Education & School News, Notes

News, Opportunities, Deadlines, Trends of the Schools and of Education in the Hyde Park-Kenwood Area and Chicago

A service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee and the Conference's website www.hydepark.org.
Help support our work: Join the Conference!
Join the Schools Committee-contact chairman: Nancy Baum.

To page contents

Related site pages
Note: News of/from individual schools: News of Schools, Kenwood, Canter.
Discussions of relations of students and business and gulf between youth and adults in Hyde Park are in Community/Business and Students/Youth, Kenwood, and News of Schools/Kenwood pages. Discussion of students and the 2005 robberies/batteries is in the Robberies and Community Safety pages. Charter school discussion is in UC and Schools.

To Schools Committee page
To Education Resources
To After school and other Kids offering
To access to HPKCC Youth Programs Database in PDF (fall 2007) A major project of the School Commitee
To Schools Directory with missions, descriptions, vitae
To LSC meeting schedule, council rosters, elections
To School and Student Award and Recognitions
To Renaissance 2010 and now-abandoned Mid South plans description, discussions, controversy. CPS 2010 website: www.ren2010.cps.k12.il.us.feedback.asp
 To Schools Tests and Rankings- citywide 2005 results, scores/ analysis. What does the 2006 surge mean?
To News of and from various schools
To Kenwood Academy page
To Murray controversies; 7th-8th Grade restoration issue
To Murray-Nichols additions Dedication.
To University of Chicago school research and initiatives, teacher opportunities, charter schools
To Chicago Metro History Fair page
To Chicago Academic Games League Program of HPKCC
 To Tracking Community Trends I (-Schools. What the schools face and need for improvement)

Here:

Bulletins. Forum on AfterSchool March 28. Ray School selects praised principal of Agassiz School, Bernadette Butler. Note schools in which half or more of students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals have cafeterias open most of the summer.
The Black Star Project will again hold its Million Father March, fathers accompanying their kids to school on the first day of school. Contact www.blackstarproject.org or call (773) 285-9600.

Top

Being involved in our schools and taking advantage of resources out there (See After School page)

Events/Meetings/Requirements/

Don't miss your local school council meeting- revised schedules. See the LSCs page.

The next meeting of the HPKCC Schools Committee is tba, 7 pm, United Church, 1448 E. 53rd, Blackstone entry. Discussion and planing contine on After School Matters. Get involved in the meetings of the HPKCC Schools Committee! Chair Nancy Baum.

 

Free Special Education Rights Seminars are offered by Family Resource Center on Disabilities. Saturdays 10-1, First Mondays 10-1 (except holidays etc.) Information on special education rights for public and private schools; step-by-step instruction on preparing for evaluation, IEP meetings/annual reviews, access to student records, mediation, due process hearings; basic training on negotiating with school districts for appropriate services; free materials. Pre registration required at 312 939-3513. At 20 E. Jackson Blvd., Room 300, 60604. There is also a course for parent leaders and trainers. Next Sept. 13 and 20, 9:30-3:30.

Teachers and principals: Gear up now to take advantage of Free things for Schools, link-up partners helping to fund schools, and more. Deadline is December 1 each year. Contact CPS Dept. of External Resources.

The May 14 TIF Advisory Council meeting underwrote $150,00o in improvements to Canter Middle School.

 

Top

Involvement

Attend, get involved in local school councils of your children's or a nearby Local School Council, and that of the nearby high school. Applications for lsc members are now being accepted, see above.

World Exchange international is looking for HP families to host foreign students, July 12-end of the month.Full choice, spending money, health insurance. Vernica Kirkland at vksuccess@yahoo.com.

Chicago Metro History Education Center, which hosts the History Fair starting in Januarys, seeks all kinds of volunteers. Call Pauline Kochanski at 312 255-3607, www.uic.edu/orgs/cmhec.

Black Star Project seeks a thousand mentors to talk to classes in Hyde Park, Bronzeville and other schools.

Neighborhood Capital Budget Group's Schools Task Force holds monthly meetings and seminars on how your school can get the bang for our education buck and budget-making improved top to bottom. Visit their site.

Neighborhood Capital Budget Group has manuals on assessing school needs and getting them met. To see CPS assessments done, go to http://www.cps.k12.il.us/Operations/assessments.html. NCGB is also involved in a network called Capital Planning Commission.

Chicago Coalition for Community Schools.

The Metropolitan Planning Council has a group working on schools issues: A+. It includes a list serve. 877-APLUSIL, www.aplusillinois.org. Chicago Community Trust, Civic Federation, Business for the Pubic Interest, and others also have committees that seek public participation.

Top

CPS Budget hearings

Registrations, enrollment informationals and Open Houses

St. Thomas the Apostle School holds instructional open house days Wednesdays, March 21, April 18 and May 17, 8 am-2:45 pm. 5467 S. Woodlawn, 773 667-1142.

Top

Scholarships, enrollments, contests, concerts, dramas, fairs etc.

