Protests at December 2007 Board of Education meeting
The December meeting of the Chicago Board of Education was tumultuous, considering that the holiday season and holiday spirit were supposed to reign.
Rufus Williams, Chicago Board of Education President, called the meeting to order about 10:30 p.m. A moment of silence started the meeting on behalf of the principal of Brentano School’s principal who had unexpectedly passed away the previous Monday.
Williams then introduced the student Board “shadow president for the day” who was a junior at Kelvyn Park H.S. Franklin Fine Arts students sang holiday songs. Marsha Collins a CPS student from Englewood High School was honored for her accomplishment in a speech contest. Then Katherine Wittington (LasCasa High School) who was one two CPS classroom teachers (two of only 80 nationally) who received the $25,000.00 Milkin Educators Award.
By a little after 11:00, the formalities were completed and most observers thought the Board would begin its public participation.
There had been two picket lines in front of Board headquarters earlier in the morning. One consisted of teachers and retired teachers protesting problems with the payroll system. The other (see photos with this article) consisted of residents of the Austin community protesting the fact that there was no general high school for children in their community. Instead of listening to the public first, however, in an unprecedented move, Williams called on three staff members. They gave a report, before public participation, about the “People Soft“ payroll Snafu that had begun in March 2007. According to the Chicago Teachers Union, the Snafu resulted in over 700 Chicago Teachers Union payroll grievances, an unfair labor practice complaint with the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board, delays in meeting pension payments for retirees, no checks, wrong checks, and other problems.
The staffers — Ascencion Juarez, chief human resources officer, Rachel Resnick, chief labor relations officer, and Robert Runcie, chief technology officer — gave a litany of details of the payments which would be coming to those hurt financially by or before the Christmas break, which was by then a couple of days away. They claimed that these payrolls would include “anticipated holiday pay” since the Board did not want the expense of having to open schools during the holiday break. Forty retired teachers and union staff members had — led by the CTU staff — held an informational picketing from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. about the problems caused by the payroll systems (see photo).
No one attempted to defend the People Soft debacle. The Board’s staff agreed that previous CTU complaints were accurate. In place of payroll grievances, CPS officials said they plan to meet monthly with CTU. The staff also promised an update of the “Kronos” system by which teachers enter their own attendance into a computer. Another set of problems may ensue. So, this performance of staff was meant to short circuit the upcoming speakers of the CTU on behalf of both members of CTU and the pension fund. Corrections were being made, said the CPS staff. Rufus Williams asked why CPS switched to People Soft. The staffer talked a lot about being consistent with Board Policy and other cloudy concepts which did not answer the question.
Public Participation began at 11:23 a.m. One of those speaking about the payroll problems was Clarice Berry, president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association. In a rare heated manner, she stated that her group had many people among the 1,700 people inconvenienced by the failure of the Board to straighten out the final payroll for retiring teachers and principals (both of whom are covered under the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund).
After hearing promises that CPS would have everything resolved by Christmas, Berry said that if the Pension Board hadn't gotten everything straightened out by its meeting on January 10 — hadn’t resolved things — “A pox of both your houses if this does not happen.”
When Rufus Williams expressed his displeasure at Berry’s comment, she reminded him that the problems had begun for active duty teachers and principals in March 2007 and for the retiring teachers and principals in July 2007. She noted that CPS had been slow to take action until the retirees promised to begin picketing the Board of Education meetings. Williams also said he did not need a “pox on his house.” Berry stated she stood by her words of “pox.” After six months of delay, the problem was supposedly resolved in one day. There has been no communication.
Mary McGuire, Recording Secretary of the CTU, wrote a poem about this mess to the beat of the “Night Before Christmas.” It included the words “Shame on the Board for all whom they’ve burned.” Speakers then began to talk about the problems.
Retired teacher Margaret Kelly spoke of retiring after 33.5 years. She asked for independent auditors to be brought in for full accounting of funds and for interest of teachers paychecks held by the Board.
Mildred Lynk-Long had worked as a German teacher. She retired in 2004, August 16. Her check is still not correct, she said. She has been told 11 times her payments are partial and her time is incorrect. Her problems began when she was harassed by then principal of the Spencer Elementary School, she said. She said she was wrongfully removed, was reinstated, her benefits were to have been restored, but were not, including pension time. Rufus Williams said that she should have separate attention. The Reverend Lewis Flowers of the Austin Community spoke next. He stood with youths in green T-shirts saying “Catch It” and “We must have a new high school in Austin” on the front and “Freedom Rider, 773 668-0702.” Wanda Hopkins of PURE also stood with them. Flowers described the standards for the physical plant as another mega high school. Williams said he understood and “was looking at what our reality is.”
Robert Neenan, an LSC member of the Sauganash School. He talked of the 11 years of demonstrating and asking for an addition because of overcrowding. Williams said that there were schools worse off than Sauganash and money is spent where the crisis is worse. He also talked of no capitol funds from the State of Illinois (as if CPS is the Illinois public schools and there’s no TIF money available).
Kayla Davidson, a senior at North Lawndale College Prep Charter High School and Actress Bartlett of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) talked of the outrageous behavior of military recruiters. They charged excess which borders on harassment. Students are plied with promises that are partial truths. Recruiters walk all over the schools with no limitations, especially in poor neighborhoods. There should be the same amount of time and access for the military as for college recruiters, not greater, the two said. Students should be notified of their “options.” Students should not be “tricked.”
Bartlett’s son is a sergeant in the military, she said. Because of adolescents’ brains still being formed, high school is not the place for recruitment into the military with the enticements being given things. She asked that the “op out” policy be enforced.
