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Board of Education meeting features heightened security paranoia, vigorous opposition to CPS policies

Marybeth Foley - June 24, 2010

The June 23, 2010 Chicago Board of Education (BOE) meeting began with the usual June recognition of principals who are retiring. There were additional "good news" items as well. Damani Bolden, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Honorary Student Board member, was also thanked for his service and, at the end of the public participation portion of the meeting, presented his own Power Point presentation of his activities in the schools while he was the Student Honorary Board Member.

More than 120 people were confined by CPS security in the "holding room" on the 15th floor of CPS headquarters at the time the Board of Education began its meeting ten floors below. Increasing claims of "security" since the Board of Education president Mary Richardson Lowry, an attorney who was mentored by Mayor Richard M. Daley, became Board president have made it more and more difficult for the average person to participate in Board meeting. With each passing month, Lowry makes additional "security" rules, all of which restrict peoples' rights to participate in the Board's meetings. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt. Damani Bolden, graduate of Lindbloom High School and now heading for Champaign-Urbana this fall, was the top student of ten chosen for 2009-2010 as BOE student representatives. He sat on the Board each month and sometimes offered comments or was asked to comment. The other nine students then became student "shadow" Board members of the month each month.

Public participation began at approximately 11:00 A.M. with fifty-four speakers lined up to speak.

Once again, the claim that "security" required the abuse of members of the public resulted in hundreds of people line up down the corridor in the building waiting to go through the metal detectors and then being relegated to the 15th floor "holding room" while more than 60 seats in the Board Chambers were taken up by smiling CPS officials who are assigned to fill the "Reserved" seats in order to keep the public out. "Security considerations" were routinely invoked by Board President Mary Richardson Lowry, a protege of Mayor Richard M. Daley, as she tried to stifle as much of the public as possible.

Board President Mary Richardson-Lowry reviewed the rules for participation. One person, who was required to go to the overflow room instead of the Board chambers, asked if new rules were being instituted. Richardson Lowry said that only five people were allowed to go down to the Board chambers from the overflow room with any speaker. In addition, only fifteen people could go up in front with any speaker. When a security guard was questioned about this, she was told that this was a new rule that had been put in place a couple of months ago.

Less than ten minutes before the Board meeting was scheduled to begin, CPS security, on orders from CEO Ron Huberman, was still stalling more than 100 people in the downstairs hallway, outside the metal detectors. While the majority of the people being stalled were forced to go to the 15th floor "holding room," some were admitted into the 5th floor Board chambers, where the actual meeting was taking place. Since January 2010 the Chicago Board of Education, under Ron Huberman and Mary Richardson Lowry, the Daley protege (and lawyer) who is now Board President, CPS officials have added insult to injury against anyone from outside the mayor's narrow circle of cronies who tries to speak at the Board. In addition to having to spend a day downtown during "bankers' hours" for the Board meeting itself, the majority of the people who come to the Board meetings are forced to watch the public meeting on closed circuit TV, rather than in the Board chambers. CPS officials pack the 5th floor meeting room with "reserved" seating, then fill those seats with bureaucrats carefully placed so that their smiling faces are on the TV monitor for later cable TV viewing. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt. It immediately became clear that the rule was only being applied to critics of the Board. Virtually the first participant in public participation — the new "Air Force Academy High School" — was allowed to bring more than 20 people to the microphone when their speakers spoke.

Yashika Tippett-Eggleston, of Air Force Academy High School who had sought Board approval to move from Medill Elementary to the former Abbott, thanked the Board for establishing a permanent location for the school. The Air Force Academy is to move to the closed Abbott Elementary School building next school year. She cited a number of statistics to demonstrate improvements in achievement by students. She said the "Soaring Falcons Air Force Academy" is looking forward to the move.

Kalpana Plomin, of Galileo Elementary School, who mentioned that the principal of Galileo had passed away, asked the Board for assistance in selection of a new principal that the parents would like to have. The majority of parents and staff want to select an assistant principal who has been long at the school, but new Board rules hold that the parents' choice has not cleared the final hurdle in the latest principal certification process (a highly controversial oral examination and review). She mentioned the Dan Coyne situation as precedent for Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman taking control over a situation. (Dan Coyne, a CPS Social Worker, donated a kidney in a highly publicized act of heroism. He was given a warning letter regarding residency after he had originally received a residency waiver because he was a Social Worker. Subsequently, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ron Huberman said he would meet with Dan Coyne about this situation.) Ms. Plomin also mentioned a Local School Council (LSC) letter, parent signatures, and the support from teachers, President Richardson-Lowry expressed sympathy regarding the principal who passed away and said she was not familiar with the issues expressed her and said dialogue would continue with the CEO.