Get started now for high school and college/post college kids to get in gear for scholarships and internships. Examples: University of Chicago full-tuition scholarships for 20 CPS students. City of Chicago internships, high school through college grads- contact ward offices for information as the alderman have a certain number of nominations. (Include resume of studies and interests.) Did you know that a third of CPS college scholarships go begging?- Generous Chicagoans contribute to these scholarships, some in seven figures. A recommended search and info engine: http://www.scholarshiphelp.org

Non-CPS 8th grade applicants to CPS schools having lotteries must take a test, usually in March. Call 773 553-2150 for information.
Get ready for next year's CPS high school magnet programs and magnet schools. Apply by c December 17 yearly for both elementary and high schools. Get the "Education Opportunities" Directory (at schools, libraries, park district offices, aldermanic offices), call 773 553-2060 or go to www.chicagomagnetprograms.org. The high school applications are at high schools, elementary via the previous website.

Middle/Jr. High kids: Start thinking now about college; if you're in CPS enroll in the GEARUP program (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). In its six years (just renewed) it has been shown to make a real difference. Your cluster of schools will be teamed with a college or university (U of C is one). The program includes tutoring, trips to college campus, adventure education, training in resume-application-financial aid, and career exposure.

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy has a monthly quiz contest for kids- win IPod or computer. CyberQuiz4Kids. Quizzes online at imsa.edu.

AT&T children's art programs "Creative Kids". Under 12. See your art in the 2007 Yellow Pages. rhdforteachers.com.

October 24, 2006 South Side Parents hosted a schools fair for parents. 30 schools and administrators and 100 parents and attended the event at St. Paul and the Redeemer. Several of the schools were small, alternative preschools. Angele Gaylord and Josephine Sanders co-led the program, which will be expanded next year.

Top

Tip: If you or someone you know is invited to participate in Principal For A Day do so! Or contact CPS to find out how to volunteer. (Running for and being elected to a local school council next time is one way to get an invite--but the latter is important and rewarding in itself.) And there are so many ways to volunteer, mentor, and donate--including towards books ($ is better than actual tomes) in the schools. It happens at the end of October.

Requirements for LSC membership include for "parent rep", having a child enrolled in the school and for "community" residing within the school's attendance area. Start thinking about it now. Top

Scholarship and Internship Fair sp. by Congr. Davis at Malcolm X College, 10 am-2 pm. 1900 W. Van Buren 2nd Floor. 773 533-7520.

PBS "My City Now" Project has a contest for schools. Make a 3-minute video about your city and you can win a computer editing system, fully equipped, and ave the video shown on line at the local PBS website. In addition, have workshops given, get tour of local PBS station, and more. Joseph Lee, community outreach coordinator, 312 788-0231.

University of Chicago Graham School offers the Saturday Scholars Program for high school students. several courses, may repeat October through December 2006. $400. Gleacher Center, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza Dr. http://grahamschool.uchicago.edu/saturdayscholars.

After School Matters youth program, a collaboration of CPD and CPS is reving up in several schools despite federal funding cutbacks.

Some Appeals

Hannah Hayes recently appealed in the Herald for pen paling and other outreach to downstate Illinois and joining with A+ Illinois for school funding reform.

Church of St. Paul and Redeemer seeks volunteer tutors for 1st and 2nd graders. Wednesdays, 3:14-4:15 starting in January. Linda Thisted, 773 947-9243.

Black Star Project, Black Data Processors Association encourages schools, families, students to participate in its High School Computer Competition. Students learn html, web page design, flow charting, Java, other applications. Starts January, 2005. www.bdpa-chicago.org. 312 842-3527. Now seeking 100 student motivators to inspire and expose students to college and career options, healthy and positive lives, and a visible life plan. blackstar1000@ameritech.net.

There are so many ways to volunteer in/assist the schools. On the corporate side, Hyde Park Bank has jumped in full-feet into mentoring at and helping Bret Harte School and VH1 cable entertainment company has given band instruments to Shoesmith.

The Civic Knowledge Project Teacher Recertification CPDUs" 10. Open to teachers living in zip codes 60615, 37, 59, 53, 19, 16 for tuition reimbursement, else $185. Ask for the next time.

"What do you think?" Hyde Parker Rod Sawyer has interned with Public Radio in its Chicago Matters series. Here is a synopsis of his segment. Any comments? Rod has had and may still have kids in local public schools.

The No Child Left Behind law gives parents the option of exercising school choice in certain circumstances. For instance, they can move their children from failing schools to better ones. Parents in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood exercise school choice in a different way. They often move their kids from good schools to even better ones. Some parents even change schools to avoid specific teachers or enroll their kids in special enrichment programs.

Ear to the Ground’s Rod Sawyer reveals some of the strategies he and some other Hyde Park parents are using to get the best educational experience for their children.

The entire segment can be downloaded to media player from http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/programs/specials/chicagomatters/etg.asp

Rod was mentored by Chicago Public Radio Reporter Jason DeRose. Top

 

Willie Pickens, Jazz musician, educator, activist and supporter extrordinaire

Jazz pianist Willie Pickens has been identified with Hyde Park for decades (since 1959), and raised three children here in the public schools, where he also taught for decades. Daughter Bethany is a noted singer and pianist. Son Bob is a high-ranking officer in Chicago Public Schools. More than once a year, Willie gives concerts at his church, Hyde Park Union Church, to raise funds for the Hyde Park Food Pantry, homeless, and the church and its programs and he participates in Neighbors' Eve. October 26, 2006, he and Bethany will perform at the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Quadrangle Club. Perhaps he will play from his newest CD, "Jazz Spirit."