John Williams of Lindblom’s security staff asked the CPS Board to reevaluate his employment with CPS. He handed in papers.
The Rev. Sharyon Cosey said that she had been a dedicated and successful teacher since 1971, over 33 years. She said she was removed from her job at the William Carter Elementary where she had taught for 20 years. She said she was removed without justification and without due process. She was removed before the State tests. She was told there was an investigation, but no one ever asked her or talked to her at all. After the investigation, she ordered back to the same school where the principal had issued a warning resolution, violated her civil rights, and harassed her. Some of the paper work which needed her signature was unsigned. Board of Education Attorney Patrick Rocks had Miguel Rodriquez of his department look into the possible lack of due process.
Maria Huerta and Dawn Donahue of Peck Elementary School talked of the problems of overcrowding, the needs of the kindergarten, and an annex. She thanked the Board for the early childhood help.
Maximo Ramirez of the Stowe Elementary School talked of the six years of academic progress. President of the LSC, he thanked CEO Arne Duncan and the State of Illinois for the recognition for what has become a “tradition” at their school of progress. He said that he could not understand why the AIO (Area Instructional Officer) has informed them that they’re on “probation.” He said,”That is not right.”
Gustavo Barrios-Deleon, also from Stowe, said, “It is not right. It is not just.”
CEO Arne Duncan blathered some vague comments about having them understand the criterion for this situation better, not ending it.
Jesse Sharkey, a teacher from Senn High School, spoke about the latest plan to close Senn as a general high school and reopen it as a bunch of “small schools.” Sharkey noted that Senn is a school cheated of resources by CPS. He spoke in opposition to another vengeful educationally unsound by Alderman Mary An Smith (48th Ward). Sharkey spoke of the disenfranchisement of local community students if Smith’s ill conceived plan were to be adopted. He spoke of the fears of the faculty and students.Duncan assured Sharkey that Senn High School would not close and freshman would be admitted for the next year. Sharkey spoke of the variety of programs within the school and the variety of students.
Scott Wilkerson of the “Senn Achievement Academy,” a one year teacher at the Academy, spoke of the value of the Achievement Academy, one of the last on the North Side. A school within the school, it takes students who are not yet ready for high school, brings them to a higher level in order to integrate them with the high school classes. He told of the great strides made by the most academically needy students.
Duncan and Williams said the Senn teachers have nothing to fear, referred them to David Pickens. Duncan said they appreciate the dedication of the teachers. Duncan agreed that the Achievement Academies are doing a great job helping students stay in school and doing well. He referred them also to staff member, Ms Vaughn.
Wanda Hopkins of PURE asked for the Board and Staff support for PURE which just celebrated it 20th year anniversary. She asked that they have a new school in Austin because politicians have promised that resources will be made. She talked of the lack of IEP’s being done from some AIO’s. On behalf of PURE, she thanked Carole Woods of External Affairs for helping get information. She asked that military recruiters be limited and CPS help recruit LSC members. Barbara Eason Watkins responded. Williams talked on the importance of priorities. Wanda said she’s willing to work with him.
After the public participation part of the meeting, James Dispensa of the Demographics Department talked about the loss of enrollment and the proposal for the closing of schools over the next five years. He said that K to 8 enrollment is down by 42,000 since 2001.
The plans for gradually doing this. Population changes occur continually. While some schools are still overcrowded, others are less than 30 percent utilized, he said. According to Dispensa, there will be various methods to implement closings and consolidations. Some schools will have students sent to newer schools, some schools will be “folded” into other schools as a whole, and some will be assigned to schools closer to home. Eventually, he said, about 50 schools will be closed over five years. He claimed this would save the Board millions of dollars. According to Dispensa, there are 143 under utilized schools, in Chicago. He said that “underutilized means less than 50 percent utilized by criteria established by his office. Most of the schools are on the South and West side. Duncan had difficulty of explaining how a small school is not the same as an under utilized school. For example, the Austin High School building is currently serving fewer than 500 students in a building with a capacity for more than 2,500 students, but Austin is not “underutilized” by CPS definitions because it contains “small schools.” Duncan tried to explain. For instance, if the ideal small school is between 300 and 500. When an overcrowded school of 1,200 reduces its size to 400, why isn’t it a small school? A regular school that gets smaller becomes “underutilized,” but “small schools” that are officially created by the CPS administration are OK.
Apparently, there is a paradox in that Duncan wants three or four small schools (with three or four administrations) in one building of 1,200 students? There is no research showing that this idea is an educationally sound one, and despite repeated claims by CPS that small schools are better, CPS never provides research to back up these claims, only assertions. Education seldom is a factor in the demographics and planning department’s decisions. Dispensa did say that where there is no longer a community population to support an elementary school, the location may be ideal for a city wide magnet.
A member of the Research Dept., Ginger Rogers, showed statistics indicating positive results in elementary schools. She cited the four criteria for schools “turn around,” where administration and staff are to be replaced by fall, but students stay in the building. Some of these are lower attendance, higher dropout rate, test scores,
no improvement over time, higher levels of achievement than last year. No educational reason was given for “raising the bar.” The only reason was we’re “raising the bar.” Even though many schools qualify, only some will be chosen to be “turned around.” Schools will be named in January. Teachers start writing your resume’s! There’s a bonus for signing in Las Vegas for many categories. Policy changes were presented by Mr. Moriarity.
An earlier version of this article began on the front page of the January 2008 print edition of Substance.
