Vote for your Local School Councils TODAY!

Today, the residents of Chicago can vote for their Local School Council (LSC).

Did you know that?  While we know parents at a particular school would be voting, the residents who live IN a neighborhood school's neighborhood boundaries can ALSO vote, even if you don't have a student there.

The voting is a bit confusing... most schools have 6 parents offices and 2 community offices to fill. But voters can only vote for 5 candidates. Now, they can be any combination of parents and communitiy.

For more information (such as which school you are eligible to vote in), see the Chicago Public Schools website. (Note: due to high interest, the CPS website might be down or nonresponsive. Please check again) The LSC elections map will let you know where you should vote.

TONIGHT: Elected school board taskforce hearing

Sorry about the last minute notice on this blog regarding this hearing. I did however post this on IG at least 4 days ago. Rep. Sims' hearing will take place tonight from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Chatham-Avalon Church of Christ at 8691 S. State Street regarding an elected CPS Board. I'm sure many of us are passionate about this.

LSC Elections extended

We just want to remind everyone that the deadline for Local School Council candidate applications has been extended until March 14.

Many of our schools need members. Please consider being a part of it. If you're a CPS parent, you can still join your local school's council as a community representative.

CHICAGO – Chicago – Chicago Public Schools (CPS) today announced that it has extended its Local School Council (LSC) election candidate filing deadline from February 26 to March 14, giving parents and community members an extra two weeks to submit their nominating forms. Elections will take place on April 7 for elementary schools and April 8 for high schools during report card pick-up from 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

"I strongly encourage any parent or community member who is passionate about education and helping our students reach their fullest potential to run for their Local School Council," said CPS CEO Byrd-Bennett. "Getting involved at the school level is great way to have a positive impact on your community and helps the District achieve its overall goal of ensuring 100 percent of our students are college-ready and 100 percent are college-bound."

LSC representatives serve as an important link between a school's administration, the community, CPS and students, and play a significant role in decision-making to boost student academic achievement. Elected LSC representatives will serve a two-year term, beginning at the start of School Year 2014-2015 (SY14-15). Each LSC is made up of six parents, two community members, two teachers, one non-teacher staff member and the school's principal. High School LSCs also have a student representative.

Parents and community members who are interested in running for their LSC must submit nominating forms at their respective school by March 14, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. Those eligible to run for their LSC include parents whose children attend the school, community members, and the teachers and non-teaching staff from the school.

The forms, along with additional information, can be found at www.cps.edu/lsc, in the main office of any CPS school, CPS Network Offices, and the Office of LSC Relations located at CPS' downtown headquarter. For more information, please call the Office of LSC Relations at (773) 553-1400.

The Chicago Public Schools serves approximately 400,000 students. It is the nation's third-largest school system

The original press release is here:
http://www.cps.edu/News/Press_releases/Pages/PR1_02_24_2014.aspx

Ruggles playground slide -- still NOT fixed!

On May 28, I reported how Ruggles playground has had a slide that has been broken for several months (possibly as early as last summer),

That 311 case number was 13-00586860, and it was left on May 15.

I called on Wednesday, July 24 (2 months later). No action has been done, but I have a new case number  = 13-01016700.

I won't go over the whole post (we have more photos there as well), but hundreds of SMALL CHILDREN use that park every day over the course of this summer, and especially during the school year.  How long will this problem stay a problem?

Please call 311 to get updates, as well as Alderman Rod Sawyer's office.

CPS Strike update -- good news?

I was briefly at Burnside Scholastic Academy today. There are no photos, because there was really nothing to see.

From what I could see, there were only a handful of children at the school, and seemingly an equal number of CPS staff there (approximately 20).

One of the non-Burnside staff gathered the staff members who walked the children out, and saying they were to gather in a few minutes with some potential good news. He didn't share the details, so we shall see what the news brings.


The police officer on duty said there were approximately 50 teachers gathered outside Burnside from about 6:30am to 10:30am.  They protesters were loud (as most protetsing usually is), but peaceful.  From what he observed the teachers' plan was to picket during that time period every day.


As of 1:15 pm, there was no deal announced yet.


What were your experiences with the school strike today?

CPS alternatives during the Strike

Here are the schools, and then non-profits in 60619, 60620 and 60636. Click here for locations in other zip codes, and general information from  CPS


We apologize for the poor formatting, but we want to get this info to you ASAP

School Children First Sites By Zip Code

SchoolName Network SPED Cluster? School Type Address Zip Code

GILLESPIE Rock Island No Elementary 9301 S State St 60619

BURNSIDE Skyway No Elementary 650 E 91st Pl 60619

NEIL Skyway Yes Elementary 8555 S Michigan Ave 60619

RUGGLES Skyway No Elementary 7831 S Prairie Ave 60619

CUFFE Englewood-Gresham No Elementary 8324 S Racine Ave 60620

JOPLIN Englewood-Gresham No Elementary 7931 S Honore St 60620

FORT DEARBORN Rock Island No Elementary 9025 S Throop St 60620

ALTGELD Englewood-Gresham No Elementary 1340 W 71st St 60636

SIMEON South Side No High School 8147 S Vincennes Ave 60620

SOUTHSIDE OCC HS Southwest Side Yes High School 7342 S Hoyne Ave 60636

Non-CPS Children First Locations by Zip Code: Chicago Public Library, Chicago Park District, Safe Haven and Community Based Organizations

Type Name Address Zip Phone Mon Hours Tue Hours Wed Hours Thur Hours Fri Hours



Library Greater Grand Crossing 1000 E. 73rd Street 60619 (312) 745-1608 12-8 10-6 12-8 10-6 9-5