He started playing piano at age 5, his mother and sister being pianists. After serving in the Army in the early 1950s, he earned a degree in music education at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. After graduation, he expanded his work of the clubs such as the Pershing Lounge at 64th and Cottage and th Crown Propeller on 63rd, later at the Underground Wonder Bar (then Domino) on Walton. He reflects that the jazz scene was vibrant on both sides of town. He thought of working his way east to New York, but slowly gravitated to Hyde Park, taking his first teaching job at Lindbloom High in 1966. Later, he formed the first jazz band at Kenwood Academy and directed the All-City High School Band. The public schools are still his great love, and he says the local schools are the best thing in Hyde Park.

In 1992, post retirement, he was able to tour five years, especially in Europe and Japan, with the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine after Jones left the John Coltrane Quartet. In New York, they played the Bottom Line, joined by Wynton Marsalis. Top

Bulletins

Major news items not with their own feature pages

The controversy over Renaissance 2010, Mid South and related plans continues. See 2010 page.

Latest

As one of many personnel conundrums, in 2007 the Bard faced a crisis shortage of principals, due in part to retirement of baby boomers and imminent end to a retirement sweetener.

2005- a year of unusual change?
First, many local schools changed principals (including into 2006) - Dyett, Harte, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Murray, Reavis, Shoesmith.
Five Renaissance 2010 schools opened in Bronzeville; U of C opened its 2nd charter and planned for more. But some Catholic schools were closed.
Price and Robinson split the student constituency, one taking below 4th, the other 4th and up. Robinson made considerable strides.
Transfer students created considerable strains.
The great east-west divide in Hyde Park over test scores in different Hyde Park schools grew, but Kozminski continued moving up and out of the declining group. Harte moved closer to elite Ray and Murray.
A new focus is being planning on math in local schools. Teacher development moved ahead smartly while local school councils tackled parent involvement with notable successes. AVID program to challenge middle achievers was sweeping the area, along with other approaches to students. Area schools are deeply committed to improving prospects for all their students. Top

2006 started with a huge 300 million plus deficit. Arne Duncan has ideas to close the gap to about 77 million, which he is campaigning to have the state close by waiving CPS pension contribution. The cuts will especially hit special, gifted and remedial education programs and result in 1000-2000 teacher cuts.

State Budget. Illinois made modest increases in school funding and introduced preschool funding for as young as 3, priority need-based. But a new initiative covers salaries in all districts so class size can be lowered. There is also a $41 m program to boost learning programs and that help struggling families pay college costs.

LSC elections for the most part went smoothly, with some change made. See LSC page. Also, Kenwood is now a transformation school with substantial funds from the Gates Foundation for curriculum revision.

Top News Index

Legislators', aldermanic education goals for 2006

Reps. Currie and Jones and Sen. Raoul will continue to push for Bill 750 changing school funding in Illinois. Rep. Currie will continue to advocated reform in the juvenile justice system (as a separate department) while Jones will work for help to grandparents raising kids. Ald. Hairston will push for public school reforms and youth activities--in both schools and parks. She wants to add a third Triathlon team to Jackson Park. News Index. Top

The spillover effects continue to be highly unfortunate from closings, especially for Hyde Park High, according to Ald. Hairston. The numbers ballooned to 330 in 2005-6, enough to cause serious incidents. (Boundaries were changed so technically the numbers were claimed to be not disproportionate. Why do so many go to just a few schools? Why are the failing schools not fixed?) The principal and many of the teachers in HP High left--after there had been a lot of progress. There are supposed to be no more coming this year...

Educators and parents decried a lack of South Side multi-sensory learning centers past the 6th grade (such as at Ray School) for students who cannot be successfully mainstreamed. Meanwhile, CPS cut $25 million form special education--what are parents to do?

Mayor Daley announced a program to build and rebuild many schools. You can tell that a billion is not much, since in the 5th Ward only Bouchet is mentioned. South Shore High in another ward will be rebuilt. Civic organizations complained about the funding, the Mayor said "How long must the children wait?" Top News Index

The feds in early December said CPS has not achieved integration. After decades of U.S. silence on CPS desegregation, The U.S. Justice Dept. has filed opposition to releasing CPS from the latest of its 24 yo. desegregation plans. "CPS cannot meet its burden" and prove it is in compliance by the end of 2005. Why? 1) CPS offered no African-American or Latino children transfer right into largely all-white schools--but when ordered to do so by courts, found some seats, 2) CPS has lacked efforts to integrate faculty and principal rosters, 3) insufficient spending for extra academic help for children in racially isolated schools, 4) weak access to special education, gifted and magnet programs for students learning English. CPS of course disagrees, asserting that consequences of segregation in CPS are gone, integration is fostered by the magnet and gifted programs and some voluntary transfers, and that any non compliance is due to the fiscal crisis and not intentional discrimination. Hearings began in May, 2006 before Judge Charles Kocoras. This will be over the 2004 CPS-US Consent Decree to the 1980 settlement, approved by Judge Kocoras, who questioned whether integration in a school district 10% white, 38% Latino and about 50% African-American. Courts, starting explicitly with the 1991 Oklahoma City decision, began releasing districts from court-ordered desegregation plans if "all practicable steps" had been taken, and held that districts do not have a responsibility to reverse segregation caused by housing patterns. Soon after the 2004 consent, the Justice Dept. started taking Chicago to court over alleged violations. News Index. Top

