All articles by John Kugler

Unfair Labor Practice Filed Against Chicago Teachers Union for Political Spending

ULP Charge 14(b)(1) Charge against Chicago Teachers Union for spending money on politics

... the use of CTU’s general operating funds and dues for political purposes does not further the interests of members, and . . .

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Domestic Terrorist Bill Ayers sitting next to Brandon Johnson talking like friends

Brandon Johnson a candidate for Chicago Mayor was taking about education in the Chicago Public Schools with Bill Ayers and Mark Warren on Sept 25, 2018 at 57th Street Books, Chicago, Illinois. The event was . . .

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The Billionaire and The "Socialist"

JB is a billionaire .. anyone figure out why a socialist union like the CTU supports a billionaire and why a socialist mayor-elect would take a picture with a billionaire?
... reports and . . .

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CTU Racism Claims Never Resolved - What Does Brandon Have to Say?

a ctu staffer who is getting millions of dollars to run for Chicago mayor as a social justice and restorative candidate should be able to answer if this issue was ever resolved at the CTU. . . .

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Has CTU been Taken Over by Neo-Liberals and Neo-Facists?

Many people believe the narrative that the Chicago Teachers Union is a socialist organization. The people who created that narrative convinced the public, the mainstream media (both left and right), and even socialists that the . . .

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Words have Meaning - CTU has Blood on Their Hands

republished after the stabbing of a student in an art classroom in California and students demand to be safe. Resources officers were pulled for the California school after the George Floyd Protests in 2020 for . . .

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Happy Casimir Pulaski Day, Chicago!!! Dzień Dobry

we should always remember those that try to divide us and marginalize the workers voice and power though polarization and race politics. This is the definition of oppression ... Solidarność


Who was Pulaski, . . .

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Taft students plan a safety "walk out" after a student allegedly threatened to shoot up the school & only received a one day suspension

Taft students plan a safety "walk out" after a student allegedly threatened to shoot up the school & received a one day suspension.

Many are claiming security doesn't effectively use metal detectors & are . . .

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Climate Gentrification: Resilient Real Estate is the reason Chicago is Moving People Out for the New Folks Moving In

Resilient Real Estate this is the reason the poor and immigrants are being pushed out of Chicago to make space for people coming in from areas of the county destabilized by chronic resurgences of . . .

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Economic Collapse or Just Fake Ripoff Banks? US government moves to stop potential banking crisis.

Silicon Valley Bank Failure - $200 billion in assets is the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history, behind only the 2008 failure of Washington Mutual.

Signature Bank Failure - $110 billion in assets is . . .

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In this Moment, Safe Streets mean More Police and More Funding

Brandon Johnson Wrote, Introduced, and Passed a Cook County Resolution to Defund the Police. Now he is changing his position ... When public sentiment changes and wants more police, it's not cool that politicians . . .

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Unity Destroyed by CTU Politics and Greed

There were verbal fights over at Operation PUSH yesterday between rival supporters for the mayoral race. Inside the building that stands for unity in the city.

The building that helped build black power in . . .

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Domestic Terrorist Bill Ayers sitting next to Brandon Johnson talking like friends

Brandon Johnson a candidate for Chicago Mayor was taking about education in the Chicago Public Schools with Bill Ayers and Mark Warren on Sept 25, 2018 at 57th Street Books, Chicago, Illinois. The event was . . .

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Who Will Keep Chicago Safe

Safety is the only question you must ask yourself about voting for a new Chicago mayor. Everything else is nonsense if we are not safe to go to work, school, shopping, or hanging out in . . .

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Select enrollment is bad, but not for my family says Brandon Johnson

We have several reports Brandon Johnson sends all his children to selective enrollment schools, one at Kenwood HS and two at OA Thorpe School, very selective, highly competitive schools to enter.

Not even . . .

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Did the Chicago Teachers Union work with Sterling Bay to Hide an 8,500,000 Dollar Real Estate Deal to Avoid paying taxes? It certainly looks that way!

We are reporting what we believe is a coordinated effort to evade paying taxes on a multi-million-dollar real estate transaction between the leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union and the development company Sterling Bay.
. . .

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Progressive Lies: CTU Leadership chose a Felon over Mah

Everybody does know that the Chicago Teachers Union supported Alex Acevedo over Theresa Mah when she first ran for office.

Instead of supporting a trailblazing Asian American into the State Assembly, the Chicago Teachers . . .

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Is CTU being Used for it's Money? An analysis of the financial basis of pseudo-left politics

Re-posting story from May 2022 .... To remind people of historical facts regarding people currently using union resources to violate the law ... they lack ethics and morality for human rights The same people who . . .

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Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd. General Boyd becomes the first Black 2-Star General in the history of the Illinois National Guard

We have never before had a person of color reach the rank of major general, the highest rank achievable in the Illinois National Guard until today. Ceremony was held Carver Military Academy on the far . . .

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African American History Month - Otis McDonald, Civil Rights Hero and Second Amendment Champion (1933-2014)

Otis McDonald filed the case that overturned Chicago's handgun law in 2010


There was a wrong done a long time ago that dates back to slavery time, I could feel the spirit of . . .

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Chicago Political Violence - 1st Ward Alderman Daniel La Spata Campaign Offices Attacked Overnight

Police responded after midnight to a 911 report of two men wearing all black smashing windows at our Milwaukee staff and volunteer office (LaSpapta is a member of the Chicago City Council Democratic Socialist Caucus . . .

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CPS Chief Operating Officer sells Dope in the Suburbs

Imagine in your wildest dreams that the Chief Operating Officer of Chicago Public Schools gets to open a weed dispensary in Wheeling.

.. the person who is supposed to be a Chicago resident and . . .

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Jack Johnson: Unforgivable Blackness - Heavyweight Champion of the World Persecuted by the United States Government for dating White Women and being Black

(Black History Month) Jack Johnson: Unforgivable Blackness - Heavyweight Champion of the World Persecuted by the United States Government for dating White Women and being Black

video on our facebook page
https://fb.watch/iz_t37lb3_/
. . .

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$1.5 Million in One Week: Brandon Johnson Gets 390,000 teachers union money before Feb 2023 HoD Meeting

Tracking how much the Chicago Teachers Unions is giving to Brandon Johnson and spending on politics in one day, on Feb 7, 2023 the morning before the House of Delegates and without delegate approval leadership . . .

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Palos Paul Gets $200,000 Valentine's Day Campaign Donation from Park Ridge

$200,000 Valentine's Donation from Park Ridge to influence a Chicago Mayoral election ??? they expecting something in return ??? #PayToPlay Same with all those other donations from the suburbs ... what would anyone in the . . .

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CTU Officers Broke the Law Loaning Dues Money to PAC for Brandon Johnson

in a rapidly unfolding we have confirmed through sources what multiple sources and news outsets have confirmed that the $419,000 transfer of union dues money was illegal under State Election law. What was illegal is . . .

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Not a Loan - it was a $400,000 gift of dues money

After the Chicago Teachers Union was caught making two illegal loans to a Political Action Committee totaling $400,000 they are changing what has been declared and voted on by union representatives ... it was not . . .

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$415,000 Mistake - Chicago Teachers Union Lawyer Larry Suffredin Writes Excuse and Says Dues were used for Politics

In the ongoing controversy of the possible embezzlement of Chicago Teachers Union dues to fund Brandon Johnson's mayoral campaign, CTU paid Lawyer Larry Suffredin wrote a letter to the State Board of Elecctions clarifying that . . .

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Intention to Lead, Who to Vote for in Chicago

With 9 candidates running in the February 28th Chicago mayor's race the choice seems difficult but it's pretty easy.

