As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.
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In the News: CPS finds way to save $144 million
By: Cassandra West / July 05, 2012
Chicago Public Schools said it has found ways to save nearly $144 million, a third of that through a more aggressive purchasing strategy and technology upgrades, according to the Tribune.
For a second time in two weeks, the summertime heat has led to the cancellation of Chicago Public School summer classes, officials said. CPS chief executive officer Jean-Claude Brizard has ordered summer school classes cancelled at 18 schools that do not have air conditioning on a day where temperatures are expected to reach triple digits. (Tribune)
IN THE NATION
A handful of prominent charter school networks that have won praise for their academic performance and unorthodox models are expanding to new parts of the country, in some cases after receiving recruiting pitches from state and local officials determined to bring proven operators into their communities. (Education Week)
"Building and Sustaining Talent: Creating Conditions in High-Poverty Schools That Support Effective Teaching and Learning," from The Education Trust, describes the urgency of making high-poverty, low-performing schools satisfying, attractive places to work, and how some schools and districts are doing it.
The Louisiana Department of Education could find itself mired in state and federal courtroom disputes for years to come, thanks to Gov. Bobby Jindal’s sweeping education reform legislation and to the confusing mishmash of educational bureaucracy in Orleans Parish. (The Jena Times)
Nationally this year, Teach For America will send out a record 10,000 new teachers – a 10 percent increase over 2011 – to work in 46 regions in 36 states. (Charlotte Observer)
Former teacher, principal, and Prince George's County, Md., schools chief William Hite is the new superintendent of Philadelphia schools. (Philly Notebook)
Pedro Martinez, former Chicago Public Schools’ chief financial officer under Arne Duncan, accepts position as Washoe County (Nev.) School District superintendent. (rgj.com)
President's Job
Karen Lewis' job is to make life better for her members, not to make life easier for Mayor Rahm Emanuel, with his roughneck’s reputation and stevedore’s profanity, whose ideas are as admirable as his manners are deplorable: 58, a Dartmouth graduate who is a daughter of two African American teachers. She taught chemistry for 22 years until she became president of the 26,502-member CTU.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/george-will-in-chicago-a-battle-o...
Cps found money through firings.
Cps has told Principals to fire a ton of teachers at schools all over Chicago. They have told them to give them unsatisfactory ratings; rename programs against whatever endorsements the teachers have; close their positions; and downtown names it Economic Reasons for the teacher's position to close. Chicago Teacher's Union, you should look into how many teachers; especially tenured teachers; just lost their jobs to get this money. This is a scam; and the $144 million was taken off CPS illegally firing these teachers for no reasons. Advocates out there should look into how many people just lost their jobs; because Chicago Public Schools is in a big mess. Peoples lives are destroyed; over just having a longer school day. This is really why they have $144 million dollars. Do the survey.
Scammed firings
Dewey Academy of Fine Arts is a turnaround school. Principal Eric Dockery turned the school around himself. The turn around did not come from Cps. Dockery fired over half of his staff. Turned around and hired more staff. Advertised for all kinds of staff. After firing 5 teachers and 3 teachers and a secretary retired; he is rolling in dough. Lots of money. Plus a program is coming to the school which is paying for some of the salaries. Rolling in dough. Lots of teachers lost their jobs there whereby they did not have to. Building full of family and friends. A brand new school. Now he is looking for about 10 teachers. How can you fire those many people and have been at the school for 2 years? The school is on maximum probation; but a principal should not come in an fire all this staff. Chicago public schools has let him go buck wild. After all he did work downtown in budget; and he has friends down there that helped him fire all his staff. It is a shame. But if this school keeps going on and on probation; maybe they will finally turn Dewey around and give the school a Principal who really knows how to run the school and not be there at the school for his own financial greed and power.
parents
would it be too much to ask each parent to pay 200 a year in tuition??? 20 a month?? that would be 90million dollars i know parents are poor but they must be responsible too for this shortfall not just taxpayers and staff
There are CPS schools that have been on probation for some time.
I am employed at one of them. Probation under NCLB is unreasonable, but our scores are flat and is some cases falling. Our students rarely have behavior problems, are very willing to learn and come to school. Parents are supportive. Newer principal with the high majority of teachers, are getting positive results in student achievement through data use and common dialogue. There are a few of the ‘old guard’ teachers, even with support or who refuse support, who are not interested in learning how to be better, work smarter and have their students progress. For years, they continue to rely on test prep and worksheets—giving and getting more of the same—as they present lower level learning lessons to their students. They have the ear of the LSC. Following the rules and protocol, the principal lowered the ratings of these non-productive teachers. These teachers were shocked-though they were aware all along what they needed to do. The LSC took it out on the principal.
Comments here are that principals are scamming and firing teachers to save money. Good principals keep great teachers no matter the cost. Tenured Chicago teachers losing jobs is not new. Closing schools and firing teacher en mas is unproductive and wrong. However, tenured teachers who refuse to reflect upon and to change for the better their teaching methods, and to continuously measure and use the achievement of their students, are teachers who should be relieved of their position first versus the many tenured teachers who do this and are successful with all of their students.
our school reduced this from $45 to $25 per year
only 60% paid it.
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