Voices against CPS dictatorship ring out both on the streets and inside the Board meeting
Anyone tracing the tyrannies of the Chicago Board of Education since Rahm Emanuel's inauguration as Mayor of Chicago in May 2011 could easily document how Rahm's Board has worked tirelessly to stamp out any semblance of democratic discussion. Instead of public conversation about the main issues facing the schools, the Board and "Chief Executive Officer" (Rahm is already on "CEO 2.0" and there is a pool on which month Barbard Byrd Bennet will be history to Chicago) are working to promote an alternative reality through the application of propaganda talking points, often with the cooperation of a compliant corporate media. The form most of the alternative realities take is the Power Point briefing, done by someone who has lived in Chicago less than two years.
By August 28, 2013, when the Emanuel school board approved its third budget, the straight jackets on democracy were greater than ever. David Vitale, Barbara Byrd Bennet, and the Board had added a few new ones: 
Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey itemized just some of the ways the Board is undermining public schools in Chicago. In the background during the meeting on the budget is one of the CPS consultants that CPS says are no longer working for CPS. Christine Herzog, who used to be budget director, now provides a dose of reality for the senior staff in the CPS budget office, since none of them has been with CPS more than two years. Herzog also provides eyes and ears for the mayor during Board meetings. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.-- Most members of the public were barred by a massive security presence from attending the meeting, despite the Illinois Open Meetings Act. It was a first in Chicago Public Schools history, but an indicator of where Rahm Emanuel's school board members are heading.
-- The few people who did get signed up to speak to the Board had to wait nearly three hours, and were insulted throughout that time by a marathon of presentations by the out-of-town bureaucrats who now dominate the "cabinet" of "Chief Executive Officer" Barbara Byrd Bennett. They were aided and abetted by the comments and staged questions from the Board members themselves, as if each of whom had been rehearsed beforehand.
-- A new wrinkle came in the Board's attempts to muzzle even the corporate media. Reporters who tried to interview those who had raised precise criticisms of the Board were herded out of the way as far as possible. For years, reporters have been interviewing people outside the Board chambers. But on August 28, 2013, just as the Board had edicted that nobody would be allowed to attend the public meetings of the most important public body in Chicago, so the same Board had ruled that reporters who tried to cover the stories unfolding during the meeting were kept away from those stories. Security people demanded that reporters conduct their interviews at the elevators or downstairs in the lobby, and not where they had been doing for more than a decade.
The Board meeting room also lacked the "RESERVED FOR STUDENT" seats that had been there for the July 24 Board meeting. No one explained why that had happened -- or why the Board had completely garbled the video version of the meeting when it came to the part where the students spoke and then assembled to protest school closings and other CPS policies.
But even the massive exclusion of people from the building and the massive stalling behind the wall of Power Point couldn't completely elude the public. Sixty people had signed up to speak to the Board, and eventually "Public Participation" was going to be held. At least for this month.
It was nearly one o'clock when the Board's beleaguered secretary, Estela Beltran, began calling the names of those scheduled for public participation. (Beltran is showing signs of the stress facing all women working during the Reign of Rahm).
Observers were unsure whether 12:49 p.m. was the latest that Chicago's Board of Education had ever called for the "public" to speak at a public meeting of the Board, but if the two and a half hour stalling and droning and Power Pointing hadn't been the longest cynical running out of the clock in the history of the public schools of the third largest city in the USA, it was a close second.
And because the Board favored one speaker (Lawrence Msall of the Civic Federatioin) over those who had actually signed up, it wasn't until one o'clock that the public began to have their say.
Msall, who has been an enemy of Chicago's public schools since he was a legislative aide to some of the state's most racist legislators, surprised some people by chastizing the Board. But his solution was the same as his colleagues in the "Civic Committee" (different from the "Civic Federation") -- attack the pensions of Board workers. So...
At 12:49 p.m., public participation finally began with Lawrence Msall, President of the Civic Federation allowed to speak first, even though he was signed up to speak later in the list and dozens of people had been waiting longer than Msall, who arrived around 11:00, according to one Substance reporter. Msall said that he cannot support this year's budget because it is "unsustainable." After he left, more than a dozen parents, teachers and others took apart the Board's claims -- and the integrity of the budget the Board was about to pass -- meticulously.
Although she didn't come first, one of the most popular of the speakers was new to the Board meetings. Adenia Linker used some of the Board's own tricks, beginning her presentation by playing the words of Barbara Byrd Bennett back before she spoke. As the voice of the CEO of CPS came out, the faces of the Board members did look puzzled.
But it was Linker's own words that got her a rousing round of applause:
Whatever happened this past year; it’s not done. What is settled is that your inequitable plan doesn’t work. There is a moratorium on “enrichment opportunities including physical education, art, music, library time”… There is a moratorium on “opportunities for creative learning and extracurricular activities.” The full day isn’t rigorous, its ridiculous. You are right about one thing. There is a new Beginning.