Most of the candidates running to be the next mayor are professional politicians with ties . . .

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you "Cracker" ... "Fuck Off Honky" white woman - Chicago Teachers Union Progressive challenger in far North Side 50th Ward race expresses regret over profane anti-Israel tweet and anti-white tweets

Chicago Teachers Union Progressive challenger in far North Side 50th Ward race expresses regret over profane anti-Israel tweet and ones where he referred to a white person as "cracker" and "honky" the teachers Union recently . . .

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Trickled On Economy - Chicago and Homan Westside Street Corner

Driving around the city I see a bunch of vote for me signs all over the place, plus a boarded up business on a main street corner.
Seems like the politicians forgot to clean . . .

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Modern-Day Colonization: Chicago Public Schools Caught Lying Replacing Blacks students with Migrants in a Closed School

Modern-Day Colonization: Chicago Public Schools Caught Lying and Replacing Blacks students with Migrants in a Closed School



Dr. John Kugler - January 02, 2023
https://mobile.twitter.com/drkugler
https://www.facebook.com/SubX.News

We are working . . .

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Do not just show up at the border. Stay where you are ... Bidens tells Migrants from the Oval Office

“Do not just show up at the border. Stay where you are and apply legally from there,” Biden announces new program to curb illegal migration as he prepares for visit to border addressing potential migrants . . .

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Pedophile Cover-Up continues ... Illinois Attorney General Again Orders CPS to Hand Over Eric Skalinder Documents

In the continued fight to uncover how Eric Skalinder groomed and had inappropriate contact with Kelly High School students, all while owning and operating a BDSM Sexshop in the basement of his home at 3459 . . .

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Public Indoctrination: Teachers Union Uses Students for Politics

In what seems to be a complete disregard for Chicago Public Schools' rules against using students for personal gain, the Chicago Teachers Union used a CPS student for politics.

The Union leadership and . . .

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Cook County Employee Lisa Schrantz in charge of Millions of Teachers Union money

White Liberal pulling brandons strings no way they would let him hold all those millions ... BTW she works with him at the Cook County Board and now controls millions of union members' dollars -> . . .

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Anyone ever see this much money exchanged in one second?

Here it is your union money #fraud #WakeUp

Original Investigation Public Corruption

Campaign disclosure documents from the Illinois State Board of Elections show funds that have been transferred to Brandon Johnson's private political . . .

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Chicago Teachers Union Outsources Social Media Advertising to a company in Philadephia

Substance News is looking at campaign disclosure documents and has found that Union leadership is paying for social media advertising for Brandon Johnson and his Mayoral campaign with a Pennsylvania media company.

$11,250.00 . . .

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Giving your saved money to a stranger for nothing in return ...

Chicago Teachers Union leadership gives outsider access to our union money. Imagine giving your bank account to a stranger for nothing in return ... money you worked for ... poof gone without even an explanation . . .

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Union Dues for Politics: CTU Organizers Working for Brandon Johnson

. . .

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Are You F**king Kidding Me? CTU Fights Paying Taxes Using Crony Chicago Machine Politics Lawyers

In what seems the most damning evidence yet of how far the Chicago Teachers Union into the cesspool of political corruption and how far the current Union Leadership under Stacy Davis Gates and Jackson Potter . . .

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No Ethics & No Morality for Human Rights - Is the CTU next to be destroyed by Outsiders and Fakesters?

re-posting story from May 2022 .... To remind people of historical facts regarding people currently using union resources to violate the law ... they lack ethics and morality for human rights

The . . .

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Monday Morning Grumpy - Watching Us

Just got out, and did a little bit of running around, in the city.

Grew up in Chicago all my life, some of the stuff I see out here, no wonder these kids are . . .

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When the government passes laws they can't keep themselves, it makes you wonder why the law was passed in the first place, or maybe the University believes it is above the law?

Code Violation: Jan 30, 2023, @ 09:19 am Location: 41.980, -87.720 Chicago, IL Person in Charge: Northeastern Illinois University
Video Evidence https://www.facebook.com/SubX.News/videos/3316550565226910/

Questions About Sidewalk Snow Removal

When do the new regulations . . .

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Words have Meaning CTU has Blood on Their Hands

Today we learned about the horrific exectution of two CPS students as they were leaving Benito Juarez Academy. The Chicago Teachers Union leadership is directly responsible by word and deed.
The anti-police pro-gangbanger actions . . .

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Jadine Chou, Head of Chicago Public Schools security, has failed to keep students and schools safe ... Why does she still have a job?

The Benito Juarez student murders during dismissal is at least the third shooting to take place at a Chicago public high school this year.

Four students were shot outside Schurz High School in Old . . .

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35 years later nothing has changed .. Moffat and now Skalinder ... Sexual Predators in Chicago Schools

35 years later nothing has changed .. Moffat and now Skalinder ... Sexual Predators in Chicago Schools ... question is why was a high ranking union official allowed to continue to work with teachers and . . .

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Broken Promises - the old Dett Elementary school building

Broken Promises - the old Dett Elementary school building, report on an Abandoned Closed Chicago Public School in the middle of a gentrifying area on the Westside that was predominantly African American ... has not . . .

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Prayers to the victims and survivors of the Juarez High School Murders Dec 16 2022

Prayers to the victims and survivors of the Juarez High School Murders Our hearts are broken to be part of such community violence Our family has spent years at Juarez it feels as if we . . .

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Substance News aka SubX.News - Trademarked

we got this in the mail the other day ... working on LLC paperwork and trying to fix-up the website better than a word press so still using the old website for now and dealing . . .

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tons of ctu and cps reporting most is corruption related

we have fallen behind on articles and reporting in the last few weeks... technical difficulties some censoring and other issues beyond our control. will be refocusing on corruption and is the ctu responsible for the . . .

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CTU and CPS Collusion Cases - Kugler vs. CTU & CPS 11/16/22 @ 10 am

couple of hearings on my termination Wed 11/16/22 @ 10 am - charged that CTU ands CPS colluded to have me terminated from my position as a Business Agent - Lara Shayne the Chairman of . . .

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Another Chicago Public School Abuse Cover Up by the School System, a Vendor and possibly the Union

Another Chicago School Abuse Cover Up by the School System, a Vendor and possibly the Union - Pablo Varela who worked at Austin High School for Renaissance Manufacturing supported by the Chicago Teachers Union was . . .

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FOIA Demand for Documents - Chicago Public Schools covering up pedophile text messages sent by Eric Skalinder to his students

Chicago Public Schools covering up pedophile text messages sent by Eric Skalinder to his students ... Substance News has been requesting text messages that the CPS teacher was sending to his students after hours talking . . .

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CPS DNH Documents Ronald Lawless Non-Commercial FOIA Request: N011036-051022

Ronald Lawless termination and Do Not Hire paperwork. We were tipped off that despite having a ban from working with Chicago Public Schools staff or students Ronald Lawless continued to work indirectly through a program . . .

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[ Public Corruption Chicago ] Superseding Federal Indictment Against Former Illinois Democrat Speaker of the House Michael Madigan Adds Charge for Alleged Corruption Scheme Related to AT&T Illinois

The only question now is was Chicago Teachers Union dues money used for corruption. During this time the CTU spent millions on politics to reverse the ammendatory act ... in addition CTU gave money to . . .

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CPS Sex Harassment Case Cover-up ... 3 years, 4 months, 23 days too late

Sex Harassment Case Cover-up ... 3 years, 4 months, 23 days too late ... Materials were released by Chicago Public Schools years after sexual harassment allegations, and a resignation happened. We are now only learning . . .

