As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.
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CTU pickets schools; CPS makes backup plan
By: Rebecca Harris and Nicki Koetting / August 20, 2012
A Hope High School teacher walks an informational picket line at Burke Elementary School.
As the deadline nears for Chicago Teachers Union to give notice it could strike on the first day of school, teachers are spending the week holding informational pickets at year-round schools and CPS is making contingency plans.
Friday will be ten days before schools’ planned Sept. 4 start date, and the legal deadline for CTU to issue a legally required 10-day notice of intent to strike. The decision will likely be made at Wednesday’s House of Delegates meeting at 4:30 p.m at Lane Technical High School.
CTU issued a press release Monday saying the talks were “deteriorating,” and CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey elaborated that negotiations “are just moving too darn slowly.”
“We feel like we are trying to move a mountain with a teaspoon,” he said. “There is not enough urgency on the part of the Board to resolve the open issues.”
But CPS spokeswoman Becky Carroll called the tone positive. “We have made a lot of progress over the last few weeks,” she says. “And we are hopeful about keeping that momentum moving forward.”
The agenda for Wednesday’s school board meeting includes a resolution authorizing the district to make contingency plans for a strike, ensuring that students can access food and a safe environment – though not instruction, which can legally be provided only by certified teachers who are members of the CTU. Carroll says the resolution is “only a precaution at this point.”
Late Monday, CTU fired another salvo, accusing CPS of intimidating union members. In a memo publicized by the union, CPS asked principals to document any pre-strike walkouts, slowdowns, “work-to-rule” actions or sit-down strikes.
At Burke Elementary School on the South Side, about 10 teachers and community members formed a small circle and chanted various slogans. The principal stood nearby watching.
CTU organizer Kathy Murray pointed out that only the union delegate came out of the school to join the informational picket. Teachers from Hope and King high schools, which are close to Burke, made up the majority of the teachers in the line.
Burke union delegate Stephanie Garrison said the teachers in her school don’t want to strike. Not only will it disrupt the school year for their children, but it also will be a financial hardship on teachers.
Yet Garrison said she is concerned about class sizes and would like for there to be language in the contract limiting the number of children in a class.
“It is hard to be an effective teacher with so many kids,” she said. “We need some kind of help.”
Beatrice Lumpkin, a retired teacher, says she came out to picket because she is concerned about the state of public education in general. She doesn't like the move toward privatization and the way teachers are treated. But she also is worried about the pension.
“My pension is on the line,” she said.
While gathered outside Cather Elementary School, picketers sang “We Shall Not Be Moved.” They included social worker Carol Hayes, who said it was the second school she had picketed at on Monday.
“We are helping parents understand the issues,” Hayes said. “The public needs more information. The community was out there, kids were joining us, people were honking.”
She added that she would like to see CPS spend money on more social workers and anti-violence programs in schools.
Sharkey says there’s a list of unresolved issued, including compensation and a recall procedure for laid off teachers.
CPS is not the only entity making plans in case the teachers strike.
Andrew Broy, president of Illinois Network of Charter Schools, says his office is fielding more than 20 calls a week on the subject – and some charter schools are seeing even more interest.
If a strike were to occur and charter schools saw increased enrollment demand, Broy says, the charters could ask CPS to increase the number of students they’re allowed to enroll.
A recent 1.5-day strike in Rockford led many parents to call three charter schools there, seeking to enroll. The one charter school that had spots was able to offer them to students, Broy says.
Charter school touts from Catalyst
It's always fun to read the propaganda published as "news" in Catalyst. How an article on CTU contract negotiations with Chicago's real public schools can end with a quote from Andrew Broy about charter schools is magical thinking and mystical reporting that only Catalyst can consider accurate.
Race to Charter, I don't think so...
"more than 20 calls a week on the subject" within a district serving over 400,000 students... not exactly a landslide movement no?
Other great statistical measures touted in the article
"many parents" How many would that be...10, 20, 35?
If the IL charter network concludes that a teacher strike will increase student enrollment in any great measure, they may need to think again. Augh, the corporate model in education, how many sales can we make.
If there is a strike, I blame Rham!
As a parent of a CPS student, Emanuel's administration is to blame for a strike. In all the years Daley was in office, I don't recall a strike. At least Daley made deals and compromises. Why this new mayor can't is beyond all reason.
charter propaganda
Your article started like a serious report and ended like a propaganda tool for charter schools. It makes me seriously doubt about your impartiality in education issues.
