July 27, 2007... Chicago Board of Education criticized for multiple problmes
The July 27, 2007, Chicago Board of Education meeting started with a lengthy time spent lauding high-ranking Board Employees, including at least 100 principals. They all give thanks so that the session part is like a long award ceremony, except that as Board President Rufus Williams said to one person “You don’t act like you are leaving the system!”
Flanked by angry representatives of community organizations from Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, 29th Ward Alderman Isaac Caruthers (above, fourth from left) asked the Board of Education what provisions had been made for high school students in the Austin community. Despite his usually subservient position before Mayor Richard M. Daley, Caruthers has been forced to speak out as community residents awakened to what is now being called “Apartheid in Austin.” After the last graduating class from Austin was graduated in June 2007, Austin officially ended its more than 100 years as a general high school serving Chicago’s largest African American community. Resident slowly realized that there is now no public high school in the community that is required to take all high school age teenagers who once would have attended Austin High School. The Board of Education’s decision to close Austin High School (see stories, pages one and six) and convert the building into “small schools” and charter schools, as predicted, left the community without a general public high school. When Carothers arrived at the Board meeting on June 27, 2007, several Board members, including Roxanne Ward (of Ariel Capital Management) and Board president Rufus Williams tried to assure Carothers that things were being taken care of. Throughout the summer, CEO Arne Duncan had his assistant David Pickens meeting regularly with angry community residents, but as September approached, the Austin tragedy continued to unfold, and hundreds of high school age students living in the Austin community were still without a local public high school open for them. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt,
They are probably not. Many of them will be back as “Consultants,” “mentor something or others” etc. Local principals do this as well for their pets: have them back as a highly paid something. This means that we taxpayers are paying people with as much as six-figure pension or with a double income. If all the double dippers in CPS were eliminated, there’d be enough money for a new CTU contract. This fact is true especially this summer: the Board has implemented another “new” computer system, which means everything will be screwed up unless retiring programmers are back as “Consultants?” Barbara Eason Watkins said,” I know that we can call upon you whenever we need your continued support.”
DePaul University Professor Kenneth Saltman (above) reminded the Board in June that the military violates CPS’s gay rights policies. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.
The Walter Payton High School Math Team was honored for their state victories.
Durell Bonner of Prosser Vocational Career Academy was honored for serving as the student member of the Board for this year. He quipped that he was the youngest retiree.
Rufus Williams started the Public Participation at 12:04 — more than an hour and a half after it was officially scheduled to begin (he had convened the “meeting” at 10:30 a.m.). The first speaker was Alderman Isaac Carothers of the 29th Ward. He was not on the speakers’ list, but CPS policy has been to allow elected officials and certain others (e.g., Rev. Jesse Jackson) to speak at the front of the line, before everyone else. Carothers did say it was his first time there. Then for a minute he thanked everyone who had already been thanked. If not on the list, his time should not have counted in public participation.
Carothers said he was concerned about the high school situation. When Austin High School was closed (beginning with a policy of not accepting ninth graders in September 2004), three schools were supposed to open in the Austin building. Only one did. This created an Austin High School “Diaspora” (as it is being called) as well as not having enough spaces into which Austin students could be placed within a reasonable distance from their homes. To this day, hundreds of students do not know where they will be in September. Carothers — who meets with principals in his ward monthly — told CPS he still does not know what grade levels are to be at Douglass High School. The situation is complicated by Chicago’s policies of opening new “small schools” inside larger buildings. One more “small school” is to open in September 2007 in Austin.
There’s still a lack of high schools since they are the largest city community. Carothers said he hopes more dollars will be spent in Austin. If Carothers thinks he’s had a lot of parental calls before, wait until September when those in school do not have programs because the Board spent its meager funds on yet another unneeded computer system which will mess up programming for the fall. None of the Austin schools is a high school which must take area students like in other city areas. All those existing are by application. This means, poorer students who need the most help are not given a high school in Austin, which must accept them. Reverend Lewis Flowers of the Westside Ministers Coalition brought up the fact that with the problems already there, the Board, apparently not learning lessons from battered bodies and minds of teachers and students (and sometimes police) plans to close Westinghouse High School. This will cause 650 students to go outside the area because the new Westinghouse is not open yet. Gee! When new Kelvyn Park was open, or Northside Prep, CPS did not farm students out far and wide until a building was open. As far back as the early 60’s when Mather was opened, students stayed where they were until the building opened.