Chicago students said by Tribune to trail on reading and math among big cities. John Easton, a member of the National Assessment board and director of the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research said, "The good news is there is progress, but it's sobering how low some of these scores are." In results released Dec. 1, the most disappointing results are reported to be among African-American students, versus in other urban districts led by New York and contrary to what some interpretations of other tests have said. Some other cities have their own jaw-droppers, such as Atlanta's gap for low-income students generally and Washington DC's for minority students.
This test is the National Report Card, a sample of 680,00 pupils nationwide, 8,000 in Chicago. It tests in key subjects, and is highly regarded. Note that the measures below are of a high bar--"proficient." What state tests measure is closer to the percentage at the lower "basic" standard.

  • 11% of 8th graders are proficient in math (29 nationally, 20 other big cities)
  • 12% of 4th graders are proficient in reading (30 nationally, 19 other big cities)

Chicago students did show slight progress from the last national comparison in 2003 and Latino reading is up sharply--in fact, Latino 8th graders exceeded both national and other big city performance. News Index. Top

A 1-page report card of each pupil's high school is being sent this month to parents, is on CPS website and available in the school. The card measures student outcomes, academic progress, participation in school activities and more. These include 5-year graduation rates, graduates who advance to college or employment, students in advanced placement classes, absenteeism, teacher qualifications, and school cleanliness--17 categories in all, selected by focus groups. Excluded is police enforcement activity instead having a student survey on how safe the school is. This is part of the high school revitalization initiative. The state's report card is different, stressing academic progress, demographics, teacher characteristics.

Chicago ranked 10th of 11 big cities in 4th grade math, 7th in 8th grade math, 8th in 4th grade reading and 6th (the middle) in 8th grade math.

Supt. Duncan said he is very concerned about the lag of African-American students and the flat scores of 4th graders across the board. "It dramatically demonstrates the need for more preschool and full-day kindergarten. Teachers' Union president Marilyn Stewart pointed to instability in the African-Americans' schools and homes. According to the Tribune, she especially cites African American schools having been hit hard by recent school closings, with pupils being shuffled from building to building, and so many of the homes are single-parent. News Index. Top

 

Katherine Volk named replacement for retiring Area 14 Instructional Officer Virginia Vaske. Volk was Pershing Magnet Principal. Pershing is part of Area 15, and retiring Virginia Vaske recommended Volk. The instructional officer offers support and training opportunities to the staff of the schools, but Vaske has made the position in Area 15 unique. The area focuses on professional development and Balanced Literacy- using the whole array of language arts to build skill in writing, reading and speaking. Character building, cultural and historical context, and enjoyment matter as well as societal and career readiness.Volk lives in the South Loop.

What neighbors said about schools at a HPKCC forum on Hyde Park, October 2005

Changes wanted
· Table 1 (Need) Police courts and (?) in schools and community
· Table 2. More local kids at Kenwood High School
· Table 4. Youth involvement

Comments
SCHOOLS AND TEENAGERS (7)
· …I really believe that Kenwood Academy High School should be a “magnet” school. A high school that sits in the Hyde Park Kenwood community should be the best in the city of Chicago.
· Lack of youth involvement/embracement
· Control of the high school students who are “acting out”
· How to engage Kenwood Academy
· Noisy, foul-mouthed teenagers who have no sense of shame
· HP/Kenwood children who are arrested have to participate in major community service activities.
· Reorganize (?) school boundary.

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT (1 of 7)
· ….the sad state of Blackstone Library…didn’t make it to the list on the wall.

On February 23, HPKCC Schools Committee held a gala honoring LSCs. Certificates were given to all current members in the Hyde Park area, Arne Duncan and others spoke, people were urged to run, and we heard the Kenwood Academy Jazz Band and Tenors of Distinction. The committee next held a learning dinner with principals and LSC chairs. Next is a forum and fair March 28, 2007, "After School Matter to Hydepark-Kenwood." Neighborhood Club, 7 pm. We're busy contacting providers and schools, if you are a provider of after school (or other hours) programs for kids and youth, contact Nancy Baum at 773 288-5464 or nbbaum@sbcglobal.net.

News Index. Top.

CPS in March 2006 announced a $24.5 million federal Striving Readers grant for reading programs in middle schools at 32 schools. Funds will be used for intervention teachers, after-school tutoring, special teacher training, tech support and instructional materials. The program ratchets up a 13-school pilot in which 12 schools outpaced all other middle schools--and impressive enough to garner Chicago the largest grant. One focus is to integrate reading and teachers teaching reading techniques across the curriculum. 2006 will see 16 schools, 2007 32 schools serving 3,500 pupils. Similar programs are already in place system wide for lower and upper grades. News Index. Top

CPS in March 2006 gave final approval to the University of Chicago-sponsored Woodlawn High charter School. It will be located in Wadsworth School, 6420 S. University. Set for 160 seats in its first year (50 in 6th and 100 in 9th), it already has over 500 applications. News Index. Top

March 22 Bret Harte LSC launched its principal selection process. More about in LSC page.
News Index, Top.