Library Whitney M. Young, Jr. 7901 S. King Drive 60619 (312) 747-0039 10-6 12-8 10-6 12-8 9-5

Park Avalon 1215 E. 83rd St 60619 60619 773.646.3180 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30

Park Tuley 501 E. 90th PL 60619 60619 312-747-6763 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30

Church Assembly Of Faith 1222 W. 108th St. 60619 (773)-407-1736 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00

Church Bethlehem Star M.B. Church 9231 S. Cottage Grove 60619 (773) 487-8441 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00

Church True Light Baptist Church 7302 S. Maryland 60619 (773) 789-7237 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00

CBO True Star Foundation 1130 S. Wabash 60619 312 588 0100 11am-2pm 11am-2pm 11am-2pm 11am-2pm 11am-2pm

Library Brainerd 1350 W. 89th Street 60620 (312) 747-6291 10-6 12-8 10-6 12-8 9-5

Library Thurgood Marshall 7506 S. Racine Avenue 60620 (312) 747-5927 12-8 10-6 12-8 10-6 9-5

Park Brainerd 1246 W. 92nd St. 60620 60620 312-747-6576 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30

Park Foster 1440 W. 84th St. 60620 60620 312-747-6135 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30

CBO Catholic Bishop-St. Sabina 7800 S. Racine 60620 773-351-5573 3-6:30pm 3-6:30pm 3-6:30pm 3-6:30pm 3-6:30pm

CBO KLEO 119 E. 55th St. 60620 773-527-9960 3-6:30pm 3-6:30pm 3-6:30pm 3-6:30pm 3-6:30pm

Library West Englewood 1745 W. 63rd Street 60636 (312) 747-3481 12-8 10-6 12-8 10-6 9-5

Park Ogden 6500 S. Racine 60636 60636 312-747-6572 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30

Church Faith Temple 6201 S. Wolcott 60636 (773) 776-2984 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00

Church Hope Presbyterian 1354 W. 61st Street 60636 (773) 737-8394 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00

Church Liberations Christian Center 6801 S. Ashland 60636 773 436-7940 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00 8:30-2:00

CBO Family Focus: Englewood 6727 S Western Ave 60636 773-962-0366




In addition to all of the CPS sponsored alternatives, other organizations have alternatives as well.

For example  Greater Institutional AME Church's daycare is offering daycare for just $25 a day, with no long term commitment or application fee. Greater Institutional AME Church is at 7800 S. Indiana Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60617  phone - 773-873-0880  Disclaimer: JP's daughter Mia, is at Greater Institutional.


Please add your alternatives in the comments section (as well as general thoughts)

This is What Wrong With LSC's- Everybody's Out of Control at Arthur Ashe Elementary

This past weekend I received an invitation to join a Facebook group "Chatham Connection". I accepted the invitation and immediately got involved in the discussion. I received a message from a gentleman named Joe Lake who considers himself a community activist. He doesn't live in Chatham so I questioned his motives and the fact that he submitted an article about the situation at Arthur Ashe Elementary to a nothside newspaper only with having a conversation with one side of the situation. Secondly, he wants to convince me that 85th Ingleside is in Chatham. I, as well as, most Chatham residents consider that Avalon Park which is a part of the 8th ward. We split hairs about this but the major issue is the situation going on at Arthur Ashe Elementary School.

THE FOLLOWING VIDEOS ARE GRAPHIC AND MAY BE UNSUITABLE FOR YOUNGER VIEWERS

The content of the videos is disgusting and vulgar on all levels. The fighting by the kids, the parents and adults watching, idiots videotaping and the administration's lack of response. The videos' were uploaded by the school's former LSC president Ron Mitchell. I questioned his motive because he constantly speaks about a dispute another former LSC member has with the principal. The dispute with the principal  has resulted in Mr Mitchell and a Mrs. Walker being barred from entering the building. I also questioned the motives when I asked the following questions:

1. Was CPS central office security personnel contacted?
2. Was CPD contacted?
3. Did anyone attend the local CAPS meeting?
4. Was the CPS district officer contacted?
5. Was Alderman Michelle Harris contacted?
6. Were any CPS board members contacted?
7. Did they go to the monthly CPS board meeting and make the problem known?
8. Was the Inspector General Office contacted ?

The answer to 1-8 was "Duh" and the answer to 9 was I'm going to do it. My take is this is what wrong with LSC's individuals get on the board and declare it their turf and let their ego's get away from them. When someone bruise their ego's they can't accept it. I feel if the "kids" were the primary concern here 1-9 would have been done before they would have placed them on YouTube and had this guy write the article

Children fighting at South Side elementary school; principal accused of child endangerment

What is your take on this?

Does Sen. Meeks have it right? Bill would strip local school councils of principal selection, budget powers

Grassroots education advocacy groups are reeling from the news that state Sen. James Meeks filed a bill Monday that would strip local school councils of their most important powers, including selecting principals and controlling their school’s discretionary funds.




The bill would make LSCs merely advisory boards and would transfer their authority to the Board of Education.



Meeks, a Democrat and the pastor of the House of Hope, a megachurch on the Far South Side, did not return calls on Wednesday.



Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman Monique Bond issued a statement that “Meeks has been a champion of school reform and education and his efforts to ensure that students are receiving the best educational opportunities is consistent with our mission, and we look forward to reviewing the legislation.”



But Bond did not respond to follow-up questions about whether CPS officials knew Meeks planned to submit the bill and whether the district supports it.




http://www.catalystchicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/545/Bill_would_strip_local_school_councils_of_principal_selection%2C_budget_powers