The destructive actions of this appointed board have opened a pandora’s box of activism, advocacy and agitation. It’s a beginning, thanks to social media of community activists uniting, sharing data, educating voters and exposing corruption and wasted resources.
And it’s a beginning of students demanding a “quality seat” at the table that dictates their future. Editing the video of Board of Ed. meetings will not silence them. It is a new beginning for the voices who are no longer just agitated - rather they are resolute to oust this board once and for all. You can put the past behind you. We will link arms and march down your ‘safe passages!”
You can turn the page. We will re-read it nightly. Until this board is history.
Before Linker, Jesse Sharkey, Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) Vice-President, said he wrote his notes on the back of the CTU budget, but your budget (CPS) is written on the back of a promissory note that cannot be cashed. He talked about the cuts to schools and the class sizes that are over contract. He said that a fair share in taxes must be paid and that the Illinois flat income tax rate must be changed to a progressive tax system, with the wealthiest paying their fair share.
Jazmine Marchan, a student at Ames Middle School, refuted the claims from Alderman Roberto Maldonado that Ames should become a "Marine Military Academy." Accompanied by students and parents despite the attempt by CPS officials to prevent members of the public from standing in solidarity with speakers, Marchan gave a powerful defense of her school, noting the distances the children would have to travel to get to other schools if the militarization of Ames happens. Substance photo by David Vance.Also before Linker, a student took the stage and showed again what hypocrites the Board members are. Jazmine Marchan, of Ames Middle School, spoke out against the plot to take over Ames for a "Marine Military Academy." She asked them to leave Ames alone. She said that if Ames turns into a military school, it will be terrible for the kids who currently go to Ames. Hanson Park is 16 blocks away and there are four gangs between Ames and Hanson Park. Other schools are just as inconvenient. She said that the presentation last month by Alderman Roberto Maldonado was simply not true: the majority of the people do not want Ames to be changed.
Ames Middle School wasn't finished with the eloquence of Jazmine Marchan. Ana Razo, a graduate of Ames, declared that Alderman Roberto Maldonado does not represent the wishes of the community in his attempt to turn Ames into a military academy. Razo said that she went to Ames and was accepted at Lane Tech thanks to the education she got at Ames. She said that elementary school forms the basis of what one learns, and warned that the destruction of Ames would destory that..
The criticisms of the Board and its policies continued with a parent...
Deborah Koller, who was born in Rogers Park to a family that eventually moved to the suburbs, asked: "Why am I here (in the city)?"
She said that she was the youngest of five when her mother decided to go to the suburbs. But she has returned to Chicago because she believes her family should be raised in Chicago. But the disruptions caused by CPS are undermining her family's desire to remain Chicagoans. She said that a hassle-free education is deserved by all parents. She said that the shortfalls in the city budget are being put on the parents. She then demanded: "Why should families like mine continue in the city?"
Bonita Robinson, a reading specialist now retired, said that she supports the day's boycott. She told the Board that there has been no real progress in reading in 20 years, only manipulations of statistics. She condemned the opening of more charters and denounced the racist closings of schools that is taking place now. She warned the Board that the history of this explosion of racism "will be tied to your name." She condemned the plantation-like management of the school system and the new Jim Crow. She quoted Congressman John Lewis, former civil rights leader from Georgia, that this is the most racially divisive time since slavery, noting that this Board of Education was part of the nation's racist problems.
Wendy Katten of Raise Your Hand told the Board that she and her colleagues had been studying the budget. She said that charter school spending had increased while spending on traditional schools has been cut. She said that her organization wants the Board to stand up for a graduated income tax. She added that this is a terrible budget. "You could have reformed the TIF surplus, and I know you will approve this budget today because it's your job to do what the mayor wants you to do," she said.
It was nearly 1:30 before Wendy Katten, of Raise Your Hand, spoke. She told the Board that she and her colleagues had been studying the budget. She said that charter school spending had increased while spending on traditional schools has been cut. She said that her organization wants the Board to stand up for a graduated income tax. She added that this is a terrible budget. "You could have reformed the TIF surplus, and I know you will approve this budget today because it's your job to do what the mayor wants you to do," she said.
Irene Vitullo, of the Friends of Whittier, spoke of the millions in renovations poured into the school. She said these were not luxury renovations. She mentioned that "LaCasita." nickname for the Whittier field house, had been occupied for 42 days and nights. She concluded by saying that 160 schools do not have libraries, mostly in poorer neighborhoods.
There were a couple of speakers as usual touting the city's charter schools, but their generally rehearsed lines were ignored by almost everyone. Andrew Broy of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools also added his bi-monthly two cents to the discussion.
