barnett Beidler Elementary and Tilton Elementary won’t be on the agenda of Wednesday’s board meeting. That’s good news for the parents and staff who fought plans to consolidate them with nearby schools, but not such good news for the two charter high schools that would have taken over their buildings. Read More \| (4) Comments
New Schools for Chicago looks to turnaround failing charters April 25, 2011 By: Sam Barnett In the wake last week’s major announcement on Chicago’s new schools CEO and board, the privately-backed Renaissance Schools Fund put the word out that it is changing its name and embarking on a new plan to open 50 more schools. Read More \| (9) Comments	District officials: Beidler, Cather spared consolidation April 11, 2011 By: Sam Barnett Chicago Public Schools officials announced Monday night that Beidler Elementary in West Garfield Park would not be consolidated with Cather Elementary, at least not this year. Read More \| (8) Comments
Tilton and Marconi get reprieve, won't be consolidated this year April 07, 2011 By: Sam Barnett Chicago Public Schools officials announced Thursday night that district officials would not go forward with a proposal to phase out Tilton Elementary School and send its future students to Marconi Elementary on the West Side. Read More \| (2) Comments

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