Charter Schools and Strike
Charter schools are schools of choice. If the only reason you want to send your children to a charter school is to have a place to park them during a strike, it may not be the right choice for your family.
Drama
Why wouldn't reporting on charters be part of Catalyst coverage? Given their apparent mission, it's easy to argue that they under report charter news.
2500 freshmen started at Noble this week. That's what, 10-12% of the CPS 9th grade population?
That's one out of ten freshmen families making a choice this year to try a much more rigorous education. All the while many CTU members arguing that the school day and school year was long enough.
Is that not news?
You have the CTU funded reality-protected bubble at substance news. It seems that those wishing protection from any contrary news or opinion have a safe haven.
not Catalyst propping up charters
I appreciate Catalyst ending with the news on charters because I think it shows how the district is using charters to bust the union. Now Rahm can say that charters 'really care' about students because they stay open. Thanks for reminding us of the larger political picture.
What's busting the union?
High School Ranking by Growth
(2012 ACT to 2009 EXPLORE)
1) Northside
2) Noble Pritzker
3) Noble Chicago Bulls
3) Noble UIC
3) Payton
6) Noble Raunier
7) Young
8) Noble Rowe Clark
9) Noble Muchin
9) Noble Golder
11) Jones
12) Noble Comer
12) Noble Noble St.
14) Urban Prep West
15) Chicago Academy
As the song goes: "Some of these things are not like the others"..........
Actually they're all
Actually they're all selective institutions. So all of these things are like the other.
Noble Schools
there are 4 selective enrollment schools on this list. Noble schools are charter, but not selective
Charter Schools are positive change agents
Charter Schools give parent's another option. For those who can't afford a private school and for those who are terrified for their child's safety when sending them to a public school. I challenge the nay sayers to visit a charter school. Most, if not all, are willing to give you a look into their school. They are very impressive and so says the data.
Data
Where might one find this data in a public report, perhaps?
Of those 2500 freshmen at Noble, how many will still be there
in May? Wait, let's make it end of November when poverty funds kick in.
Of those 2500, how many have an IEP? How many have Below Meets or Warning on ISAT upon their arrival as freshman to this 'non-selctive' school?
That's laughable
Terri, your "selective enrollment comment" shows your willful isolation from the issues. Every single school on that list (especially Noble!) is guilty of a backdoor selection processes like the "counseling out" of students deemed undesirable or to use nobles wording, they aren't a "good fit". Oh, and what about disparities of special Ed student pops, parent involvement, hyper poverty, chronic health issues and homelessness? Only when noble, or any other charter dares to take on my student pop in Englewood, without the priviledges of a selection (formal or informal) process, can we the talk about the validity of their model as "agents of change". Oh, but wait, urban prep of Englewood has taken on our pop, sort of (those kids w involved parents w enough institutional knowledge to secure a spot), and they have produced the same results as my school, Paul Robeson h.s., which doesn't have the luxury of smaller class sizes, better technology, and of course the freedom from the incumbrences of a defunct central office. We take in those kids that get counseled out, because we are a democratic institution that's open to all. People with half informed opinions like you are dangerous, which is why we need a democratically elected school board to check reckless topdown corporate reforms. By the way, I've worked at U of C Woodlawn and it was (and still is) an excrement show.
Show me the numbers
If Noble is simply aggregating top students from surrounding schools we should be able to see those students in the population before Nobel's arrival. But you can't show those students, because that population doesn't exist.
Similarly, surrounding schools scores haven't nose dived with Nobel's arrival.
Undoubtably Nobel's successful students are a subset capable of pulling themselves up by taking on a large work load. But you aren't ever getting that performance out of those students in your local school.
Jeremy : Noble did open a Auburn Gresham campus this year. No doubt the tougher the student, the lower the success rate. SOME cut schools take in students that are counseled out, true. But you also have no school that offers what Nobel offers. Not one.
I have family members that have worked in five west and south side high schools in the last four years. I have a family member currently teaching CTU HS in Englewood. I absolutely respect what you guys do.
Data source: I got a large spread sheet that originated from a principal (including a note that it was acceptable to share). I would be glad to share it, but I don't know how. Hopefully the data will get passed around.
Noble IEP
Freshman IEP at one school is 18%. I have no idea if that's typical. Send them a FOIA request if you want specifics.
Shooting holes in Noble using data will likely be an unsatisfying project, however.