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless faults CPS Ren. 2010 closures for effects on homeless kids, sues.

Hyde Park Herald, January 18, 2006. By Erin Meyer

Too many homeless children are being forced to change schools too often, according to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH). With Chicago Public Schools poised to announce the next set of schools slated for closure under Renaissance 2010, CCH appeared in court Jan. 10 vis-a-vis the Chicago Board of Education charging that the school closing policy violates the rights of homeless children. "As Ren 2010 moves forward, this policy could cause damages to potentially thousands of homeless children," said Rene Heybach of the CCH Law Project. "We want this case to go to trial."

The Board of Education filed a motion to dismiss the case. Defense lawyer Deborah Harvey argued that the federal No Child Left Behind Act gives the board full authority to close under-performing and under-utilized schools without any parental support.

But the case is not about the board's authority to close schools, according to Heybach. It is about opening the school closing policy up to public scrutiny and minimizing negative impacts to children. "It is one thing to have authority to close schools. It is another thing to close a school no matter what," she said.

Circuit Court Judge Julia M. Nowicki supported Heybach's argument. "I see the issue as planning before you close a school," said the judge as she flipped through pages of litigation against the board. Nowicki will decide whether or not CCH has a case by Jan. 27.

If the case goes to trial, the negative impact of school closings on all Chicago Public School students, both homeless and non-homeless, may be re-examined.

Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization board president Jim Brown has been calling on CPS to include parents and the community in the school closing policy for m ore than a year. He said the coalition's lawsuit is critical because most school closures occur in low-income communities. ...

Heybach said the existing policy is especially disruptive to homeless children moved again and again in conjunction with the demolition of public housing. ...In 2000, the board settled the first homeless children case by agreeing to allow the children to remain in their schools of origin and include parents in the planning process. ..."CPS did no planning and never involved parents in the planning process," Heybach said [so] the Law Project went to court again in the case of Salaverez v. Edwards on behalf of about 230 homeless children. ...CPS spokesperson Peter Cunningham says "Whether a child is homeless or not is irrelevant (to creating new schools under 2010.) CPS served 9,000 homeless students last year. News Index. Top

Hmmm dept. Teacher length of service in Illinois to today is just half what it was 10 years ago (was 15).

Some think CPS goofed in its holiday schedule, making parents scramble for childcare in a week everyone else was expected to be at work.

Ballroom dancing is a new addition to public schools, thanks to Board President Michael Scott.

Virginia Vaske, Area 15 Instructional Officer and former Murray Principal, will retire at the end of the 2005-06 school year. She reports that several schools in her area have a chance to get off the state academic probation list--especially Kozminski and Canter, and maybe Reavis, which faces sanctions.

Kozminski, Canter on probation, Reavis faces sanctions based on failure to attain adequate yearly progress ISAT tests for two years. Area 15 Officer Virginia Vaske says it will be several years before Reavis can make enough yearly progress to get off probation. Kozminski has been making about 6 percent gains over the past 3 years and appears poised to make the grade in 2006. Its programs have been revamped with comprehensive literacy, Everyday Math an vocabulary study.

CPS will again seek the maximum property tax increase.

HPKCC Schools Committee meets November 16 7 pm, Hyde Park Union Church, 1448 E. 53rd. To the focus of the Schools Committee.

The November 2, 2005 Herald carried an appeal by Schools Committee member and Canter LSC member Zoe Mikva read at the BOE meeting appealing to the Board of Education to fulfil its promise to finish the gym so kids can stop having meals at their desks. She cited lax construction oversight and failure of anyone in the chain of command to listen.

U of C Center for Urban School Improvement in summer 2005 received $5 M from the MacArthur Foundation for its UC and CPS teacher training and the rev-up of its charter school and 20-school network. See in UC and the Schools.

No new Renaissance 2010 sites were offered on the South Side this year and groups interested were unable to find non-CPS property in time, so none will open (i.e. by De LaSalle, IIT...) CPS has concentrated on the overcrowded West Side this year but will assist for the South Side as population goes up. Previously five groups submitted Renaissance or charter proposals for mid-South CPS locations and are to open: DuSable (including 3 small schools) , Donoghue, Raymond, Douglas, and Hartigan.The U of C, which is opening Donoghue Charter this fall and plans more, may open its future 6-12 "near" the University as a Renaissance School.

First results from the 2005 Iowa tests of elementary students appear to show strong gains for kids and schools at the bottom of performance--in fact, steady drop of students in the lowest quartile of meeting national performance standards. Math, however, continues to slip slightly. The problem is that CPS is not, says it lacks the resources to, apply the best of what has proven out to all schools--in fact, some schools are going back to larger class size due to staff and other budget cuts. The Iowa test may be dropped, esp. if the Illinois test results can be returned to schools soon enough to be used in school and summer school assignment. The gains for poorest performing do not seem to have come to schools in HPK deemed not bad enough for probation. Other scores see-sawed. See Test Scores and Rankings page for specifics.

