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: Moody's downgrades CPS debt
By: Cassandra West / July 11, 2012
Moody's Investors Service Corp. late Tuesday downgraded Chicago Public Schools' debt by one notch, and warned a second hit is in the offing. The reason? A "drastic" drawdown of reserves. (Crain's)
Moody's lowered its outlook for Chicago Public Schools from stable to negative, citing its $5.9 billion in general obligation bond debt. The agency's lowered rating means it will cost more for the CPS to issue bonds. (Tribune)
CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey, Catalyst publisher Linda Lenz and CPS Chief Administrative Officer Tim Cawley appeared on last night's WTTW roundtable to discuss CPS' budget proposal. Full video posted on District 299 blog.
Tribune columnist Eric Zorn attempts to unravel the history behind the mystery of Illinois' two teacher pension systems.
The Chicago Teachers Union says that the city lied about around $70 million in finances to fund the police department with money already put aside for educators. (RT. com)
IN THE STATE
The Rockford Public School District 205 administration wants to outsource driver's education across Rockford Public Schools. (WIFR.com)
IN THE NATION
If new taxes are not approved by California voters, this fall billions more will be cut from Los Angeles schools. The district can opt to shrink the school year by another three weeks. That would leave L.A. with the shortest school year in the country and one of the shortest in the entire industrialized world. (CBS News)
Fourteen mothers, whose children prosecutors say were sexually abused by a Los Angeles teacher facing 23 felony charges, sued the school district on Tuesday seeking damages for "generalized shock and trauma." (CNN.com)
Many students find schoolwork "too easy," a report from the Center for American Progress says. (Education Week)
Bwah-hah-hah!
Re: WTTW roundtable discussion on CPS budget
Funniest line--Elizabeth Brackett, after announcing that Moody's has lowered CPS' rating, questions why it was done before the budget is approved by the Board next week. Y'know, as if this budget isn't a done deal as far as the Mayor's rubber-stamp appointed Board of Education. Right, Elizabeth, they could still change their minds. ;)
As I watched the program, I found Mr. Cawley to be conciliatory
as well as Mr. Sharkey. Maybe that was their point-purpose and WTTW did not know this. Ms. Lenz’ comment about who to believe was appropriate. However, as the media is starting to investigate the budget, (CPS paying police instead of instructional costs, charters getting more as they produce less, 94 more talent management folks to be hired as teachers and aides are laid off, facility supplies and repair funds and engineers pulled from neighborhood schools to destroy/crumble them further; one should believe Sharkey over Cawley.
Cawley takes reserves to pay for LSD now, how will he pay next year?—He should be made responsible to answer-and be held to it.
As for George, WTTW should just invite him ALONE to their program to speak as an expert on the CPS budget. Not as CTU rep or to debate, just as a well-educated factual source on the CPS budget. WTTW has experts from UIC and other media all the time—why not George?
As a Chicago citizen and tax-payer, I would like to hear and be presented with truths about the CPS budget. George would present facts that he could prove. Why would he not? George would not blow such a great opportunity to get out the truth.
CPS gets plenty media time to present their budget and their facts. As an expert here, he should get a fair shot at presenting his evaluation and history of the CPS budget.
What is CPS afraid of? What is WTTW afraid of?
94 more CPS talent management folks to be hired
What is the purpose for this huge increase in HR employment? Will these workers be there to assure that MORE tenured teachers are released under the new REACH system? Two years and your out?!
Please ask Mr. Cawley this ? the next time he states why
there should be charters-- he ususally states that parents should have a choice... He need to be pinned down then, as to what is wrong with the neighborhood schools? Why are they not as worthy as his charters?
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