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‘They shot Ms. Kuczka' 🙏 Jean Kuczka, 61, St. Louis teacher died protecting her students

‘They shot Ms. Kuczka' 🙏 Jean Kuczka, 61, St. Louis teacher died protecting her students.

During the rush to evacuate students from the school, “One student looked at me and she said, ‘They shot . . .

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Company Union here we come ... CTU stand up to the south bend bully

Is anyone challenging this CTU spending and rhetoric to run a staffer to be Mayor of the city of Chicago? or is everyone afraid to stand up to bullies anymore? Does anyone think it is . . .

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is stacy playing us ? sure looks like it

In a stunning turn of events, Stacy Davis Gates in her first major public speech declares that all the bluster and fighting over the past few years was fake and that the ctu and cps . . .

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Entrepreneurship Training for Inner City Youth - 16 Years Later What Has Changed ?

On this Labor Day, looking back at what could have been if the powers that be would have stayed the course of practical vocational education for our children in public schools.
Think about all . . .

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Brandon Johnson Coordinates Kickbacks for CTU Legal Work

The Chicago Teachers Union PAC that supports Brandon Johnson's campaign, received contributions from two law firms currently doing business with the Chicago Teachers Union on the same day.
Dowd Bloch and Bennet & Poltrock . . .

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we can send a missile to Afghanistan and get a terrorist yet we can not figure out who is giving guns to our kids in the city ?

a 16 year is charged with attempted murder of a police officer this is the gun the police recovered yesterday (9/21/22) ... no adult can purchase this rifle or the bullets for this in Chicago . . .

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Willie, I’m hit! I can’t feel my legs ... Seventh Defendant Sentenced in Murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry

“Willie, I’m hit! I can’t feel my legs” ... Seventh Defendant Sentenced in Murder of 🙏 U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry ... the gun at the scene was traced to the 'Fast and Furious' . . .

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FOIA Demand for Documents - Chicago Public Schools covering up pedophile text messages sent by Eric Skalinder to his students

Chicago Public Schools covering up pedophile text messages sent by Eric Skalinder to his students ... Substance News has been requesting text messages that the CPS teacher was sending to his students after hours talking . . .

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60k Saturday Night Sneak Move by stacy davis gates who transfers $59,900 to her own employee

60k Saturday Night Sneak Move by Stacy Davis Gates, Chicago Teachers Union President, who transfers $59,900 to her own employee, Brandon Johnson, running to be mayor without Union approval.

by John Kugler
Published 9/24/22 . . .

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Another Chicago School Abuse Cover Up by the School System, a Vendor and possibly the Union

Another Chicago School Abuse Cover Up by the School System, a Vendor and possibly the Union - Pablo Varela who worked at Austin High School for Renaissance Manufacturing supported by the Chicago Teachers Union was . . .

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[ Pedophile Punished ] Former CPS teacher sentenced to 50 years for molesting teen boy in Indiana hotel

In a heinous act against a child a Chicago Public School teacher has been found guilty and sentenced to 50 years in prison for child exploitation, child solicitation, promotion of human trafficking, criminal confinement, in . . .

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CPS empty schools and no learning the result of political and social justice agenda by CORE leadership

. . .

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Official Twitter account for Substance News

For those that don't know we have an official Twitter account.

We run our stories and aggregate twitter in addiction to sharing information that is not found on this website.

https://twitter.com/NewsSubstance
. . .

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Feds using US Code to charge Chicago Area Carjackers (18 U.S.C. § 2119 1110. Carjacking Statue)

In what seems to be an aggressive move by the Biden administration the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois, is being used to fight street crime in the Chicagoland area.

The . . .

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18-year-old made a fake terrorist threat while working at Lollapalooza to go home early charged with a Class 1 Felony (720 ILCS 5.0/29D-25)

Janya Williams 18-year-old security guard made a fake terrorist threat while working at Lollapalooza to go home early ... she is now charged with making a false terrorism threat a Class 1 felony (720 ILCS . . .

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White House talking Griner illegally detained in Russia, is weed legal in the USA? Asking for a friend ...

Biden passed the legislation that toughened the War on Drugs that disproportionately targeted minority populations in the inner cities, and Harris prosecuted those laws.

Last we checked, millions of black, brown and poor people . . .

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16 Years Later: Job Training in the Chicago schools, what has changed? It's gotten worse, That's what's changed

I'm still the same person hustling to survive as any Chicagoan knows how to do.

The students and youth of Chicago are the ones suffering. We see young people getting into trouble daily on . . .

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[ Illiterate ] 9% Math, 29% ELA Passing while 64% Chronically Absent SFUSD African American Data June 2022

9% of African American students Passing Math: In a shocking set of statistics African American students in the San Francisco pulic schools are beyond underoerformeing it could be saiud they are illiterate and unable . . .

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We should never be afraid when individuals or groups try to terrorize us to take away our rights and our freedoms

Today is Independence Day when we claimed sovereignty from England. The same oppression we're experiencing today, crime, poverty, taxes, division, cronyism, and corruption, we declared independence from over 200 years ago.

Written July 4th . . .

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CPS DNH Documents Ronald Lawless Non-Commercial FOIA Request: N011036-051022

Ronald Lawless termination and Do Not Hire paperwork. We were tipped off that despite having a ban from working with Chicago Public Schools staff or students Ronald Lawless continued to work indirectly through a program . . .

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[ Program Transcript ] Brutus and Brian Presents the DEBATES - the Cook County Primary Candidate Forum June 5, 2022

[ Program Transcript ] Brutus and Brian Presents the DEBATES - the Cook County Primary Candidate Forum June 5, 2022 at the Carter G Woodson Regional Chicago Public Library with Richard Boykin, Kari Steele, Fritz . . .

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[ Kim Foxx Domestic Police Report ] ... dispatch informed us the domestic was physical and there were no injuries "yet."

Kim Foxx Domestic Trouble Flossmoor Police Department Report for F22-02309 7350 at 935 Argyle Ave Flossmoor, IL 60422 Reported on 22:09:12 06/04/22

(Flossomoor Police denied our request for the body camera footage . . .

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Stacy and Kim are the Problem

In one of Kim Foxx's Office's most blatant examples of public endangerment, her attorneys charged an out-of-state individual with a misdemeanor after two concealed 9mm pistols and drugs were found during a traffic stop. . . .

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Sexual Predator Ghislaine Maxwell has been put on suicide watch

Sexual Predator Ghislaine Maxwell has been put on suicide watch at a Brooklyn jail, and may seek to delay her Tuesday sentencing for aiding Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of underage girls, her lawyer said . . .

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Happy May Day 2022

Enjoy the Workers Day. Today is not about politics or power it is about the workers enjoying a day to rest and be with their families. We earn our keep and we earn our rest. . . .

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[ Investigative Report ] Chicago Teachers Union Paid and Allowed a Sexual Predator to Work with Female Teachers


Eric Skalinder a well connected union offical continued to be on the payroll of the Chicago Teachers Union and mentor teachers, go into schools and have access to students information and videos dispite being . . .

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Déjà vu a "secret plan" to strike two days after the election


If you think it's a conspiracy theory that the Chicago Teachers Union's work-stoppage this winter was about electioneering, you are not crazy. It happened before.

Jinny Sims is a politician and union leader . . .

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[ CTU Pedophile Cover-Up ] "ln fact I think that's really sexy."

"ln fact I think that's really sexy." Pedophile CoverUp - Sources have reported Jesse Sharkey refused to answer any questions about having a pedophile on payroll during a delegate meeting Wednesday May 4, 2022. Debby . . .