The west side, African-American community is being treated differently. They are dropping out because they won’t cross gang lines. Flowers tried explaining (a simple concept) that spaces should be provided first — before closing a school. He said that Loyola and other universities said the after-school programs are working. He mentioned the killing going on now. Williams said he hears them “loud and clear.” He said that the Board needs to find a safe way to get those students to school. He’s apparently unaware of current police efforts. He often claims to be unaware of what’s going on.
Diondai Brown-Whitfield of Austin H.S., a volunteer of 30 years there, she had submitted a request for August 30 to be “Austin High School Day.” The celebration is a proposal from the Austin High School Alumni Association. She said that the Alumni Association has been disrespected in the past by not having input or being consulted. She also said that all their donations have been “missing” from the school, including a special bench.
She asked for Board support for August 30 which will include homecoming ceremonies for Austinites of the past. Virgil Crainford of Westside Health Authority, representing community and parental forces, said they can’t wait or allow the Board to keep experimenting with their children. He asked for a new high school now in Austin, a comprehensive general high school with sports facilities and pools. He wanted children to develop into good productive citizens. He feels that now he needs a commitment for a new big school. Williams went into his “capital improvement needs” speech. The State of Illinois is the reason there’s no money, the Board President repeats. CPS thinks it is a State school system. Daley could send CPS the money from the Hired Trucks this year.
Lyvetter Irving talked about funds for parental involvement. The State Dept of Education leftover funds from 2006 and 2007 should be carried over for current use in the local schools. The amount is $725,673. She wanted it put back into the local schools. She offered the services of her organization to show how to use it. The funds were illegally encumbered in May instead of June. She would like Williams to come to speak to the parents at the parent center to tell his vision. He also explain about the money.
The next speaker was Alfred Rodgers who talked about Senate Bill 1845 and Gage Park High School. Gage Park is still in turmoil after last year’s removal of an effective principal and forced overcrowding — surprise, surprise to no one but The Board and Administration — and new schools. He remembered when Alderman Patrick O Connor announced a billion dollars in bonds to build schools. He said he wanted to see the list of schools. He never explained the nature of the Springfield Bill. Williams said the maintenance spending has now gone over $5 billion since Mayor Daley took over the schools. Rogers said he wanted schools that relieved overcrowding. The heritage of Gery Chico is that every community group and politician wants a showplace multi-million dollar mega school. This misguided idea is not what’s needed. A safe environment with the best degreed (qualified) certified teachers and sensible and sane administrations is needed with access to academic tools and opportunities.
Rochelle Sams and Sharon Joy Jackson of ICEC Pioneers appeared about the Turner-Drew Language Academy, where the part of competent administrators is lacking. They said that adults have been harassed, lied about, and wrongly suspended. They said that a child in 7th grade who had never had a tardy, absence, and was passing everything was being persecuted by the school’s administration. The Board’s attorney, Patrick Rocks, said he would have his staff look into the situation. Apparently, CPS does not have a policy about administrators tormenting children or teachers.
Jackson, a past president of International and current Illinois President of the Pioneers, corroborated Sams allegations. She said the student was “browbeaten and beat down.”
Dorothy Henderson of EVB Organizations was concerned about schools being overcrowded. She talked about Brunson was forced to have 8th grade (without adequate planning). She did not want more mobiles (on the North Side schools have heralded getting mobiles). Duncan said he would visit to see the overcrowding.
Neal Resnikoff of the Save Senn Coalition spoke next. 
The June 2007 Board meeting began a policy that Substance is calling the “Security Swarm.” Every time a speaker disagrees forcefully with Board President Rufus Williams, Williams calls security to remove the speaker. Above, Save Senn’s Neal Resnikoff is surrounded by security (Andres Durbak and two others).He lauded the recent Chicago Tribune article lauding Senn High School. He blamed the invasion of the Rickover Naval Academy using more space that needed for depriving the regular students of the school from equal use of its facilities. He claimed that no research had been done. He said that the Naval Academy had about 200 students and Senn High School had1300. Resnikoff also claimed the military people had 15.4 students per room and regular Senn 18.3. Instead of the two librarians like before the military school, Senn has been allotted one and one is to be devoted to the 1,300 and one to the 200. He charged other inequities as well. He said, “Have you done research to see that the teacher/student/classroom ratio is very unequal, based on the Board’s own figures? Have you looked into the fact that...you are actually training students to be killers inside the school system?” This time it is the CPS harassing students.
