Rep Soto works with Moos Elementary School parents at a school breakfast...
State Representative Cynthia Soto (center) with the people of Moos Elementary School. Substance photo by Jean Schwab.Moos Elementary School is "on the move," as parents and guardians were told during Breakfast with Principal Karmine Asaf. Parents turned in signed forms stating that their students were doing well at Moos school and they were concerned by the $480 million budget shortfall that CPS is currently facing.
�I know this problem has been created over time, but now you have a chance to fix it, by voting for bills that provide increased funding and pension equity to Chicago schools, so that my student�s education is funded like every other student in the state," the form said. �I have seen firsthand the progress my child has made in a positive school environment, and I don�t like seeing that progress threatened. I hope I can count on you to stand up for fair treatment of Chicago�s students.�.
Moos had a speaker at our Principal�s breakfast -- Rep. Cynthia Soto.
Parents already knew that Cynthia Soto was a strong supporter of an Elected Representative School Board for Chicago and that she was actively supporting a bill to put a one year moratorium on closing schools. The Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates has also voted (at its November 4 meeting) to endorse her for re-election.
She has also stood up against school closings, not only the big ones pushed through by Barbara Byrd Bennet in May 2013, but the earlier ones as well. Rep. Soto worked with parents and others to try to prevent the closing of Carpenter Elementary School, and its replacement by a "high school."
Soto once mentioned, on U Tube, that �closing schools hurts our most vulnerable children the most." She cited homeless children and special education students.
Rep. Soto and Senator Heather Steans, the CEFTF Co-Chairs, are ex officio members of any and all standing subcommittees of the Education Facilities Task Force. The CETF's most recent report declared that CPS� Current and Proposed School Closures and other School Actions have not produced any documented or sustained academic benefit.
Parents were very eager to hear Rep. Soto�s views on how to help Moos -- and also what she was doing to help our public schools like Moos.
She was asked why she went into politics, and she stated that the an elected official before she ran for office that was not helpful when people voiced their concerns. At that time, she said, Soto was part of an organization working on immigration and community concerns. Soto decided that she could do a better job and ran for office. Soto stated that one problem with absentee ballots was that people didn�t sign their names on the absentee ballots which cost her one election. Rep. Soto also mentioned that an "independent" school will be opening up at the old Von Humboldt School. It will be a Montessori school for the early grades and later a middle grades and high school will be opened.
It will not be supported by CPS and won�t be a Charter School. It will be done through the Louis and Clark University, which has helped Moos in receiving the IB program, Chess Program and partnership in music program. This reporter was concerned that this new school will take students away from Moos and possible cost Moos programs. Moss and its special programs have been been a life saver to my grandchildren. Principal Asaf stated that Cynthia Soto is one of Moos's strongest supporters and would work with Moos to make sure Moos continues to progress. The woman sitting beside me told me that Erie Charter School is in Moo�s district and claims it has a "waiting list." She says it also could take Moos's students.
Someone asked Soto about the state budget. Rep. Soto said it already passed and ready but the Governor needs to sign it. She said that next Tuesday, Nov. 10, there will be a meeting that Soto is attending on the budget and pensions. Soto also stated that Bruce Rauner has hired part time directors at $30,000 month. We all agreed that $30,000 for part time was pretty good. Soto did not know how many directors were hired.
Principal Asaf told me that a community member who did not want Von Humboldt closed is working to buy the building using private funds and will start a small private school and a place for teachers to live. I asked Soto if the school will become a Union school and Soto said no because it is a private school. Next Thursday, Nov. 12, there is going to be a meeting at Humboldt Park at 6:00 PM on Elected Representative School Board and other related issues.