It is interesting how people
It is interesting how people are quick to shift blame on one person, trying to find someone to be the culprit of all critical issues that we face. It is the fact that CTU and the Board cannot expedite a compromise so that everyone is satisfied to a degree. In regards to strikes during Daley's administration, I can recall a couple of strikes while he was in office.
Teaching kids is no longer the issue
I am saddened by all the ridiculousness. I have
Never believed how many adults muck up something that is about kids. Your data, and slandor against kids and families should be embarrassing. How about all of us educators bashing each other pick up charlotte danielsons book on professional practice. How about all of us educators look into positive discipline models. How about all of us educators look into ways we can bring math, science and the arts alive in our classrooms. I feel sorry for the teachers who are potentially at a lost for money if they strike but I am also tired of teachers who work just as hard as me blame me for doing the same work differently. We all love our kids and want to see our Chicago kids( that 400,00 includes charter and selective enrollment) not die by gun fire or the lack of knowledge.
Stop complaining and start being the change you grew up wishing you would be!
I agree with Ms. Griffin. I
I agree with Ms. Griffin. I would just say that it does get frustrating when every time you support students in putting in thousands of hours into restorative justice projects, or building a new co-curricular program, or pulling kids out of gangs into school, that work is stomped out by the board.
I wish we could just build great education in peace and without top-down driven chaos.
Noble Street hypocrisy
Everyone who has followed the "Noble Street" hype since Michael Milkie was still a real teacher at Wells High School knows that it's always been about accounting tricks, union busting, and a cynical manipulation of the kind of marketing ploys that can only come when an entity (corporation; charter school) has access to unlimited hype via the corporate media.
We first got the calls about Milkie's "method" a decade ago, every January, when he would dump his low scoring kids (er., those who couldn't be "Noble" enough) back at Wells. Since then, every January the Noble Street Dump has taken place like clockwork.
As the Noble Street infection expanded to the west, the schools that were receiving the kids dumped by Noble Street expanded as well (at least those who made it to the real public high schools, like North Grand, Kelvyn Park, and Steinmetz — as well as, of course, Wells). The math trick was based on simple arithmetic. Reduce the denominator (by the right "data") and you "improve" your numbers. The trick probably goes back to the corporate hacks portrayed in Dickens' novels, and doesn't take either imagination or a "secret sauce." Just complete cynicism.
Then, when a ballerina whose math skills are equally challenged becomes mayor, all the blather will be in metaphor. "Secret Sauce" while the plutocrats who coo, ooo, and aaaah eat it up. But the underlying fraud is the same as claiming that ballet training entitles a man to become a "relationship banker" and "earn" $18 million during three years on Wall Street.
One last thing: Everyone who utilizes the precious locution "Noble..." when talking about the Noble Network of Charter Frauds has served notice that he is in the tank with the fraud. It's like those hacks who sigh loudly every time they talk about "Stand" (when they mean Stand On Children).
I don't know why the corporate shorthand is so unblushing at this point in history, but the Orwellian aspects are simplistic enough. Even for anonymous and pseudonymous bloggers like half of those infesting this thread.
Charter Success
I really don't believe that we should all be badgering others who, ultimately, do great things for students. These students who get to go to great universities on big scholarships, that's quite amazing. I went to a Catholic school and no one helped me find money to finance college...it was just mandatory that you apply and figure it out.
Aren't all schools merely trying to achieve the same goal? High quality education for all students?
Myabe charters are not for everyone, Catholic school is not for everyone and definitely public schools are not for everyone...but that's a choice. And it is a positive thing to have options.
Then all CPS neighborhood schools should be funded and given
the independance needed, like Noblel has, to be successful, instead of having their funds taken away, squandered by CPS and being put upon my rules, regulations and testing that destroys students and the community.
'Noble,' plutocratic jargon, and the realities of history...
Anyone who utilizes the precious locution "Noble" to discuss the "Noble Network..." has been drinking into the Kool Aid of this version of Jonestown. For years, the Catholic schools were running the same scam against the publics, dumping their problems (and virtually all of their special education students) on us. I saw it at virtually every school I taught, over decades, from Amundsen to 20 miles away at Bowen.
Hypocrites always have fig leaves and masks, but the facts always expose their stuffings. We (Substance) began documenting the Noble Network nonsense years ago, when the Dump was still just Wells. We followed it through the Arne Duncan days. One of the most precious iterations back then, before CORE and the new day, was Arne Duncan hosting then U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings at "Noble" for an anniversary of "No Child Left Behind" while Rufus Williams — who was that?! — sat smilingly on the stage...