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We deem the allegations in the Complaint (367 NLRB No. 50) to be admitted as true that the Chicago Teachers Union engaged in Coercive Statements

It seems as if the CTU has become the law breaker, rather the champion of social justice and economic security.

We will be posting stories and notices of how the current CTU leadership . . .

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Is There a Public Schools Budget Crises Looming?



The problem with ideologues, extremists, and manipulators is they never tell the whole truth. In some cases, as with the current Chicago Teachers Union leadership, they actively work to deceive and lie to . . .

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MFT 59 - Minneapolis Federation of Teachers fails to release election results as per rules and elections

In a constested Union election where the leadership was accused of being racist by the Minneapolis NAACP and using the union for political interests rather than what is good for teachers and staff.
After . . .

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CORE is re-elected with 57% of the vote

CORE is re-elected with 57% of the vote, followed by the Members First slate with 26% and the Respect Educate Advocate Lead slate with 17%.

CORE was first elected to Union leadership in . . .

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CPS covering up security risks to students (Non-Commercial FOIA Request :: N011036-051022)

Through FOIA work and tips, Substance News had confirmed that an individual was allowed to work with CPS staff and possibly students when they were banned from such activity. During a Chicago Teachers Union Foundation . . .

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Teacher Talking about Tinder dating former students with current students

Teacher Talking about Tinder dating former students with current students in a Chicago Public High School - Investigative Report #7820 - Thomas Kelly High School (Page 11)



The R/I asked Mr. Skalinder . . .

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Memorial Day 2022 - American Legion Post #231 McKinley Park Chicago


Here are a few picures and links to the annual Memorial Day Parade in McKinley Park sponsored by American Legion Post #231





Gun salute and Taps to remember fallen . . .

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CPS DNH Documents Ronald Lawless Non-Commercial FOIA Request: N011036-051022

Ronald Lawless termination and Do Not Hire paperwork. We were tipped off that despite having a ban from working with Chicago Public Schools staff or students Ronald Lawless continued to work indirectly through a program . . .

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Chicago Teachers Union Caught Changing Election Rules

Plaintiffs filed the lawsuit on Thursday, April 14, charging that an election rule had been violated when the Union allowed candidates of all caucuses an extension to file a form indicating the caucus slate . . .

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Union Response to Changing Election Process

the Chicago Teachers Union responds to lawsuit regarding changes in election process for Union Officers.
The CTU resonse is asking for the case to be dismissed.


Here is the original lawsuit . . .

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[ Breaking Story ] Chicago Teachers Union Violation of Federal Election Rules by CORE Confirmed by Unions own Lawyer

In a fast-moving story, the leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union has been now accused of violated federal election rules for its officer elections coming up on May 20, 2022 by another group running for . . .

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Whose rights are more important? CTU Social Justice Scam

Whose rights are more important?

That is the issue when you have inexperienced negotiators driven by ideology. Zealots who focus on politics make miscalculations and agreements that disenfranchise groups.



Look at . . .

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CTU is Broke: How did that Happen?

During the March 2022 House of Delegates meeting it was reported that the Chicago Teachers Union was 2.8 million dollars in the red dispite not paying an extra rent payment at the Merchandise Mart, which . . .

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[ CTU History] Current officer and officer candidate for recording secretary Crystal Williams-Hayes committed an Unfair Labor Practice years ago as a delegate against CORE candidates

Current officer and officer candidate for recording secretary Crystal Williams-Hayes committed an Unfair Labor Practice years ago as a delegate against CORE candidates.

Christel Williams-Pierce, clerk at Hyde Park, who is on the UPC . . .

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[ Possible Union Corruption ] Did the Chicago Teachers Union violate Federal Labor Law

Did the Chicago Teachers Union violate Federal Labor Law when it instructed its district organizers to collect signatures for a political group during Union officer elections? Read for yourself and what do you think should . . .

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Sharkey slaps Rank-and-File in the Face



Jesse Sharkey the current Chicago Teachers Union President, stepping aside from the election process at this moment is an extraordinary announcement, since the CORE (his political party) slating process has been running for . . .

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[ Union Politics ] CORE switches Officer Slate at Last Minute did they follow proper procedures?

Over the weekend, CORE slated Jackson Potter for Vice President and Stacy Davis Gates for President of the Chicago Teachers Union; this was after the abrupt announcement by Jesse Sharkey last week that he didn't . . .

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[ CTU Anti-Safety Reporting ] Davis and Sharkey are the Safety Cops

[ Anti-Safety Reporting ] the Chicago Teachers Union has created a Google document so members can turn people in for organizing any Anti-Safety events or actions at schools. Under what authority does CTU have to . . .

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[ Breaking Up Is Hard To Do ] Chicago Teachers Union leadership party splits up

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do ... Think of all that we've been through the old song by Neil Sadaka is the current sentinments in Chicago Teachers Union election politics.

In a new development . . .

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Unfair Labor Practice Filed Against Chicago Teachers Union Spying On Members

Basis of Charge



On or about February 7, 2022, the Chicago Teachers Union sent out a request to all bargaining unit members to report fellow bargaining unit members who are "organized resistance" community school . . .

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[ CTU History ] In 2010 five groups ran for Union Officer Elections in the Chicago Teachers Union

The current mainstream media is creating a false narrative that it is unusual for more than one group to be running for Union elections. We will be reposting stories to show the dishonesty of corporate . . .

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Go, But Don't Go - Confusing Messaging for Chicago schools coming back from Winter Break

Chicago Public Schools will be open for school tomorrow, January 3, 2022, for students and families that want to send their children to school despite the Chicago Teachers Union demanding that schools be closed for . . .

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The Smoke Screen of CTU Politics: Unchecked Gentrification and the Loss of Students

Workers have a right and duty to improve working conditions but need to watch behind the scenes.
The sharp decline in public school enrollment and unchecked gentrification should warn Chicago Teachers Union members that . . .

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What Fucking Equality, that's Bullshit

"see Gloria this is about equality… but we have to leave it like that and not talk."

Cabrera replied, "what fucking equality, that's bullshit"




Two waitresses working at a Mexican . . .

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[ Investigation Completed ] Fatal 2021 Chicago Police Killing of Anthony Alvarez

“Why are you shooting me? “ moaning on the ground, Anthony Alvarez asking Officer Evan Solano.

“You had a gun,” Solano responded.




COPA will not release its findings until after . . .

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[ Real Power and Organizing ] CPS requires all basketball players to be fully vaccinated, then reverses course

In a show of force, CPS athletics seemed to have pushed back on unilateral and summary changes to CPS policies that would hurt prospecting opportunities for student-athletes. This is what power and strong organizing look . . .

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Hysteria and Fear




Turning on the TV.

Looking at my social media feed. All I see is doom and gloom.

Here in Chicago, we are in a fight. A fight for what I . . .

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Vice President tells teachers Obama administration still loves us, says... Attacks on Public Workers Biggest Scam In American History

[originally published July 4th 2011]

Vice President Joe Biden in July 3, 2011 a speech to the more than 9000 delegates to the 2011 National Education Association Represenative Assembly in Chicago that teachers and . . .

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CPS removes Principal Sarah Abedelal from Brennemann elementary

After years of corruption and numerous complaints from staff it took the Office of Inspector General to finally forced Chicago Public Schools to remove corrupt Principal Sarah Abedelal from Brennemann Elementary School.
This is . . .

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History is still alive today... Labor Beat's 2015 story 'A Financial Crisis Created To Justify Cuts'... Video explaining how ruling class creates a crises to justify staff cuts remains alive and relevant today...

