Catalyst Notebook

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.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - 2:27pm

Strike authorization vote likely before end of school year

By: Sarah Karp

Tags: Chicago Teachers Union, teacher strike

Wednesday afternoon the Chicago Teachers Union is planning a massive rally to protest the current CPS contract proposal, which they call “unreasonable.” No strike authorization vote will be taken at the downtown event, but such a vote will likely happen before the end of this school year.

CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey says the vote is a “bargaining tool,” and emphasized that a strike date would not be set until after a final proposal is on the table, which won’t happen until the middle of the summer.

In the News: Selective seats planned for new S. Side HS

By: Cassandra West

Tags: selective enrollment

Chicago Public Schools plans to add 100 selective enrollment seats this fall at the new South Shore International College Prep, the district said.

School closing lawsuit goes to court this week

By: Rebecca Harris

Tags: school closings

UPDATE:A judge has put off until Friday his decision about whether a lawsuit against school closings and turnarounds will be able to proceed.

If it does, the case will be heard on May 30 and 31 rather than on Wednesday, as had previously been planned.

In the News: Comer Youth Center gets a spotlight

Education reporting over the weekend was completely eclipsed by coverage of the NATO meeting in Chicago and the concurrent protests, but there was one bit of news involving students: first lady Michelle Obama showing off the Gary Comer Youth Center on the South Side to the spouses of heads of state.

Video from the Tribune.

Video from ABC 7 News.

Parents organize to protect area schools

By: Sarah Karp

Tags: Logan Square Neighborhood Association, school closings

Logan Square parents and community activists held a rally Friday morning in front of Ames Middle School. After rumors circulated about plans to re-purpose the middle school, the group decided to form the Logan Square Schools Facilities Committee.

In the News: State to oversee N. Chicago's finances

By: Cassandra West

Tags: finance and budgets

The Illinois Board of Education voted Thursday to put a five-member panel in charge of the troubled North Chicago school finances after the state schools chief described the school district's budgetary condition as a "train wreck."

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