Early ISAT reports are good in reading and composite city wide and for the neighborhood Area 15 schools. ISAT scores determine "Adequate Yearly Progress." The local exceptions are Reavis and Shoesmith. The former went down to a composite of 27 on a sharp drop in math scores (3rd gr. from 38 to 28.5, 5th from 22.4 to 12.1.). Shoesmith composite dropped 5 percent to 47.7, just above the 47.5 percent marker for probation. Canter shot up over 10 to a composite of 76.6, Ray went up slightly to 73.3, Bret Harte also shot up 10 points to 72.3 pushed by reading improvements of 20 percent to 72.0. Kozminski improved by 6.6 points from 38 to 45, closing in on getting off probation (it has a new approach to reading and will implement one for math this year.)

Starting in 2006 all students 3rd through 8th grade will take ISAT and Illinois has dropped the IOWA skills test.

Studies continue to confirm that the best predictor (determinant?) of test scores is family income.

Multi billionaire Bill Gates and his wife Melinda announced major schools grants May 19. $11.2 million will improve the 90 CPS high schools and build new ones. Only $2.3 will go directly to CPS while the remaining c$8 million will be disbursed to 5 organizations including locally PURE (Parents United for Responsible Education) and the U of C Center for Urban School Improvement. The Gates have given schools in Chicago over 42 million since 2001. Boosting graduation rates via school transformation is the key goal of the planning and programs. CPS says the funds will be spread across the whole set of schools and not focus just on the "low performing" as much of Renaissance 2010 does. The $2.3 CPS component, to be used this summer, is for planning the changes. The U of C will use its $6 million to open 2 new charter schools fall of 2006, bringing to 4 the number of its projected 5 or 6. In addition, it will be aiding 7 high schools and up to 12 elementary South Side Schools. PURE's $200,000 component will gauge status of parent participation via 45,000 surveys to 92 schools city wide according to the Chicago Tribune. Other recipients are the Nobel Network of Charter Schools on the near northwest side , Perspectives Charter School on the Near South side and New Leaders for New Schools (a principal incubator). The Gates Foundation took into account a citywide CPS survey of students, teachers and principals on what it would take to turn around middle and high schools. News

Knowles of Center for Urban School Improvement hopes to identify a site for the first high school in summer 2005--one close enough for students to take advantage of University of Chicago resources. He also said he has no interest in taking over an existing high school such as probationed Dyett Academic Center on 51st.

May 28 the House and the Senate passed the plan described below. The governor will sign.

The deal announced May 26 had the state giving a $315 (200 for general assistance) million increase (the largest in over a decade) to schools statewide. This is between talked-of $134 m and a casino-financed $440 earlier proposed by the Governor. What the increase is for Chicago is unknown, CPS saying it needs up to $175 M more and laying off 156 administrators and reducing principals' raises from 4% to 2%. Chicago's per-student (a gross measure at best) would be up only $200 from $4,964 to $5,164. The state increase is financed by another deferral of funding of state pension plans (which includes for teachers outside Chicago), which funds are among the most underfunded among the states. No reports or statements so far on effects on CPS budget or cuts.

CPS chief Arne Duncan blitzkrieged the state and legislature for 3 days in May 2005, presenting the case of districts statewide for funding relief and reform. Following the big rally at the Thompson Bldg. May 16, busloads went to Springfield for the May 18 focus day rally and visitation to legislators and the governor, preceded by a zoom around the state by Duncan. Duncan and Board President Michael W. Scott held little hope that a tax transformation bill (SB750) will be passed, according to the Tribune, because not only is this difficult but the governor [although weakened] says he will veto any income tax increase. News

State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-13, this area) pushed Senate Bill 750 in 2006, which failed. This bill would have increased funding statewide through a state income tax increase from 5 to 8 percent and taxing untaxed services. Per pupil funding could be increased from $4,964 to $6,092 while providing a major cut in property taxes. Illinois is currently 49th in the nation in funding education. The national average proportion sponsored by state government is close to what the Illinois Constitution mandates, 51%, vs. current 31%. (Center for Tax and Budget Responsibility) Illinois also has the greatest disparity between per pupil between counties. Odds for a change became poorer as it was found difficult to not have total tax increases for citizens both in some districts and for classes of citizens. A consensus has not yet been built for such a remedy. Several A mass rally-statewide lobbying days were held in Springfield.

On another front, Raoul and others pushed the mandatory school age from 7 and do other things for early childhood learning. News

A financial crisis is looming, CPS told Chicagoans. CPS says it needs $175 m from the state for 05-06; state leaders talked about $134 m for the whole state, with $16 for Chicago, Gov. Blageovich's plan would have provided $440 m statewide through gambling expansion. In the end the state dealt a $300 m increase statewide- breakdown for Chicago was not published as of May 27. At the March Bd of Ed meeting, Budget Director Pedro Martinez said, "We feel we are in a budget crisis right now... if you look a the entire state, CPS is not alone. We see other school districts that are struggling right now. As just one instance, social services, not just arts, have been gutted in public schools.