Then, last December, the same old same old. Rahm Emanuel (who was in Congress hustling earmarks for Chicago's military high schools while Margaret Spellings was the Arne Duncan of then) did a dog and pony show at Noble Street "Pritzker" campus, with virtually the same script. A diverse group of earnest young people, singing the praises of Noble's Nobility, blah, blah blah.
They were so far into the Potemkin Village thing that Rahm had four street cleaners and crews do the area around the school to spiff things up for the arrival of the rest of my brothers and sisters of the media. Naturally, the Gee Whiz Isn't This Great story appeared right on schedule, along with that smarmy Rahm quote about "Noble" having the "Secret Sauce." Later, that one went viral courtesy of Rahm's union busting handlers and that equally infamous reactionary Juan Williams.
Count Potemkin at least had a sense of humor about his work for the Czars. Some of these guys are too serious to take seriously. Starting with that ballet dancer whose qualifications for Wall Street "Relationship Banking" allowed him to "earn" $18 million in three years by the sweat of his brows and the callouses on his well-Wellnessed hands...
Rahmapolis?
While awaiting the implementation of monarchy in Chicago, I would still like to poke at CTU and the length of the school day.
Extended list, now including growth in years.
1) Northside - 7.2
2) Noble Pritzker - 6.7
3) Noble Chicago Bulls - 6.4
3) Noble UIC - 6.4
3) Payton - 6.4
6) Noble Rauner - 6.3
7) Young - 5.9
8) Noble Rowe Clark - 5.7
9) Noble Muchin - 5.6
9) Noble Golder - 5.6
11) Jones - 5.4
12) Noble Comer - 5.2
12) Noble Noble St. - 5.2
14) Urban Prep West - 5.0
15) Chicago Academy - 4.8
16) Lane - 4.7
17) CHGO Math And Sci. - 4.5
18) Lincoln Park - 4.4
19) Von Stuben - 4.2
20) Lindblom - 4.1
Because of the radically different Explore scores between these schools, a ranking by percent growth would produce a very different list. # 14 Urban Prep students grew 39%, while #1 Northside grew 32%.
If someone has different numbers for a school, please let me know. I believe the spreadsheet I have is accurate, but I don't want to be posting incorrect data.
Testing
I dont know about the High Schools. HOWEVER, NWEA scores are a JOKE!! I have seen kid take the same test twice in the same day and have the score vary 20% higher or lower. NWEA is NOT Common core ....that's their cool aid. Last year CPS had a Common Core test for our 3rd graders and the test had spelling mistakes ...."techer" was one of the mistakes. I just really wonder about all these tests. Also, I think schools are getting better test scores because their students are becoming better test takers at the expense of their creativity and problems solving skills. Student don't learn to spell anymore...we treat them like zombie robots. No time to praise or work on social issues...every minute is dictated...if you getcaught talking about gangs or compassion during your reading time...you will have your rating lowered....rahm brizzard have turned CPS into a test taking factory . students dont learn how to use computers they just use "learning games"....I dont know...but we are producing souless children. Very very sad!!!! All while Brizzard puts photo ops all over the cps website so he can "brand" himself. I love my job , my co workers, even my principal...but I go to work scared...where I once felt joy and excitement. Now I am afraid if I miss math by 5 minutes I will be marked down. If my students get distracted during the NWEA....god forbid.....scary and sad
EPAS scores don't accurate
EPAS scores don't accurate assess below the 7th grade according to CPS officials.
Our students come in at the 4-5th grade level. Why not just evaluate us by flipping a coin?
NWEA is a joke that's us — and the taxpayers
NWEA is no joke. It's a multi-million dollar boondoggle with ties to Rupert Murdoch's empire that is marketing an untested piece of garbage that will (a) disrupt hundreds of classrooms, ultimately thousand, (c) cost millions of dollars and (b) be replaced within two years when the scandal breaks that none of it has ever been vetted professionally.
If you haven't seen it, share the joy when you do.
Typical Rahm.
Typical corporate school reform.
Typical Chicago in 2012.
You've heard, of course, at Catalyst, Tribune and Sun-Times (and on all the TV stations) that CPS is "broke" and facing a huge "deficit." That's how they could afford not only the $25 million to set up scab schools, but that additional $24 million for recess help.
As the Doctor of PR during the previous century said many times: If you're going to lie, LIE BIG.
"The bigger the lie, the more they believe." (Bunk Moreland, from "The Wire").
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