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CPS discusses further charter expansion despite promise to the Chicago Teachers Union that charters would be 'frozen' under the contract approved by the union's leaders and members...

Jean Schwab - November 25, 2016

Chicago Teachers Union organizer Marty Ritter (left) stood with charter school advocate Leonard Kenebrew (right) during the hearing. Substance photo by Jean Schwab.Despite a claim by the Chicago Public Schools leadership that the Board of Education would "freeze" charter school expansion in Chicago during the length of the new Chicago Teachers Union contract, hearings held during Thanksgiving week indicated that the schools' administrators had every intention of continuing to expand the number of students in charter schools in Chicago. They are doing it by splitting hairs on the meanings of Chicago charter schools and "expansion."

On Monday evening, November 21, 2016, at the CPS headquarters in the Loop, approximately twenty to thirty people gathered to discuss whether Chicago Public Schools will approve the proposed "Kemet Leadership Academy" charter school. The new charter school, if approved, will be located at the former Garrett A. Morgan Elementary building in Auburn-Gresham on the South Side. The former school was closed. The new charter school claims it reaches out to male "high risk" students in the fifth grade through the eighth grade, or drop outs.

According to Chicago Sun times writer, Andy Grimm; ”If approved, Kemet would enroll 250 at-risk students, all boys, in 2017-18 and total enrollment would peak at 500, with students drawn from Auburn-Gresham, Chatham, Englewood, Roseland, Washington heights and Grand Crossing. The group backing Kemet also is looking at using the former St. Benedict the African School building, 6547 Stewart, owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.”

Groups and people supposedly in support of the approval of the proposed Kemet Leadership Academy include: former CPS Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas, Team Work Englewood, Alderman David Moore and a group called "Restorative Justice."

The first to speak at the hearing was Martin Ridder, CTU Organizer. Ritter stated that the intentions were “good “but, there will not be an increase of charter schools because the contract with the teachers stated that there will be a net zero increase in charter schools and CPS would not expand charter schools in 2017-2018."

After the meeting Ridder spoke to some advocates of the charter school suggesting after school programs for these students and working with their present schools instead of opening a new school.

A Kemet Leadership Academy spokesman also stated that there was a need for Kemet to stop the "pipeline to prison" and that Alderman Howard Brookins Jr. (who is currently in rehab after a serious injury while bicycling) was also in favor of Kemet. They added that opening up Kemet in Morgan School building will not increase the number of charters because some charters have closed.

Mary Bradly was taking the place of current CEO Forest Claypool at the hearing.

The CEO of Kemet will be a former Roberto Clemente principal, says Kemet. Someone also claimed that it is a "Level 1" high school among alternative schools. The alternative schools charter schools umbrella -- Youth Connections Charter Schools, or YCCS -- is very enthusiastic saying the school is a much needed to alternative school for high risk and drop out youth.

A parent from Patrick Henry School pointed out that voters in six wards voted overwhelmingly against expanding charter schools. Voters all over the city have rejected the expansion of charter schools.

Denise Hernandez, a student, says opening new schools is damaging our budget. It makes no sense to open charter schools when we are struggling. Charter schools are divesting our schools. Samay Owusu, another student, pointed out that there is a budget crisis in CPS and CPS is still trying to open charter schools when they cannot fund the neighborhood schools we have now.

Michael Johnson, supports Kemet. He said, “If we are not taking care of one child, we can’t take care of all of the children. Kemet Academy is about saving our children right now.” Enoch Mohammad stated in support of Kemet, “It is easier to repair young people, than a broken adult.” Eddie Phillips, of a group called "Concerned Christian Men,” says his group is in support for the Simeon, project PS2. These; young men are not bad, "they need help.”

Yamen Johnson read a letter from Paul Vallas, who was not at the hearing. In the letter, Vallas spoke in support of the Simeon Project. "I am highly supportive of charter schools and also supportive of neighborhood schools," Vallas reportedly wrote. Vallis pointed out that he was Superintendent of Schools [actually CEO] in Chicago and New Orleans and other places.”

Anthony Jackson, a parent and resident of Austin-Gresham neighborhood, “My child, and the children of that community are not Guinea Pigs. I’m tired of you coming into my neighborhood taking students from their schools. Put the money in the neighborhood schools. Kids in charter schools leave school 5X more than neighborhood schools. People voted 68% voted no to expansion of charter schools. There is no recall if you make a mistake with a child,”

This reporter talked to Mr. Jackson later, and he told me that “there were three elementary school around Morgan School and he didn’t want any more students taken away from them. Jackson also felt that if funds had been available to the neighborhood schools for programs, these at risk students and drop outs would not be at risk.”

This reporter, grandmother of children in a neighborhood school on the North Side, spoke about taking money away from Special Ed students that could be used to help my at risk grandchildren.

This was a very emotional discussion and everyone who wanted to talk, got to talk. The public won't know whether CPS will actually be expanding charter schools in 2016 - 2017 or 2017 - 2018 until the next Board of Education meeting agenda becomes public the first week of December.

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