Kenneth Saltman of De Paul University said CPS has a policy of non-discrimination, citing all the categories to not suffer bias in the pursuit of academic excellence. This policy applies to gay students. All are to be subject to the policy. But the five military academies are also under the “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” military policy which must result in expulsion or other punishment. The Board should have the administration of the military academies have Board policy take precedent or have 501.2 amended.
Harley Meyer, a recent Whitney Young High School graduate, complained of a Gallery 37 bias against the removal of two gay characters in a play. High Schools Chief Don Pittman had intervened and reversed the Principal’s wrongful actions. The principal never apologized or made good on promises. David Gilligan, the new High School Department Officer, was to help resolve the discrimination.
Reauven Robinson, an art teacher, advocated “Walls of hope, windows of delight,” an intergenerational project for Chicago School Children. He hoped for a grant and passed out yellow proposals.
Queen Searles , a teacher who was wrongfully removed from her job, had not been made whole and felt that more money has been spent on litigation against good teachers. Board rule 454 (now 413) has never been legally challenged by the CTU on any basis as invasion of privacy. Patrick Rocks said he would not discuss it because of pending lawsuits. However, Searles said that she no longer is being represented by legal counsel. Rock said to write in detail to him, and he’d respond in writing to her.
Nelida Torres — of Power PAC — asked to have changes made in the uniform discipline code to cut down on suspensions and expulsions. Duncan thanked POWER-PAC for its help.
Martha Miller talked about the determination of total disability in the prevention of being able to work. Standards of disability vary. Being able to work at college level, she was successful. She challenged the decisions of Dr. Barry Fisher. Rock asked her to see attorney Rodriguez.
Robert Floid Plump and Adwin Uchechi both spoke about their belief that violence in the community is caused by the use in CPS of people using the word “kid” to refer to young humans. They repeated their request that CPS ban the use of the word “kid” to refer to human children.
Rod Estvan of “Access Living of Chicago” talked about the results of the Title I Audit by the United States Department of Education of June 7, 2007. He has serious reservations since so many Title I funds are also special education. Chicago may lose $16.8 million because there may have been wrong information given by ISBE. Yet another audit is being conducted, which may not be done correctly.
A major point made by Estvan was that the Chicago Board of Education had made a mistake abolishing Board committees when it was reorganized in 1995, and that the Board needed an “Audit Committee.” In 1995, when Mayor Daley took over, CPS disbanded standing committees. Estvan urged the creation of an audit committee. He asked there be a standing audit committee. These issues should be responded to by such a committee, or a budget committee, he said.
Patrick Rocks said he disagreed that rules were violated as supposed by the Feds. He also disagreed with the inspector general. Estvan agreed with Rocks. That’s why he said that an Audit Committee is needed, to avoid violating the Open Meetings Act. Board members agreed to look into this.
Ramon Cervantes talked of the Operation Crusade Don Quixote. He asked all to join with him so that the Mayor will receive him. He left 6 pages of prints from his paper and must meet with the Board.
There followed a significant confrontation over whether the Board of Education had been lobbying in Springfield to take away the powers of Chicago’s local school councils. Wanda Hopkins of PURE (and an LSC member) said she “was appalled that you did not list my organization” as a contributor and “in spite of school reform, PURE is alive.” For the record, Williams and Duncan have been asked month after month if they were involved with legislation to limit powers of LSC. They said no.
Following Rodney Estvan’s questions regarding the federal audit of Board programs, Board members huddled over the financial questions being raised prior to their unanimous vote to approve the proposed 2007-2008 budget. Left to right: Norman Bobins, Clara Munana, Rufus Williams, and Tariq Butt. The Board refused to re-establish its public committees. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.
Hopkins said, “Well Mr. Duncan, Mr. Williams, you lied!” Hopkins said that legislator Dan Cronin said to them that he introduced such legislation at the request of his “friend” Arne Duncan. 