In remembrance of Larry Duncan and in preparation for the attacks from employers on workers here is a great video made a few years ago on how employers create a crises that diverts money to . . .

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Shoving match disrupts deposition in First Amendment case over Board of Education's right to ban some parents from Board meetings for all eternity...

A shoving match disrupted a deposition in a case involving the rights of parents and others to attend meetings of the Chicago Board of Education, resulting in one attorney being barred from a major case. . . .

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'What is your f______ problem!?' Court case over violence at Chicago Board of Education meeting results in confrontation between attorneys

It's a case dating back to 2014 and 2015 against the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The case involves the banning of community activist Rousemary Vega and her husband Jesus Ramos from Board meetings. The two . . .

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HISTORY LESSON: Cleveland investigation and then a Substance report showed Barbara Byrd Bennett's history of corruption had been exposed in Cleveland long before the 'scandal' of the $20 million no-bid SUPES deal became Chicago 'news'...

[Editor's Note: The April 28 sentencing of Barbara Byrd Bennett to four and a half years in federal prison for corruption while she reigned as "Chief Executive Officer " of Chicago's public schools reminded the . . .

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Vacant CPS buildings, once schools, testify to the betrayal of Chicago by Barbara Byrd Bennett four years after she ordered the closing of 50 of the city's schools, highest in American history... CPS Criminal Conduct Update, Claypool now the Lawbreaker...

Four years after former Chicago public schools "Chief Executive Officer" Barbara Byrd Bennett ordered the closing of 50 of the city's real public schools, many of them still sit vacant with gaping openings for miscreants . . .

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Chicago Teachers Union field rep exposes latest expensive corruption in Claypool administration

Chicago Teachers Unon field representative Joseph McDermott have uncovered that latest Claypool corruption, malfeasance, harassment and coercion against the members of the CTU, and the expose has now been aired on the WTTW Chicago Tonight. . . .

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Illinois moving on out!... Chicago's drug gang murders are one part of the story of the state's dysfunction...

In the 40th Annual National Movers Study, which tracks customers’ state-to-state migration patterns over the past year. Illinois is moving up the Rankings to the number two spot of the top states which people were . . .

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Chicago sabotaging swimming program and water polo teams at Harrison Park by removing the coach whose teams have dominated the city for years... Is gentrification behind it?...

In the ongoing fight against gentrification -- and what many are calling "ethnic cleansing" -- in the Pilsen neighborhood (a South Side Chicago community that is predominately Hispanic), parents have learned that a beloved coach . . .

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Lead update... Protocols for checking on lead poisoning in water... CPS was supposed to be doing certain checks, especially for older schools many of which had lead pipes...

As the news of widespread lead testing manipulation becomes more evident across the country -- and here in Chicago -- Substance News has obtained the "Potable Water Sampling Protocol for Lead Concentration dated April 15, . . .

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Questions about lead to ask at your child's school...

What questions about lead should you ask your child's school? As more and more people in Chicago learn that the Chicago Board of Education has sabotaged lead testing and the children's health through massive privatization . . .

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At least a dozen schools now have found lead problems... Reilly Elementaty School being 're-examined' while top CPS officials evade reporters... CPS continues lead testing while giving another example of governance by consultants and e-mailed press statements...

Rather than working with the Chicago Teachers Union, school engineers and nurses who are experts on such subjects, or staff in schools, Chicago Public Schools is managing the third largest school district in the United . . .

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Chicago aldermen demand hearings on lead contamination in schools... '...Lead shouldn’t be in our vocabulary in this day and age. We know how to get rid of it, we know how to test for it and we know how to keep our kids safe from it...'

As a result of the growing concern for the safety of children and staff in Chicago Public Schools, Alderman Chris Taliaferro of the 29th Ward and fellow members of the Chicago City Council Progressive Reform . . .

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Thirty percent of Chicago schools tested have lead in the school drinking water...

In an ever worsening crises in the Chicago Public Schools, the nation's third largest public school district now says that 23 of the 78 schools tested - 30% -- had lead levels above Federal EPA . . .

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Another Flint, this time brought to you by Chicago's City Hall and Chicago Public Schools?... CPS pays $34 Million for 'Safety Consultants' -- but no lead testing before May 2016...

How big is the "Flint" in Chicago Public Schools? And how long will it be before city and CPS officials make public the complete results of lead testing in the city's massive public school system? . . .

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Sheet metal workers reject contract, begin strike in Cook and Lake counties...

Chicago sheet metal workers have rejected an inadequate contract proposal and gone on strike beginning May 31, 2016 in Cook County and Lake County Illinois. Chicago Teachers Union officials and rank and file members are . . .

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Lead in Chicago water, especially schools?... Guardian newspaper investigation notes that Chicago is among 33 cities that manipulated lead tests in water supply...

An exclusive investigation by the Guardian newspaper shows that "massive manipulation" of testing methods of public water supply for lead has found that in 33 cities across 17 states. All of the cities cited have . . .

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Lead poisoning... Class Action Lawsuit... Philadelphia Lead Pipe Water Contamination and Cover-up...

A new class action lawsuit was filed against the city of Philadelphia regarding lead poisoned drinking water on June 2, 2016. Philadelphia residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia, claiming that . . .

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How much has the decades long policy of undermining neighborhood high schools hurt Chicago?... 'Chicago has a poor track record of delivering for its weakest students but this latest chapter, arguably an inevitable and predictable consequence of school choice, may be a new low...'

While the city waits to learn if the State of Illinois will finally increase revenues for the Chicago Board of Education through a progressive income tax and other means, longstanding policies are also receiving a . . .

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Blaine Principal Troy LaRaviere is not the only one banned from Chicago schools... Board of Education continues spending legal dollars to keep parents out of meetings, as the case of Rousemary Vega shows...

Although the banning of Blaine Elementary School principal Troy LaRaviere has been in the news, the problems caused by the anti-democratic forces inside Chicago - and leading Chicago's Board of Education -- include parents and . . .

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Chicago Public Schools continues to waste money to ban parents from public meetings: CPS using legal costs and stalling court tactics to deny parents entry and due process rights...

Why is the Chicago Board of Education still on a vendetta against parent Rousemary Vega and her husband? Simple answer: raw unaccountable power. In a clear abuse of power and restrictions on free speech in . . .

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First Amendment rights of Board of Education workers are being violated again, despite previous federal court decisions and injunctions... CPS tries to ban union business again... six years after court ordered them to stop...

Six years ago, the Chicago Board of Education banned union business in schools. The First Amendment rights of teachers and others who work in the schools were being violated. A group of unionists, led by . . .

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BOARDWATCH: CPS 'Sports Administration' department did a little perjury a few years back... 'In January 2009, CPS settled the case for $500,000...' after the Marshall High School boys basketball coach was fired for complaining that the girls team got more resources!...

It was the year 2008, during the last term of Marilyn Stewart as President of the Chicago Teachers Union, and Substance reported a story "CPS Sports Administration Retaliation Backfires and Administrator Charged with Perjury." Some . . .

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New York court decision throws out use of 'VAM' for teacher evaluations... New York's highest court notes that the VAM system is bogus...

In a case that has huge implications for Chicago teachers, Sheri Lederman, desecribed as "a beloved fourth-grade teacher from Great Neck, New York," just won a lawsuit to have her 2013-14 VAM score of “ineffective” . . .

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If the boss is one (of those), you can call him that and not be fired!... 'Employee’s profane and insubordinate conduct shielded by protected activity...' National Labor Board upholds a worker's right to call his boss a M_____F______ and an A______!