In Feb. 2006, CPS sought from the state $100 m new money unencumbered and $77 m pass on this year's pension fund contribution. Several point out that the latter would result in higher costs later. Supt. Duncan continues to point to the state's failure to meet the average state funding of schools - 49%-(about what the Illinois Constitution calls for) and the consequence of huge discrepancies in what is spent per pupil in different-even nearby-parts of the state and metropolitan area. Illinois now averages $5,164 vs. Advisory Board recommendation of $6,405. Duncan says it's the poor kids who get left out, systematically. Real district spending per pupil varies from $24,000 in Roundout to $4,438 in Tazewell Co. In Chicago, LSCs systematically have to pay for basics from their discretionary funds due to CPS shortfalls.

Superintendent Duncan wrote in the May 11 Herald asking for support at the May 2005 action days in Springfield, but little was gained for the schools. He wrote:

...Illinois schools need at least $600 million more...but current proposals fall far short of that amount. Moreover, Illinois schools received no money from the state this year for new schools and repairs [prev. levels were $500m.]

Ultimately, Illinois also needs statewide education funding reform to fix a broken school funding system that leaves some school districts with up to $18,00 per child each year while others spend less that $5,000 per child.... Illinois ranks 49th in the nation in the amount of school funding provided by the state. Illinois schools get just 36 percent of their funds from Springfield, well below the national average of 50 percent.

Others point out problems with just giving more money. Legislators say there needs to be a solution every part of the state can sign on to.

Bret Harte, Canter, Reavis join bus-sharing, joining Kozminski and 120 schools already in it. These schools will be in the program in which buses first take students to early-starting schools, then another set to later-starting. Thus, starting times are driven by money-saving bus scheduling rather than needs and preferences of the school, community, or child-development. Meanwhile, nearly every school is being told to cut staff and that basic services such as internet linkage (e.g. at Ray) will have to be paid for by the school from now on. CPS is talking of going to per-pupil lump sum instead of staff-based funding- see below.

Ariel, Harte, Murray, and Ray join 81 other citywide schools in being recognized for success with more autonomy. Some principals citywide are ecstatic at being able to shed some of the bureaucratic burdens, others including Bret Harte's Michael Keno and Murray's Catherine Konopasek say there will be little difference and they like the support the school receives from downtown. Changes available are setting their own calendar and even withdrawing from area instructional office oversight (unlikely to be opted by any of the schools- and what would replace it?) and from CPS curriculum initiatives, central professional staff development.
The move is another swing of the pendulum toward some decentralization after a strong reaction to the last decentralization in the early lsc days. Worries will be expressed over whether this increases, at least conceptually, the gap between the succeeding schools and those struggling, both in HPK and in the city.

The Kenwood LSC in June, 2005 picked then-Assistant Principal Elizabeth Kirby as principal to replace Arthur Slater, who is now High School Instructional Officer for Area 23, which will now include Kenwood. Kirby has served at the school for 6 years. The vote was swift and unanimous and followed an open interview forum. Kirby intends to build on her selection by Kenwood students as Motivator of the Year (of which she is very proud), telling the Herald that the students need to take more rigorous courses and do much better.

Katherine Konosapek resigned as Murray Principal over the summer. Michael Keno, then principal at Bret Harte and former assistant principal at Murray, was selected as replacement. Read about this, and a look at Keno's successes and style, in News of Schools.

Meanwhile, 150+ have signed a petition to have Reavis principal Michael Johnson replaced. Reports show there have been some kind of personality conflicts and Reavis scores have certainly nose dived over the first year of Johnson's tenure and the last year of his predecessor. CPS spokespersons including Area 15 instructional officer Virginia Vaske say Johnson has done nothing wrong, but communication has to be improved and so does the school. One would think there is something seriously the matter when teachers go into public dispute with their principal. Note, there has been substantial improvement since.

Hyde Park Herald, August 24, 2005. By Kiratiana E. Freelon

A petition submitted to the Herald of more than 150 Reavis parents and teachers recently demanded the removal of Principal Michael Johnson --one year into his four-year contract. At an Aug. 15 meeting organized by Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, parents, students and teachers blamed Johnson for the school's low morale and hostile educational and working environment, said Reavis teacher Suzanne Armstrong. PUSH spokesman Tannis Williamson said the meeting was held to assist Reavis with its issues that may interfere with its quality of education...

[While Armstrong says] "Johnson has been incapable and or unwilling to fulfill his duties as principal in an adequate manner," [but Virginia Vaske says Johnson has done nothing wrong and will complete his contract but expects communication to improve and the council has not yet completed its evaluation. When adults bicker, the students lose.] Johnson said "Everything that I am working to do has been under the auspices of the Chicago Public Schools policy. Nothing has been done that has been illegal, immoral or harmful to children."

[Two other Reavis teachers have met twice with Vaske and continue to insist on removal: "There is mismanagement, disrespect, chaos and cruelty going on," [says Joyce Cheatem, a 16-year teacher at Reavis. Specifics include repeatedly calling police on teachers and parents, and not meeting with the teachers together. Parents cited various snubs and felt they were treated like criminals rather than welcomed.]

At the recent HPKCC Schools Forum, Arne Duncan said no HP or K school will close--they aren't lagging enough. But many believe there will be effects as resources are used also by new schools. See complete reports in Schools Committee page and 2010 page.

