Even as CPS opens more new schools, children with special needs have a tougher time finding options. Placements in private therapeutic schools are scarce, and some charters are reluctant to enroll them.
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Running Against Sitting LSC Members At Kinzie
By: Alexander Russo / April 07, 2008
There are a slew of schools with competitive LSC elections, but in at least some cases those candidates who are running against sitting LSC members feel like they're fighting an uphill battle. From a reader:
"Please take a look at the April news letter for Kinzie school http://www.kinzie.cps.k12.il.us/Admin/Admin.htm.
As LSC candidates, we feel that it the school is backing the current
LSC candidates. Also the news letter tries to discredit some of the
candidates with no obvious proof of the allegations Kinzie speaks of.
As candidates we feel that this news letter could significantly alter
the results of the 2008 Kinzie LSC Election. Even though the letter
does not state any candidate names, some staff members have verbally
named these candidates to Kinzie Parents. It is no secret we are the
candidates that the news letter tries to discredit. The letter also
states people should "elect the candidates that you feel will
continue to push Kinzie forward in a positive, respectful, and
supportive manner." By inserting the word continue we
feel Kinzie school wants you to vote for current LSC members. By
sending this letter out to the families of over 700 students , it has
damaged the chance of a fair election. We as mature candidates know
these accusations are lies, however we do not have the resources of
using school news letters to clear our good names. I just
thought you may want to know how new parental involvement is received
at Kinzie School. We feel as we are being harassed so that we drop out
of the election-that will not happen. We will not be intimidated to
stop being involved parents. Parents who are concerned at Kinzie
school are seen as a bother. They are labeled trouble makers with
alterior motives. We the candidates are not the only ones who feel like
this, others are just afraid to speak out due to the fact that they
have seen the obvious retaliation through the years. The school will
say that parental involvement is huge, why then does no one ever
attend the LSC meetings unless there is controversy? I only hope that
the rumor we heard about the staff recruiting people to go the LSC
forum with the intention to try humiliate us is not true. However if it
is true, we are confident that we will still prevail. Thank you for
your time."
Running Against Sitting LSC Members At Kinzie
The Principal at Kinzie is Sean Egan. Since he has been there the ISAT scores have down approximately 4% per year and has not met AYP.
Running Against Sitting LSC Members At Kinzie
I feel this issue is at a huge disadvantage to the children of the school. We have parents that are concerned about adminstration and can see the picture clearly on what kind of system is being allocated in this school however, they are getting bullyed by the prinicpials defensive and protense actions made to the LSC candidates that are on in his favor. I feel something needs to be corrected because the children at this school are the indivuals that are will be feeling the affects of the arrogant administration. It was very visible through that newsletter, who has the upper-hand in this situation. Things need to change !!!
Running Against Sitting LSC Members At Kinzie
I would say using a newsletter violates this CPS policy :
[b]Use of school resources for LSC candidates forbidden[/b]
It is expressly forbidden for anyone to use resources of the school to endorse or promote any candidate or group of candidates (slate). This includes both people and material resources such as paper, staff time during working hours, copying machines, telephones, or space for meetings for particular candidates or
slates. This also means that staff may not recommend or endorse candidates inside of the school during report card pick-up parent conferences on the day of the election. Staff who either use school resources or allow school resources to be used in this manner may be subject to discipline including suspension of up to 30 days without pay.
Running Against Sitting LSC Members At Kinzie
i don't often get thank-you's, but once in a while:
"We just wanted to thank you for publishing our letter regarding the Kinzie school newsletter that we feel endorsed current LSC members. Our forum was last night and mysteriously it went well. There was about 75 people in attendance. I know that due to your large audience we were given a fair chance. While I realize there were not many posts regarding my issue on your blog, I know it did not go unnoticed."
-- alexander
Running Against Sitting LSC Members At Kinzie
I am a little suprised by the Principal's newsletter. He is comes off as pompous and also defensive. If he has an issue with those who are talking about him, then he should go to them personally. He has a lot to learn.
Running Against Sitting LSC Members At Kinzie
Who is the Principal at Kinzie?
Running Against Sitting LSC Members At Kinzie
I think Reader above has a point about the newsletter. After reading it, I am left with the following:
Why would an elected Kinzie Local School Council member need the blessing of the regional bureaucrats before making a decision that would benefit the students at his school? Why would he refer to the CPS bureaucrats as his "superiors?" This guy sounds like a puppet rather than a school leader.
Running Against Sitting LSC Members At Kinzie
And what principal preperation program did this Kinzie principal come from--and who was his mentor? And as a new principal, he went right into AMPS which lets principals do what they want.... So why NOT get a letter like this?