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: 'Security concerns' force Task Force to cancel
By: Cassandra West / July 20, 2012
Anticipated protests by the Chicago Teachers Solidarity Campaign and "security concerns" moved the University of Illinois—Chicago to cancel the Thursday evening Chicago Educational Facilities Task Force meeting and reschedule it for a later date that has yet to be determined. Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard was scheduled to appear at the meeting.
UIC public relations staff and CTU spokespersons could not be reached at the time of publication. On its Facebook page, members of the Chicago Teachers Solidarity Campaign angrily commented on the news of the cancellation with statements such as “Coward.” Member David Murray Orlikoff quoted the UIC press release in his comment: “In its statement transmitted to the CEFTF late last night, the University stated, 'The anticipated protest, increased attendance, and additional resource demands on the university prohibits us from hosting this event.' ” He then wrote, “Civic meetings should never be cancelled for ‘increased attendance’ in a democracy." (Nicole Koetting, Catalyst)
And, from the Tribune: Members of an Illinois legislative task force on school closing issues said they were forced to cancel a meeting featuring Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard after campus security at the University of Illinois at Chicago raised concerns over a possible protest.
A group called Education Reform Now has put out a new radio ad, urging CTU and CPS to reach new contract that ensures longer school day, the Tribune reports.
To make sure public school students attend the first day of fall classes, Chicago Public Schools will lead a campaign that includes door-to-door outreach and robo-calls to students' homes and an advertising campaign, CEO Jean-Claude Brizard says. The school district is also asking everyone from parents to other city agencies to help get the word out to encourage school attendance. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
CTU President Karen Lewis and West Side elected officials addressed the state of education across the city and in the Austin neighborhood. (Austin Talks)
Rahm just gave the Educational Facilities Task Force the finger.
(How you like him now State legislators?)
Security, my ars. Besides this sounding made-up:
CPS's own security that can be called to be there, on duty now
UIC also has a large force, on duty now
Rahm can get the CPD to come since he used the teachers 4% to pay them, on duty now (no dig to CPD intended)
CPS brass would be driven by trained security driver, on duty now Teachers/students/parents go to their schools with "security concerns" everyday -- Why can't they?
hmmm
yeah those teachers are were so violent at our last rally hahaha
he couldnt talk via skype i bet brizzard quits in less than six months to be honest he is probably like any teacher....he has do exactly what cps says
Security Concerns" Ruse Should be Challenged
Brizard has repeatedly delayed in meeting with the Chicago Educational Facilities Task Force, because he doesn't not want to discuss the many ways in which he has violated the state law that the Task Force is mandated by the legislature to oversee, by ignoring the needs of the schools most in need of repair and lavishing money on turnarounds and charters.
When the Task Force Meeting was finally scheduled, it was cancelled by the University of Illinois because of "security concerns." Other commenters have pointed out the ridiculous nature of these alleged "security concerns" that allegedly caused the cancellation. Imagine—threatened picketing at a public event involving the meeting of duly elected and appointed public officials.
Given Brizard's repeated stalling in setting up this meeting, the stated ruse of "security concerns" likely emanated from Brizard.
In any case, it is shameful that the city's largest public university feared security concerns at a public forum. Can UIC be called a credible university when it cancels such a meeting on this pretext?
This is another illustration of the wide reach of the Mayor in controlling private institutions in the city—in this case, of all things, stifling public discussion at a public university.
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