Can you be fired for calling an asshole and asshole? And should a union rep be barred from the schools because some bosses claim they are too sensitive to be confronted with a union official's . . .

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Privatization continues and pension attack is coming... Chicago Board of Education's May 25, 2016 Agenda shows that even when it cries 'broke!' the Chicago Board of Education continues the massive and expensive expansion of privatization...

A detailed analysis of the Agenda for the meeting of the Chicago Board of Education scheduled for May 25, 2016 makes it clear that even when the Board cries it is broke it continues to . . .

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Fraudulent LSC voting at Juarez High School challenged... 'We are challenging an election process that was tainted from the beginning in favor of candidates close to the principal and to Alderman [Danny] Solis...'

A hearing to rule on allegations of vote fraud and manipulation of the Local School Council (LSC) election for Juarez High School was held at Chicago Public School (CPS) headquarters at 42 W. Madison, on . . .

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CTU rejects fact-finder's report... Union leadership to hold Monday (April 19) press conference... CTU still stuck because of ancient anti-CTU laws that need to be ended...

The Chicago Teachers Union announced in a press release on April 16, 2016 that it was rejecting the report of the 'fact finder' regarding the current negotiations with the Chicago Board of Education. The union's . . .

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As schools become more dangerous... CPS Endangers Staff and Children: Refuses to Provide Any Safety Training Documents in violation of the FOIA law...

In an ongoing struggle for transparency and accountability to have Chicago Public Schools provide safety training and safety compliance documents, the Illinois Attorney General issued a "determination letter" on March 22, 2016. The Attorney General's . . .

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Karen Lewis delivers lengthy City Club speech outlining the issues facing Chicago Public Schools...

In a lengthy speech before Chicago's City Club, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis responded point by point to the recent attempts by Chicago public schools officials to claim that the union is in the . . .

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CPS almost sabotages Juarez water polo team, moving 'home' game to Mather High School at the last minute... CPS administration continues to fail to repair the swimming pool at Juarez High School...

In a shocking display of what many considered "coordinated privilege", the Juarez High School pool and water polo team, is apparently being sabotaged during the most important part of the sports season. As the season . . .

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CPS is contaminating our children with Asbestos, just like Flint Michigan contaminated drinking water with lead...

In a an analysis of CPS data by EWG Action Fund it has been found that thousands of students and staff in Chicago Public Schools are at risk to asbestos exposure. All CPS Parents and . . .

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CTU victory!... Six years of back pay and reinstatement for union member after Board of Education continues persecution of a teacher despite the facts and the law...

Persistence has paid off for the Chicago Teachers Union and a teacher who was scapegoated by CPS officials six years ago! The Illinois Appellate Court on March 29, 2016 issued a ruling in one of . . .

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Chicago Teachers Union report shows crisis in school health services caused by Chicago Public Schools privatization of nursing services...

The Chicago Teachers Union has issued a 33-page study detailing how the privatization of nursing services in the nation's third largest school system is threatening the health of the city's nearly 400,000 public school children. . . .

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CPS computers hacked, Claypool trying to cover up the magnitude of the problem while hiring $500 an hour consultants to try and fix it...

BREAKING STORY - SUBSTANCE NEWS EXCLUSIVE -- Tips from sources inside CPS are reporting that a virus has hit CPS computers and major depts including Human resources and employee records. Numerous departments cannot access records . . .

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BOARDWATCH: Claypool Hiring Cover-up Continues... The current 'Chief Executive Officer' of Chicago's public schools continues covering up histories of his executive hires at CPS while corporate media pushes FOIA requests over against City Hall...

During the years since Rahm Emanuel was inaugurated as Mayor of Chicago, City Hall has proclaimed, usually at carefully controlled mayoral press conference, that CPS has "cut bureaucracy to the bone." Substance editor George Schmidt . . .

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Claypool Pulling Same BBB Scam: Now Hiding Hiring Documents... Claypool following the Barbara Byrd Bennett coverup strategy in denying hiring information on his cronies from the Chicago Transit Authority...

Forrest Claypool, the current Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools, is following in the footsteps of last CPS CEO, Barbara Byrd-Bennett (now a convicted Federal Felon). Mr. Claypool is blocking the release of . . .

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Claypool packs public schools with CTA cronies at a cost of more than a million dollars and growing... Claypool�s cronies and goons spreading across the public schools' executive ranks... 'You can run, but you can't hide'...

Anyone who believed that Chicago Public Schools had cleaned house after an ongoing grand jury investigation -- and the threat of FBI indictments for possible bid rigging by the last Chicago Public Schools CEO -- . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: Channel 2 News is repeating Rahm's lies as 'news' in trying to claim that crime is 'down'... While murders are reaching an all-time high for the 21st Century!...

It must be opposite day in Chicago. In what has become a tradition in Chicago's corporate media, CBS 2 News is reporting that crime is "down" in Chicago. Only when, as in Alice in Wonderland, . . .

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Full text of the Byrd Bennett indictment shows depth of the conspiracy of greed at the top of Chicago Public Schools since BBB's arrival in March 2012... Is the public to believe that 'BBB' got kickbacks from SUPES, but not from the out-of-town cronies she brought to Chicago at six-figure salaries?.

While those in Chicago who pay attention to the daily news, either in print or from other media, got some of the facts about the shocking announcement by federal prosecutors of the indictment of former . . .

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Full text of the actual plea deal signed by Barbara Byrd Bennett... Byrd Bennett's final sentence will depend on the decision of the judge after her cooperation with other investigations is over...

Below is the complete text of the plea deal agreed to in federal court on October 13, 2015, by Barbara Byrd Bennett. Readers can note that Byrd Bennett, although let out on bond, must cooperate . . .

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CPS officials are covering up deaths in the schools -- in violation of federal law, which requires reporting of all deaths within eight hours... CPS claims providing information is 'burdensome' while ignoring how burdensome deaths in the schools are...

Chicago Public Schools officials are covering up deaths of teachers and other school workers on school property, in a violation of both Illinois and federal law. The cover up, which continues at this writing, is . . .

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Board lays off 1,400 school staff... Revenge for forcing pension payment?

At the same time the Chicago Board of Education was making the mandatory payment of $634 million to the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, officials of Chicago Public Schools announced that 1,400 teachers and other school . . .

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90 percent Increase in Chicago Memorial Day shootings and murders... Bloody Chicago Memorial Weekend... Politicians complain about the 'Chiraq' label while shootings in Chicago increase despite all the publicity stunts by the mayor and his Hollywood handlers....

No sooner had a number of Chicago politicians gone done grabbing some time on TV and in the other media complaining about producer Spike Lee's plans to make a Chicago violence movie called "Chiraq" than . . .

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'Walk two blocks in any direction from where we stand now and you will see untold wealth�and yet we are told we don�t have the money for a nurse in every building...' Union rally sets the stage against CPS's sabotage of Chicago's public schools as school board's credibility is in tatters...

A massive rally in downtown Chicago on June 9, 2015 let those at City Hall and elsewhere know that the members of the Chicago Teachers Union are preparing for another fight, and a strike if . . .

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Who is Dr. Sheri Miller-Williams, Chicago's 'deputy chief' for 'leadership development...'? Just another BBB Crony Creating Chaos... 'This next group of privatizers, are far more reactionary; they seek to completely dismantle public education as we know it...'

Dr. Sheri Miller-Williams, Chicago Public Schools 'Deputy Chief of Leadership and Teacher Professional Learning', has so far been what is best called a hidden crony privatizer. Her hiring was not subjected to a Board Report . . .