Matthew Johnson, who is on the Local School Council at Dewey Elementary School, also spoke in support of Galileo. He asked CEO Huberman for assistance in the selection of an interim principal at Galileo. The principal of Dewey had died during the LSC meeting, and a stalemate on principal selection had resulted subsequently. In a matter unrelated to Galileo, he mentioned a violation of the Open Meetings Act at another school. He was told by President Richardson-Lowry that Chief Counsel Patrick Rocks would follow up on the Open Meetings Act.

Maneer Damra, of Roosevelt High School, a mentor of boys, said freshmen year is the most crucial year in high school. Achievement and attendance improved after freshmen went on freshmen retreats. Mr. Damra will be meeting with Drew Beres on July 11 at Dyett School. President Richardson-Lowry thanked him.

Darnell Flowers, of Senn High School, asked that the Automotive Tech program not be cut next year.

Syed Quadri, a first generation Indian student, whose parents would prefer that he become a doctor, wants to be a police officer and also work on cars. He went to North Side College Prep, but found that there were no automotive programs there. Then he went to Senn for the auto program there. Now he is the owner of Auto Techs, Inc. He requested that Senn Auto Shop be kept alive. He was told that the budget has yet to be finalized. CEO Huberman wants to talk to the students in this program.

Katherine Hogan, of Social Justice High School, a nine-year CPS veteran, said that last Friday was the worst day in nine years. Teachers are packing up their classrooms and students are in tears at the loss of teachers. She said the community is being ripped apart because one third of the adults at the school will be lost. She asked, "Would you purchase more fire detectors after you just fired all the firefighters?" She told of a social worker who lived in the community her whole life who is now gone as the social worker. She said we're cutting 27,000 chances of resiliency in kids. She added that when the outcomes go down, no computer or test will fix that.

Catherine Jones, of Morgan Elementary said the principal selection process at Morgan was illegal and requested CEO selection assistance of an interim principal and removal of Valerie Prendergast. President Richardson-Lowry said the illegal process will be investigated.

Kosi Bowman, of Gage Park High School, expressed sadness at the cuts of teachers. She added that you are toying with our lives, you are toying with our futures. She wore a T-shirt that indicates her membership in VOYSE. President Richardson-Lowry thanked her for her statements and remarked that no budget has been presented to the Board, no final decisions have been made, and public input is still welcome.

Eric Gaston, also of Gage Park High School, mentioned that many teachers who care have been cut from Gage Park High School. He went on to say that although Gage Park is not the best, we want to see the kids off the streets. He added that this goes beyond our pockets and wallets.

Carol Caref, a Math teacher at Chicago Vocational Career Academy (CVCA), cited data from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to illustrate that more African-American teachers worked in segregated and low-performing schools and suffered greater losses of employment because of turnaround schools. She remarked that CPS runs a racist school system that is separate, but unequal, one that is decimating the African-American teaching force.

William Buchanan, a high school Math teacher, claimed that the crisis is not a budget crisis, but a leadership crisis. He said teachers are being fired for budgetary reasons, not given ten months to seek another position, not given health insurance, and that the BOE financial crisis actions are callous.

Beth Pate, a twenty-two year teacher at Ellington Elementary School, who taught first to third grade and was a reading coach for six years, was given an honorable dismissal and now has no health benefits. Because of this, she had to have the date of a mammogram bumped up. She said her seniority is over. She added, "We have been left on the street.... We are highly qualified educators..."

Valerie Bathest-Danzy, a reading teacher and literacy coach, has been terminated. Her last day is June 30. After eighteen years of superior service, she will not be in reserve teacher pool and has lost her health benefits. She remarked, "I only have done what CPS has asked me to do..." adding "We are worthy of more. You guys should be ashamed."

Andrew Martinek, of Gage Park High School, was told in regard to teacher cuts, "It must be like losing an arm." He and others responded, "It's like losing our heart."

He asked, "Why would we terminate quality teachers?"..."Schools are more than bricks and mortar."

