As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.
Join the conversation
We encourage our readers to leave comments and engage in dialogue about our stories. But before you do, please check out our "rules of the road."
Recent Notebook Entries
Right Now On Notebook
By:
By:
Subscribe to catalyst-chicago.org by e-mail
Other Blogs
catalyst-chicago.org feeds
Current Issue
In the News: CPS, CTU and a $105 million windfall; suburban districts rehiring
By: Cassandra West / August 12, 2010
Chicago schools stand to get a $105 million windfall from the recently passed federal jobs bill — enough to restore high school class sizes, bilingual education and other program cuts, but the money appears to be undermining the district's effort to persuade the Chicago Teachers Union to forfeit a 4 percent pay raise or agree to other concessions, the Sun-Times reports. CTU delegates voted unanimously Wednesday evening to reject CPS' proposed concessions.
Chicago schools stand to get a $105 million windfall from the recently passed federal jobs bill — enough to restore high school class sizes, bilingual education and other program cuts, but the money appears to be undermining the district's effort to persuade the Chicago Teachers Union to forfeit a 4 percent pay raise or agree to other concessions, the Sun-Times reports. CTU delegates voted unanimously Wednesday evening to reject CPS' proposed concessions.
CPS releases a preliminary budget on its web site. The proposed budget is for $6.461 billion and will be presented to the Chicago Board of Education later this month. Three community hearings, open to the public, have been scheduled Aug. 17, 18, and 19. Find the locations here.
Talks of ending open admissions at Chicago City Colleges draws critics.
MSNBC's Tamron Hall speaks with WBEZ's Alison Cuddy about "Making the Grade," a series between MSNBC and Ebony magazine that highlights the issues affecting the nation's education system. Hall moderated the first discussion Wednesday at the University of Chicago.
Some suburban school districts rehire many laid-off teachers, and there's hope for more hires, as the state expects to receive $415 million from the federal government. (Tribune)
In the state
Illinois lawmakers may return to Springfield for a special session to authorize spending the more than $400 million in education aid the state expects to receive from Washington. (State Journal-Register)
In the era of Facebook and Twitter, school districts work to define appropriate ways for teachers and students to communicate outsider the classroom. The Tribune reports: "The Illinois school code requires that districts develop polices for social networking and teach students how to safely use chat rooms, e-mail and instant messaging. Some districts have responded with vague policies open for interpretation. Others have banned all use of social media between teachers and students."
Gurnee Elementary District 56 voters will decide on whether to borrow $28.5 million to construct a new school in Wadsworth. (Daily Herald)
In the nation
The Obama administration stands by its Race to the Top program, even as its education agenda meets pushback from lawmakers and advocates. (Education Week)
Arizona education department officials and administrators for the Tuscon Unified School District are at odds over a new state law that tightly restricts ethnic studies, particularly Mexican-American studies. (Education Week)
George Mason University and Towson University are among 11 institutions nationwide with little or no disparity in graduation rates between black and Hispanic students and white students, according to two reported released this week by the nonprofit Education Trust. Nationally, graduation rates run 15 to 20 points lower for black and Hispanic students than for white students. (Washington Post)
In the News: CPS, CTU and a $105 million windfall; suburban dist
Access Living is opposed to this proposal. We believe the majority of CPS students with disabilities who opt for the non-vocational track at the Chicago City Colleges must take these remedial classes. Without this option many of these students would have no possibility of ever taking a college level class.
Rod Estvan
In the News: CPS, CTU and a $105 million windfall; suburban dist
The feds aren't undermining the district's effort to solicit $100 million in concessions from the Union. CPS is doing that all on its own.
First, CPS could eliminate the budget deficit without hurting students by prioritizing classroom teaching and learning over non-necessary capital expenditures (e.g. $125 million for a new Jones College Prep), the opening of charter schools which perform no better than traditional schools, high stakes exams and test prep, canned curricula and scripted lesson plans (e.g. Instructional Delivery Systems), expansion of upper level management in the Area Offices, etc., etc., etc. The budget gap could be closed if CPS wanted it to be closed - all without damaging what happens in the classrooms.
There is this matter: even if the CTU found $100 million in savings in the Board's budget CPS would not apply those savings to keep teacher jobs. CPS also stated that $100,000,000 in givebacks would not guarantee jobs nor would it impact the budget; teachers would still be subject to cuts based on fiscal shortages.
Give back $100 million just to get fired anyway? No thanks. That's not much of a deal, is it.
CPS has taken advantage of a weak and hapless Union for years. The Board shouldn't be surprised it can no longer get away with speaking out of both sides of its mouth and putting one over on teachers. I hate to say it but I have learned all too well in my interactions with them that they are fundamentally dishonest and deceitful.
And CPS certainly doesn't need any help mucking things up. Everything they touch turns to cr*p whether it's the budget, teacher training & professional development, hiring and firing, patronage, special education services, turnarounds, payroll, human resources, and on and on.
In the News: CPS, CTU and a $105 million windfall; suburban dist
We had 5 MORE wonderful teachers with 8-10 yrs layed off last week and TFA called pushing for their candidates NOW! Our CAO is pushing TFA so what do you think the principal will do? One teacher let go last week, has two children and a newborn. Such late notice did not give her a chance to find a job. PLEASE PRINCIPALs, DO NOT HIRE TFAs--Have MERCY on these dedicated and talented teachers when you can hire back.
In the News: CPS, CTU and a $105 million windfall; suburban dist
nose bleeds, asthma attacks, students and teachers fainting and soaked in sweat--it is a burning hell in these classrooms and the fans are making more heat! Isn't this abusive to children? (Principals have ac btw.) Students NOT coming to school due to the early date and/or heat, cost CPS $$. Schools that have ac need it on all the time- costing more $$ to get to 90 degrees in the clsrms. This is terrible.
In the News: CPS, CTU and a $105 million windfall; suburban dist
I thought they would only pick schools that have AC. I guarantee huberman has ac. why doesnt he come to your school and spend a day on the 3rd floor. they never think of this stuff...just let the children suffer on their experiments.....
This is tangible proof that some of their ideas are harmful and dangerous to children. He is more guilty of neglect and arrogance...what is his response???
In the News: CPS, CTU and a $105 million windfall; suburban dist
By constantly playing the victim, the CTU unwillingness to compromise is extremely detrimental to students and the CPS system as a whole.
And Jones College Prep has been promised a new facility for more than 10 years, while Payton and Northside started out with all new facilities. It has been designed at least three time, but money fell through.
The selective enrollment high schools are one of the few things CPS was mildly successful at creating. JCP's current building can only hold 750 students, when there is a vacant CPS owned piece of land directly to it's south. There it could expand and serve 1500+ Chicago student from all over the city. And with a 99% graduation rate and college attendance rate, who would fight with that.
In the News: CPS, CTU and a $105 million windfall; suburban dist
glad you made a comment, but you do not have the facts. How much money was thrown into JCP to convert it from a successful JR/Sr business prep school to the building it is now? Lots! And then they put in the wrong HVAC and that had to be redone at $$. So your school took over a successful school for mostly minority young adults who got jobs after graduation. Get a college degree now and you cannot even get a job! 1500 would not produce the same as 750. JCP should be teaching you better about looking at history, politcs and econimics as well as, deeper and around you.
Add your comment