Top

Hyde Park and surrounding areas will suffer teacher and other cuts. Local schools were impacted by the $175 million CPS shortfall when it came to making their 2005-06 budgets, due April 1. The budgets must conform to CPS's projected enrollment for the school, with allotted number of teachers prescribed by that projection. Kozminski Principal Lionel Bordelon told the Herald he thought enrollments are projected low in general, a practice justified by CPS spokesperson Mike Vaughan in light of the deficit. In fact, CPS budget office said area schools are over entitled and their enrollments will decline. Virginia Vaske, Area 15 Instructional Officer, confirmed her estimate at the time of the HPKCC March 14 Schools Forum that all by 1 of 22 elementary schools in her area (HP, Bronzeville, Woodlawn--only Murray in HP was not then in Area 15) lose teaching positions. Bordelon said Kozminski will lose 4. Bret Harte and Ray will lose a Spanish teacher each; Harte will only have a part-time gym teacher. Even if enrollments in the fall are higher than expected, Bordelon said, the teachers and good replacements will be elsewhere. An added kicker is that schools discretionary funds are also cut plus schools must now may for more out those funds, including $10 per computer to get tech support and $2 for Internet hookup. This means thousands for cash-strapped poorer schools. Murray will lose no staff because it will add 30 students.

Ray School parent Norberto Zas wrote a letter to the Herald April 6 explaining how this would hurt his family and the school, noting the irony of CEO Arne Duncan saying schools must improve so people will have a reason to want to support them, and then making these narrowing cuts. [Ray kept its Spanish teacher for now.]

Meanwhile, a combination of budget related staff cuts for next fall and over a thousand teachers cut (and conceivably blackballed) by principals under new powers has led to turmoil in some schools.

Hyde Park Herald, April 27, 2005. By Kiratiana E. Freelon

Ray School parents recently initiated a school-wide effort to lobby the state for better school funding through Senate Bill 750. If passed, SB 750 would boost money for education in Illinois through increased income taxes and an expansion of the sales taxes for services. Illinois now ranks 49th among states in its contribution to education.

"[Ray School is] under some serious financial constraints," said Ray School Parents and Teachers Association Vice-President Deb Smith. "The PTA realizes that more needs to be done." Ray parents recently sent e-mails and letters to parents asking them to support Senate Bill 750 by writing the governor and their state legislators. The Ray PTA will also sponsor house parries where parents will come together to write letters.

...state Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-13) has already vowed to support SB 750, Smith said. But the Ray PTA has yet to decide if they will attend the May 18 Springfield rally, "Day for Illinois Children," where thousands of parents, community members and education advocates will demand that legislators support SB 750. The rally, sponsored by Better Funding or Better Schools coalition, will culminate CPS's efforts to convince the state government to provide an extra $600 million for Illinois schools this year.

Although CPS has yet to openly support SB 750, it recently initiated a school funding campaign that includes a website fundourschoolsil.com, a rally May 16 at 12 p.m. at the State of Illinois building, a letter writing campaign, and a thee-day bus tour of Illinois' largest school districts by Schools Chief Arne Duncan. CPS will also send at least 15 busses to the May 18 rally, one with Duncan aboard. At last week's report card pickup, CPS parents were asked to sign a letter asking the governor to provide Illinois schools with the extra funding.

If the state doesn't come through with more money, Ray might have to cut teachers and programs for next year, according t CPW spokesperson Mike Vaughn. "If you have to cut millions of dollars and 90 percent of expenses are at schools there is no way to spare them," Vaughn said.

Several Hyde Park schools recently cut teachers for next year's budget last month due to CPS' stricter staff allocations amid its $175 million budget deficit. Although Ray was spared its Spanish teacher, CPS still saddled the school with more expenses, like a controversial technology fee.

News

(See more in Gates grant above) The University of Chicago is planning a charter school in the former Donoghue school (or at least its attendance area if the building doesn't work out). The public was invited to a planning session December 11 at Abraham Lincoln Center, 3858 S. Cottage Grove. Grace Dawson, Hyde Parker and former principal and principal-teaching professor at NIU/Inner Cities urged attendance: "this community has the opportunity to be involved in the planning of this new charter school. We can plan programs for special needs students as well as exemplary programs for regular education students and for the gifted students. We can also discuss how this charter school can become the "hub" of the community. The University of Chicago will have the opportunity to prove it can meet the educational needs of a wide range of children living in Bronzeville." News

Alderman Preckwinkle was to have addressed the November 8 TIF Advisory Council about allocating available tax increment to planning an addition for Canter Middle School. However, the TIF meeting was cancelled. At Murray's October LSC meeting, Preckwinkle opposed restoration of grades 7 and 8 at Murray. Murray issues continue to simmer, especially restoration of 7th and 8th grades. News

Preckwinkle blames city for 53rd Street TIF delays including Canter addition

Hyde Park Herald, January 19, 2005. By Kiratiana E. Freelon

Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) announced at the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) advisory council meeting last week that plans to bundle the funding of a Hyde Park parking lot and Canter Middle School addition might have to be nixed due to the reluctance of the city's Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Denise Casalino to greenlight the parking lot project.

According to Preckwinkle, Alicia Berg, the former commissioner of the planning department, promised that the city would own and operate t