While the Chicago Board of Education was packing the seats in the fifth floor meeting room with Board bureaucrats, parents, teachers, students and principals were forced to wait in several long lines to participate in the supposedly public meeting. Proving that under Ron Huberman and Mary Richardson Lowry, the Board disrespects anyone who actually knows how to teacher or lead teachers in Chicago's public schools, the Board kept the people above waiting to pass through the metal detectors on June 23, 2010. Above, retired principal John Butterfield (left), Schurz High School Teacher Lois Jones, Gage Park High School teacher Debby Pope and McPherson Elementary School teacher Pam Touras. In the background is Jackie Robinson Elementary teacher Jack Silver, who previously served as vice president of the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund. Three of those above (Jones, Pope, and Silver) spoke during the public participation portion of the Board meeting. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.Debby Pope, of Gage Park High School, said thirty-five kids in the classroom is an outrage. She added that it is hypocrisy for the Board, which says Children First, to do this... This decision is disparately hurting the poorest communities. While French language instruction is eliminated here, more privileged schools offer several languages. She asked that the Board not balance the budget on the backs of teachers and children.

Karen Lewis, President-Elect of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), asked the Board to be mindful that "Not one of you stood up for teachers and students last week." [When the Board voted at its emergency meeting on June 15 to allow Ron Huberman to raise class sizes and fire up to 2,700 teachers]. She questioned the Board's validity. In the past, the Board has almost unanimously voted on all items. She remarked that the "State didn't go broke because it put so much money into the schools." and "I guess there's no honeymoon for me. It's on."

One observer noted that Karen Lewis was treated with the same rudeness with which Mary Richardson Lowry, the Board President, treated most of those who testified criticizing Board policies. Lewis's predecessor, Marilyn Stewart, had always been recognized by the Board's secretary and given the right to speak prior to other speakers. The hostility of Richardson-Lowry and the administrators arrayed around Ron Huberman towards Lewis and CORE was almost palpable throughout the Board meeting, while the rudeness of Richardson Lowry and Huberman to the general public was generally felt.

Michael Brunson, Recording-Secretary-Elect of the CTU, reiterated his request from last week's emergency fiscal crisis meeting. He questioned how the budget crisis should be addressed. He mentioned that there are no educators on the Board, only business people. Yet with all this business expertise, he said, you're scrambling for money. He wants business people to work with educators and form a joint budget/oversight committee. Once again, the Board ignored him and continued with its claim, so far justified only in Huberman's Power Point presentations, that CPS was facing an enormous "deficit" (or "shot fall" or something else). Since January 19 when he first claimed the "deficit" without providing specific revenue and expenses figures, Huberman has refused to provide the public with precise figures.

Sandra Rector, a recent graduate who will attend Roosevelt University in the fall and a member of VOYCE, asked CEO Huberman if he would be present at the meeting on July 1 with Drew Beres on July. CEO Huberman replied that he would try my best to be there, but there are no final budget decisions. Sandra Rector answered, "Can we call you?" President Richardson-Lowry remarked, "I would advise you to become a lawyer."

Theodore Carter, also of VOYCE, shared Sandra Rector's point of view.

Greg Seaphus, said that seven years ago, I talked about prototyping our needs, adding that we need to discuss the needs of students based on current research - all are failing for somewhat the same reasons. President Richardson-Lowry asked CEO Huberman to set up a meeting.

Roland Poska, from Rockford, IL, wanted the Board to sign declarations to end prejudice and violence.

Lois Jones, of Schurz High School and a CTU delegate, said that in March, a programmer told them that he was directed to program for thirty-five in a classroom. She asked how many classrooms already have thirty-five students in elementary. She added that in Schurz, freshmen already have thirty-one and asked, "Are you really thinking forty?" She admonished them that you all said it's wrong, but we're going to do it anyway.

President Richardson-Lowry replied that we had a meeting earlier this month and we're acting within our fiduciary responsibilities... The budget has not been finalized... We are preparing for the budget deficit and it is still in flux.

Jennifer Johnson, of Lincoln Park High School, said that funding for computers, test, consultants and an online curriculum are new in the budget. She added that if there's this money, then we can find money for the cuts that have been made. She remarked that interaction, sharing, and face-to-face communication are more important than computers.

President Richardson-Lowry thanked Ms. Johnson for her remarks.

Jack Silver, teacher and former Pension Fund trustee, talked about the pension money owed to the Pension Fund. He said $2 billion had been borrowed in 1995 and never repaid. President Richardson-Lowry asked Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Diane Ferguson to follow up with Mr. Silver.