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Fire the liar?... Should BBB be fired for falsification of a Sworn Residency Statement she filled out in November 2012 after the Board members voted to hire her as 'Chief Executive Officer'?

In October 2012, the Chicago Board of Education voted to hire Barbara Byrd Bennett as the school system's "Chief Executive Officer" following the dumping of Jean-Claude Brizard. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the . . .

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'The average income of the top 10% in America was 19 times higher than the bottom 10% in 2013...' Global Report Warns Rich are Hurting Economy OECD... Widening Income Gap Holds Back Growth

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) finds that income inequality not only has just social and political implications but also economic ones. In the United States, between 2008 and 2013, real average household . . .

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Board agenda... Charter schools to get sweetheart lease deals at $1 per year... Yet, CPS is paying market rental rates to local privatizers (and churches) to 'relieve overcrowding'... again

Two years after the members of the Chicago Board of Education voted (at the Board's May 22, 2013 meeting) to close 50 Chicago public schools, despite overwhelming community protests and testimony from seven aldermen opposed . . .

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Seventh outside Job for Barbara Byrd-Bennett: How many 'strikes' before she's 'Out!'? ERDI is another conflict of interest and 'Ethics' violation... but the Board members who voted in favor of all those expensive deals continue paying Byrd Bennett while claiming that 'billion dollar deficit'

Anyone who has ever faced "justice" according to the Chicago Board of Education knows that the Board is more than willing to suspend and fire teachers and others quickly. Many teachers and a handful of . . .

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Better late than never?... Federal 'investigation' of Chicago schools 'Chief Executive Officer' Barbara Byrd Bennett revealed... Years of conflicts of interest, cronyism and corruption by the CEO have been ignored by Chicago's corporate media while regularly reported in Substance...

Chicago Public Schools "Chief Executive Officer" Barbara Byrd-Bennett (BBB) is now under federal investigation for a $20 million dollar no bid contract to SUPES academy, according to reliable sources. The suburban-based "SUPES Academy" at the . . .

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CORRUPTION CPS! Babrara Byrd Bennett's 2012 resume was filled with 'red flags'... Should CPS have hired Byrd Bennett with all these conflicts of interest? Didn't the Board of Education ask her to get out of these conflicts?

Chicago's public schools "Chief Executive Offier" Barbara Byrd-Bennett is now under federal investigation for improprieties because of her recommendation of a no bid $20 Million dollar contract with SUPES Training Academy. The no-bid contract was . . .

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CORRUPTION CPS: How the Board wasted more than a billion dollars -- and proved once again that the 'deficit' is a lie... Chicago schools vendor spending has gone wild -- a 122% Increase since 2004... so now the missing $1.4 billion budget deficit found...

In a page out of "Bizarro World", where everything is opposite of what it seems, Substance News research into Chicago Public Schools vendor spending has uncovered 1.4 billion dollars of increased spending. During the recent . . .

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CORRUPTION CPS: Byrd-Bennett federal 'Investigation' and raids predictable... Years of Substance's reporting of Chicago malfeasance and illicit activity ignored... CPS is still covering up most facts... an example: How much was paid for her dozens of First Class plane trips back to her Ohio home?...

Chicago Public Schools "Chief Executive Officer" Barbara Byrd-Bennett (BBB to some) is now under federal investigation for a $20-million dollar no bid contract to SUPES academy. SUPES Academy is a company she worked for. At . . .

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CORRUPTION CPS: Did Vitale and Ruiz extend Byrd Bennett's current contract just before the feds raided her homes?... Can CPS fire Barbara Byrd Bennett? Check out her complete contract... Approved by the Board of Education, but a well-kept secret....

Did the Chicago Board of Education award Barbara Byrd Bennett and additional year in office (at a quarter million dollars annual salary, plus "performance" bonuses and other perks) just before the recent revelation that federal . . .

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Are teachers and PSRPs going to have to pass a PARCC on transubstantiation?... CPS doubles down on religious discrimination in 'Good Friday' rules...

One week from "Good Friday" and the "Easter Weekend" beginning of Chicago's Spring Break, the CPS administration has come up with guidelines for teachers and other staff who want to take a "religious holiday" day . . .

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RAHMWATCH: January 2015 -- Murders up 30% and Shootings up 41 percent. If this were 'The Wire' corporate media would be talking about 'juking the stats' instead of urging voters to return Rahm to the Fifth Floor

January 2015: Murders rate is up 29.2% from 24 Homicides in January 2014 to 31 homicides in January 2015. Additionally to corroborate the increasing violent crime rate in Chicago there were 149 shooting victims in . . .

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Whistleblower case in the 12th Ward... Alderman fired an assistant after she talked with FBI agents investigating ward corruption, lawsuit charges

Since we are now in full swing of the February 24, 2015 Chicago municipal elections it is good to remind ourselves who are the people that are trying to get elected in our city. This . . .

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What goes 'down' while it's going up?... Chicago Murder Rate Increases 48%: Rahm Can't Cover up Crime and Chaos in 2014 by playing with the statistics.

[Editor's Note: The following article was originally published at Daily Kos while Subtance was down, as Chicago Murder Rate Increases 48%: Rahm Can't Cover up Crime and Chaos in 2014 by playing with the statistics. . . .

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IERLB issues complaint in CTU delegate retaliation case... Manny Bermudez was laid off as Juarez High School delegate in retaliation for his union work... Bermudez finally gets Illinois State support...

The Illinois Education Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint (Bermudez vs CBOE, 14-CA-0074-C) and notice for a hearing in the case of Manny Bermudez. Bermudez, the CTU Delegate from Benito Juarez High School, was . . .

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Crime in Chicago... Chicago Murders Up 50 percent in November as measured by mid-month... Last official media reports on crime were in August, ignoring trends since... A Murder Rate Cover-Up

Chicago Murders in November 2014 are up 50 percent in the same time last November and there are still 14 days left in the month. In November 2013 there were 28 total murders. In November . . .

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Is Rahm 'Juking the Stats' on CTA crime?... Chicago's mayor is now trying to fix CTA crime statistics... Rahm Emanuel told the press CTA crime was 'down,' while in reality there was a 14 percent increase since Rahm became mayor in May 2011

Following a recent armed robbery on board an Orange Line CTA train, the mayor sprung quickly into action. As usual, he responded with a couple of press releases and a carefully staged media event, this . . .

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The mayor's numbers game... After a deadly Fourth of July weekend, let's reflect on crime in Chicago using some public information that apparently the Attorney General missed

Reflecting back on a relaxing July 4th weekend listening to the bloodshed in the streets of Chicago, it was time for a little fact checking. At the time of writing (late night, Sunday July 6, . . .

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Do Alderman Cardenas, O'Conner, and Moore -- as well as Rep. Madigan -- still support schools raided by FBI? Concept charter group raided by FBI, but these charter schools still have clout in Chicago.

In an expected turn of events, news reports have confirmed what has long been reported by Substance News and other activists -- Concepts Schools charter operator is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation . . .

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Will 2014's 'Bloody Easter' weekend supplant the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago lore? Blood on the Streets of Chicago... Mayor Rahm Emanuel -- and other city officials including the police chief -- continues to manipulate crime (and especially murder) data

What is starting as a bloody week in Chicago as at least 23 people have been shot since Monday, April 28, 2014. Those shot included a 14 year old girl murdered over a Facebook posting. . . .

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Chicago Federation of Labor votes to support Opt Out boycott

The Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) which represents more than 320 affiliated unions and more than 500,000 union members in Chicago and Cook County voted to support boycotting Chicago teachers. On March 4, 2014, at . . .