A sarcastic speech was given by Jesus Campuzano, of S.T.O.P. Campuzano "thanked" the Board for closing schools, for more gentrification in the neighborhoods, for cutting teachers, and added, we will make sure the mayor is not elected in the next term.
Mary Hughes, of Cassell, said it was a fine arts magnet school that was over-crowded, whose budget was cut, was understaffed, had Special Ed cuts, whose library was possibly eliminated, which lost a drama position, and is a Level 1 school now with 30% low income and greater Special Ed enrollment.
Charlene Campbell, of POWER-PAC, a parent of an eighth grader at Reavis, said that she and her group want student discipline data made public. She spoke of students who are getting suspended, expelled, and arrested. She asked, "Are the schools creating supportive environments or pushing out problem students?"
Rodney Estvan, of Access Living of Chicago, spoke about the FY14 budget. He spoke of a 33-page report on the budget and issues with the rating system. He said a student-based budget will not provide more funds for special ed students. He mentioned the 25% increase in charter schools, the pension funds, and social security. He added that there was no increase for special ed students. He remarked that CPS could not afford the Gates contract. He also said that the pension solution will not solve your fiscal problems. He explained that property taxes in Chicago are way too low compared to the suburbs, mentioning that Evanston has a high property tax rate.
Adenia Linker, of Lane Tech High School, played an audio recording quoting CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett. She said that the full day is not rigorous - it's ridiculous. She said that a Pandora's box had been opened and that the editing of videos of BOE meetings will not silence us.
Abbie Illenberger, of the Grassroots Collaborative, told the Board that today you will approve a budget and that Monday schools started. She told them that you say you have no choice because you have no money. She asked the Board to renegotiate toxic swap rate deals, declare a TIF surplus, request a fair state tax system, and stand up to the mayor and the banks for our city's children.
Norine Gutekanst, of the CTU and a former Whittier teacher, mentioned that in April, the principal was removed. She spoke of the fact that "LaCasita" (the field house at Whittier), which had been used as a library and a community center, had been demolished in 15 hours. She told the Board that a 2010 asbestos report said that asbestos had been found there. She added that at Whittier, there was no air-conditioning, music, library, and there was a loss of special ed teachers. She asked the Board, "What is your commitment to our children?"
Jackson Potter, of the CTU, quoted Rodney Estvan who had spoken earlier at this meeting regarding special ed funds. He said that there are moneys for alternate schools, military schools and S.T.E.M. schools. He added that this is not the time for charter expansion. It would be forcing the hand of parents to choose charter schools. He spoke of ads for charter schools and nepotism in the contracting process. He asked the board to reconsider the time-line and process and allow other options.
Nellie Cotton, of Fleming, said that we have seen a civics lesson here today, that there were all kinds of spending on new initiatives while there were also cuts. She asked that there be no school closings for five years and that the Board stop punishing our children. In regard to pension reform, she said that the teachers had paid their part.
Liz Brown, speaking as "a taxpayer," said she didn't expect the Board to hear what the community had to say. The Board has opened 15 new charters this month and more charters have been requested, she said. She noted that a Tribune survey showed that most people in Chicago do not support charter schools. Brown also noted that the Board's new "Performance Policy," which the Board claims will reduce reliance on testing, still uses testing for more than half the measures that will be used to evaluate students, teachers, and schools. She asked President David Vitale, "Let's talk about how this affects students." She added, the more we test students, the less educated they become.
Nicholas Mann, of Whittier Elementary, mentioned how "LaCasita" was demolished under the cover of darkness and they were told it didn't contain asbestos. He said that because of LaCasita, we already had a library, that books had been donated for use in LaCasita at no cost to the Board, and yet you tore it down, a cowardly action. He added that CEO Byrd-Bennett said that a court and soccer field were planned.
In addition to the charter school touts and a handful of Board fans, the Board got to hear from a small group that comes every month to criticize the Chicago Teachers Union. Frances Newman, of Chicago Alliance of Urban School Educators (C.A.U.S.E.) continued the CAUSE attack on the Chicago Teachers Union, whom she compared with the Board in not caring for the children.
Public participation concluded at approximately 2:00 p.m. with more than half of the 60 people who had signed up to speak either eliminated by the "consolidation" of speakers or having become "no show."
Once the majority of the public was out of the room, the Board members did their usual, speaking for the TV cameras in response to the criticisms that had been raised.
Then the Board voted itself into secret ("executive") session, a practice that the Board has maintained in secrecy since it took over in June 2011.
As of this report, the video rendition of the meeting and the Power Point documents had yet to be put on line. The july 24 report, which censored almost all of the students who had criticized the Board after being welcomed and placed in "Reserved" seats, remains as of Labor Day the most recent official version of what the Chicago Board of Education is doing.