Wanda Hopkins of PURE called Chicago Board of Education President Rufus Williams and CEO Arne Duncan liars at the June 2007 Board meeting. Noting that Duncan and Williams had assured citizens on several occasions during previous months that they were not seeking legislation to take away the powers of Local School Councils, Hopkins told the Board that Republican legislator Dan Cronin (DuPage County) had told her that the two Chicago officials had asked Cronin to sponsor the legislation. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.She recited LSC duties. She asked if they were aware of research showing that education is better when parents are involved? It would be shocking if CPS did since they only seem to rely on unreliable research from questionable sources that are not peer reviewed by accredited universities.
Williams called Hopkins back for a bit of banter (some of which was taken out of the tape seen on cable television). The exchange between Hopkins and Williams was cut from the TV version of the meeting. Williams denied being a liar. Michael Quaintance of Youth Connection Charter School urged a renewal of the charter. The school is primarily a place for students who have been unsuccessful elsewhere to re-enter high school and earn a diploma. This objective has been met for the students entering the school. He asked for an increase of the enrollment in alternative schools because of the increase in high school students dropping out of school. His partner, Sheila, spoke although not signed up, a rule violation.
Adele Barksdale of AFEPSC spoke of administrators who were retiring who had helped her. She said Parents and others should be involved with the schools.
The next speaker focused on the controversial KIPP charter school in Chicago. Pamela Gardner, a parent of a special student at KIPP Ascend charter School, told a horror story of a charter a teacher who did not understand the characteristics of the disabilities of her child. Her daughter had problems, migraines, which require her to put her head in her hands and or on the desk for stability. Her physical movement was wrongly construed, and the girl was punished, suspended, and physically shaken on her shoulder, upper torso, and head, starting a more sever migraine, and not allowed to go to the office for her medication. She had been humiliated by this incident. The mother charged that by May 4, her enrollment at the school was “terminated” and the child was assigned to home schooling without parental consent. Those charters sure seem to understand the disabled. Not! She asked for a response from CPS within 14 days about the resolution of this problem. A staffer said there was an investigation and not enough evidence. Rocks said he would look into the situation. Later in an interview the child was enrolled in a real public school with certified special education staff who had been more understanding. Although there was some disorder is the school area, the real trained staff of the public school helped the daughter resolve problems, avoiding a lawsuit over student conduct.
Substance reporter Lotty Blumenthal, above, occasionally takes the time to comment on public issues to the Board. Above, Blumenthal speaking to the Board on June 27, 2007. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.
Louise DeBerry, a former teacher at the R.H. Lawrence Elementary School, told of her dismissal March 30. She said she was blamed for a walkout for which she was not responsible. At a hearing she was told the allegation was not true, there were other charges against her, but was never told what they were, and had never been given a written paper of any kind telling the reason for her dismissal. She has since written letters to both Duncan and Williams, of course with no response. In all years that she has worked since 1998, she’s never had a bad rating, warning notice or reprimand Obviously, she was deprived of due process. A CTU grievance or lawsuit should be made. Rocks said he would respond in writing within two weeks.
The last speaker was this reporter, C. Blumenthal, tax-payer, who said: “I don’t care what programs are in Senn High School — I just want my tax money spent equally on all students. That means....(all) will have access to the science labs...I want text books, copy machines, gymnasiums, and librarians shared equally and tax money spent equally on a per pupil basis except where laws for special education and bilingual education exist. “You, the Board of Education, have acted like Cinderella’s evil step-mother in educationally depriving ...students of access to the same educational tools as your favored step sisters...in the military academy.”
I said I also want Barbara Eason Watson to make unannounced visits to Marquette Elementary and observe classes.... Conditions reported here previously are true. I want you to fire the person who made the decision to send attendance challenged Austin High School students to schools five to seven miles from their homes to schools such as Wells and Clemente...filled with rival gangs.
This person has made decisions endangering students’ lives. That goes for Englewood to Harlan and Hyde Park also. There’s no education research showing that attendance challenged students will improve their attendance or continue in school if you move them five to seven miles away from home, especially with no aid. And look in the board report “ it asks you to eliminate the school code of conduct for students in charter and some other schools. This might not be a good idea since it may result in additional lawsuits. The regular Board meeting was started. A staff member gave a report of the 2007 ISAT scores. CPS has gained. We are gaining on the rest of the State. He compared scores both as a total and by racial group. Student’s growth rate is the same as the State as a whole. The report alluded to the “Consortium,” a research group with no experts, no research that is ever “peer reviewed” by experts, and relies on a university with no college of education.
Substance August 2007.