Pamela Greyer, from Marine Math and Science, asked for a commitment to have equipment moved before it is disbursed. She added that Drew Beres has agreed to help. President Richardson-Lowry asked CEO Huberman to follow up with her and report back to the Board.

Charlie Walker, of P.A.C., said he tried to set up a meeting with CEO Huberman, but received no response. He told CEO Huberman, you messed up CTA with the budget. He added that if Wal-Mart can roll back prices, you can roll back this budget. President Richardson-Lowry responded that we appreciate you.

Jackson Potter, CORE co-chair and a teacher at Little Village High School, talked about risky financial derivatives and asked for accountability. He remarked that in July of 2008, Mayor Daley said the system was well-financed and then asked. "What happened?" He added that fifteen years is a long time to be sealing financial information. President Richardson-Lowry told Mr. Potter that CEO Huberman will follow up with him.

Norine Gutekanst, a teacher of third-graders at Whittier Elementary, told of the difficulty split classes would cause in teaching Reading and Math when teachers are terminated. Also, two full-time kindergartens would be converted to half-day kindergartens. President Richardson-Lowry asked CEO Huberman to follow up. CEO Huberman stated that he wished to clarify that there's no final budget. Thirty-five students in a classroom is a worse-case scenario. He added that school based cuts have not occurred yet. The situation is fluid, it is changing, we are waiting for the state to determine the amount, and we are waiting for some restitution from the state. We appreciate input.

Sylvester Hendricks, the honorable Sylvester "Junebug" Hendricks, wanted all present to stand to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., Michael Scott, and other individuals. President Richardson-Lowry said that, for security purposes, we can't ask all to stand. Mr. Hendricks talked of a conspiracy of the Board members and the law department under Chief Counsel Patrick Rocks. He claimed that there was a violation of constitutional laws/rights in regard to an election process. President Richardson-Lowry requested that Chief Counsel Patrick Rocks give a report in respect to this. It was then referred to Miguel Rodriguez. Mr. Hendricks claimed that Mr. Rodriguez was an inept individual. President Richardson-Lowry said "Thank you, Mr. Junebug" to which he replied, "You're not welcome."

Katerine Kousouka, who had gone around the world and spoke five languages, came back to Chicago because she wanted her children to be educated in the same way that she and her brother had been educated in the Chicago Public Schools. After her children had taken some kind of tests and had gone to Department Headquarters downtown, she was unable to get her children enrolled. One child is a Special Needs student. She remarked that she didn't want to have to move to the suburbs just to enroll her children. She now lives in River North and requested a private meeting. CEO Huberman will follow up.

Patricia O'Keefe, a parent at Alcott, told the Board that she appreciated that Mayor Daley has made Chicago a place where I want to raise my children. She remarked that the budget is troubling and it is devastating when teachers are lost. She said that we need to come up with a long-term solution. President Richardson-Lowry said "Thank you very much" for your input.

Latonya Parker, a parent, said her son was raped by a coach at Barton School. Then he was teased and made fun of by teachers. The coach was proven guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. She was told by the school that her son will grow out of it. She responded, "He will not!" His attitude has become very violent and his grades have dropped. President Richardson-Lowry apologized on behalf of the district and told her CEO Huberman and Chief Counsel Patrick Rocks will work with you. She added that you have just presented something that's tragic and we will work with you for your son's sake.

Bobby Townsend, of the Dyett Advisory Park District, talked of the need for recreation. She asked, "What are the teenagers going to do?" She told of the need for volunteers and also asked Board members to go into the classrooms. She said some children don't have home training, some parents are on drugs, and some children are not learning. She said they need new ways of learning. In regard to Arne Duncan, she remarked "If I need to go to his mama again, I will." President Richardson-Lowry replied, "Thank you."

Rosita Chatonda talked of expulsion, termination and principal removal. She said she had watched the Board rubber stamp items. She claimed that there was no justice at CPS. She added that she wanted to show her children that we are all Americans even though there are some un-American things here today. She remarked that the system may be broken, but we can fix it. In regard to a retaliation problem, she asked that never again will we use children to testify and then expel them. She told the Board that we look to you for leadership. President Richardson-Lowry told her. "We appreciate your presentation," and asked CEO Huberman to follow up with the details. President Richardson-Lowry also took note of the many CORE buttons she had seen on participants today.

Nellie Cotton, a parent at Fleming, expressed concerns over the displaced teachers. She said that we need real live teachers in the classroom. President Richardson-Lowry repeated that there is a budget crisis and we want to hear from you. Richardson-Lowry added, "I don't have a salary...We (Board Members) don't get paid and we don't have an expense account either. Ms. Cotton replied, "Thank you for doing this out of the kindness of your heart." Layla Soria, a ten-year old child, who said she has a Learning Disability, mentioned that her teachers help her a lot. President Richardson-Lowry said, "Thank you for your comments," and asked CEO Huberman to follow up with this Special Needs child.

Bert Murrell spoke of taking children out of an achieving school and putting them in a failing school in seventh grade. He said this is still an issue a year later and it has not been addressed, so "I'm back here again." President Richardson-Lowry asked CEO Huberman to look into this and share what the findings are. Adrian Willis will follow up.

David Simpson, Director of Counselling for Youth Guidance, spoke in support of the Blue Ribbon Commission (a CPS mentoring project). This relates to the "Culture of Calm."

Wendell Floye, a Counselor at Phillips High School, added, "we believe in this program" and we "must address the community in which these students reside." President Richardson-Lowry said "Thank you for your statement."

Jose Hernandez, of McKinley Park Elementary, talked of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in regard to PIAB. He wanted to know "Who are these people?" and "How did they get elected?" President Richardson-Lowry said, "Thank you very much. Next speaker, please."

Wanda Hopkins remarked that she is doing this from her heart, she does not get paid, and she has no expense account. She said the BOE was uprooting children and teachers, even a Black Ph.D. can't pass the principal test, and asked "Who owns the contract for the Tech program?" She said segregation is different today. She added that she didn't expect much of Huberman or Bobins, (and possibly Carrera). President Richardson-Lowry said, "Thank you for your statement."

Susanne Dunn, from Prescott School, said of the twenty wealthiest nations in the world, the United States is at the bottom in several categories. She added that there are systemic inequities in the CPS. She mentioned a National Geographic issue devoted to water that told of an African community that got clean water and then saw attendance and test scores go up. She said when student are in poverty, we should not be blaming teachers for the lack of achievement.

At every Board meeting since Mary Richardson Lowry became Board President, the Board has invoked some new "security" rule to stifle public participation. The most bizarre during the June Board meeting came when long-time Board critic Sylvester ("Junebug") Hendricks took the podium. Hendricks, who has been speaking to the Board for more than a decade, generally prefaces his remarks with a call for a "moment of silence" for dead people. (He once referred to former Board President Michael Scott as having been "assassinated"). When he asked everyone to stand for the "moment of silence" on June 23, Board President Mary Richardson Lowry stunned the audience by announcing that "security" procedures made it so that nobody could stand! A few minutes later, Richard Lowry ordered the more than 20 security guards inside the Board meeting to surround Hendricks (above) and remove him. At each meeting of the Board, Richardson Lowry has been increasing the number of novel "security" procedures she is using to limit public participation (and criticism of the Board). Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.

Eben Credit, member of the Local School Counsel at Julian High School, asked Chief Counsel Patrick Rocks to look into an LSC election. He mentioned that Julian went on probation in April 2009, but there was no probation plan yet. He thinks they are trying to make Julian a turnaround school. President Richardson-Lowry spoke of a general meeting with parents and then thanked Eben Credit.

Francine Reizen, a teacher of Spanish, but not a native speaker, at Mireles, spoke of the importance of being exposed to other languages and cultures. President Richardson-Lowry thanked her.

The last public participation speaker was Trisha Kholodenko of the New Life Foundation who said the most important things were the student and relationships. She advocated for the mentoring program which she believes will improve attendance and achievement and lessen violence. President Richardson-Lowry thanked her for coming in and for her statement.

After the public participation portion of the Board meeting ended, everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. Then two reports were presented, one by CEO Huberman on Safety and Security Issues and the state situation. Huberman was asked to postpone a planned report on the preliminary ISAT scores until the July Board meeting. He had previously appeared at a press conference at Burr Elementary School with Mayor Daley on the same subject.

Another report was give in Power Point by Damani Bolden, Honorary Student Member of the BOE.

The Board then recessed into executive session, coming out later to vote on most of the Board Reports before it. [A full report on the Board Reports not approved appears elsewhere in Substance]. 

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