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Board of Education tried to uphold principal's theft of services from teachers... Chicago's Juarez High School teachers win back pay for extra-curricular work after administration tried to claim it had been 'voluntary'

In a grievance decision just handed down by Arbitrator Peter Meyers (Case # 12-04-062(jk), the arbitrator agreed that teachers at Chicago's Benito Juarez Academy (a public high school) did not volunteer their time when working . . .

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CPS Continues to Terrorize Chicago Parents and Children as Sabotage of Chicago's public schools thrusts forward into 2014... Board threatening to turnaround 300 schools?!

A notice is being distributed throughout the city of Chicago, shared by principals with parents and teachers, in what seems as more CPS scare and charter tactics. The notice, which is distributed in "underperforming" schools, . . .

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'Common Core gold rush is on!...' Common Core, after all the propaganda, is ultimately about edupreneurs reaping enormous profits because of standardized curriculum

According to the Silicon Valley Business Journal, the ed tech sector �is expected to more than double in size to $13.4 billion by 2017.� That explosive growth is fueled by Common Core�s top-down digital learning . . .

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Martin Luther King Holiday history lesson... '...the labor-hater and labor-baiter is virtually always a twin-headed creature spewing anti-Negro epithets from one mouth and anti-labor propaganda from the other mouth...'

In this important weekend that symbolizes the civil rights movement in America it is important to remember what Dr. Martin L. King stood for all the while his image and words get twisted and used . . .

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Byrd Bennett gets another job and escalates her attacks on Chicago's real public schools -- New Schools for Chicago 'Director' means trashing public schools and touting charter lies

The Union Busting organization, New Schools for Chicago, has named CPS "Chief Executive Officer" Barbara Byrd Bennett as a Director. If anyone was counting I think this is Job Number 6 -- while still employed . . .

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Teachers entitled to short leave for report card pickup

Parents of School children can have up to 8-hours off a year to take care of school business There is also aprovision that states parents can take up to 4-hours off in one day if . . .

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SOCIAL MEDIA AIDS UNION WORK: Facebook helps turn the heat up on CPS after Chicago temperatures drop below freezing for the first time this season and once again CPS officials fail to maintain facilities for teachers, staff and children

Facebook ain't just for having fun and promoting propaganda anymore. Yesterday morning, [October 23, 2013] after logging into my account I saw that one of my delegates, Sarah Chambers, had a heating problem at Maria . . .

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Board's attack on La Casita has left Whittier with a dangerous playlot... The fencing that was erected to block protests and the media remains and becomes more dangerous by the day

According to the official CPS version of what happened at Whittier school a few weeks ago, the demolition team that leveled the library and community center known at "La Casita" did it because the place . . .

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Little safety or true safe passage inside or near most inner city schools, as CPS pushed school closings and controversial privatization schemes such as 'Safe Passage'... Police reports show...400 percent Increase in attacks on CPS Staff, 2013 over 2012

In a long awaited opportunity for Substance News to analyze official reported Crime Statistics, preliminary calculations show that Attacks on Chicago Public School staff have increased 400% in the month of August 2013 compared to . . .

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Rahm sends police to protect crew sent to destroy historic community center... Rahm, Barbara Byrd Bennett order destruction of 'La Casita'

In a brazen move reminiscent of the midnight destruction of Meigs Field by his predecessor, Richard M. Daley, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his handpicked schools "Chief Executive Officer" Barbara Byrd Bennett dispatched the Chicago . . .

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Rahm Running Scared Orders Entire City on Alert ... Rahm orders city on 'full alert' in Safe Passages nonsense

In what is becoming an international spectacle, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel or, to many, "Murder Mayor" as he is called in some circles, is deploying all city departments until further notice to be deployed on . . .

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CPS officials send children and teachers into asbestos site... How much are Chicago Public Schools officials are lying about dangerous conditions as Communications Department tells corporate media about Whittier play lot 'safety'?

In one of the most blatant acts of deceit and obfuscation, the Chicago Public Schools communications department is telling mainstream media outlets that it is not and has never endangered children at the Whittier Dual . . .

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'SAFE PASSAGE' not... Gang problems continue as CPS, Mayor add to problems

One shooting was one block south of the CPS Nathanael Greene Elementary School and across the street from St. Andrew's Lutheran Grammar School.



"In an early evening shooting at 5:24 pm on . . .

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Teach for America gets an extra million dollars while CPS keeps talking about its phony 'deficit'

In another clear move that contradicts the Chicago Board of Education’s claims of budget deficits and "over capacity," in Board Report 13-0626-PR46 passed last week on June 26, 2013, without discussion or objections. The Report . . .

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VALLAS FACTS: Philadelphia schools 'bankrupt'? Only because austerity politics of the ruling class dictate that lies and the policies of 'standards and accountability' have been an expensive failure

The latest problem in the strange career of Paul Vallas came to public attention with the June 28 decision of the Connecticut court that Vallas does not have legal certification to be a school administrator . . .

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New McKinley Park charter school -- scabs in every way

The rat is up and members of Local 73 of the Sheet Metal Workers Union are picketing the site of the new charter school in McKinley Park. Despite resident opposition, the charter school had the . . .

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Toxic site for Alderman Cardenes's charter school if zoning change goes through!

In an ongoing investigation by Substance News of Chicago Alderman George Cardenas (12thWard) rushing to push through a zoning change of an industrial site to charter school, it is has been found that 2245 W. . . .

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'Keep Out of McKinley Park!' Residents Voice Opposition to New Concept Charter School

Despite dozens of outsiders bused into the McKinley Park community to support a charter school that the Alderman had tried to foist on the community through the back door, residents of the McKinley Park community . . .

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Barbara Byrd Bennett scandals continue... Ten Years later, the same pattern of malfeasance and incompetence that Byrd-Bennett showed in Cleveland is showing in Chicago

In a report Substance News has worked for a few months now, we have obtained two report synopses of a Barbara Byrd-Bennett scandal from 2004 that forced her to lose her job when she was . . .

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With Ohio residency and voter registration... Barbara Byrd Bennett lectures Chicago on how to close Chicago schools -- and what's 'best' for African American kids in Chicago -- while officially living and maintaining voter registration in Ohio in violation of Chicago residency and ethic rules

Barbara Byrd Bennett -- the latest quarter million dollar a year "Chief Executive Officer" appointed since Mayor Rahm Emanuel's inauguration less than two years ago -- may be giving speeches about how the proposed closing . . .

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No Illinois drivers license or voter registration, but the power to destroy thousands of Chicago lives! Illinois officials confirm that Barbara Byrd Bennett is not an Illinois resident.... 'To have effective rule enforcement, people have to be treated the same' (CPS Inspector General James Sullivan)

While Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his hand-picked Board of Education work to destroy an additional 53 of the city's public schools (and disrupt dozens of others in the process), Emanuel's top team members continue . . .

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CPS Lawbreaking continues as ISBE investigates special ed services for violations of state and federal law... Most vulnerable students denied services... CPS continues violating Illinois special education rules

In what is becoming a regular occurrence with the Chicago Public Schools, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has opened an investigation (Case Number 2013-0397) into the systemic violation of caseload requirements for speech/language . . .

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Alderman George Cardenas (12th Ward) continues push for privatization, union busting... Near secret push for McKinley Park site for charter school!

In one of the most brazen attempts to usurp even the authority of the powerful Rahm Emmanuel, Mayor of Chicago, Alderman George Cardenas of the 12th Ward is trying to push through the Chicago Zoning . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: Sun-Times false flags Cardenas charter school expansion story

In a clear attempt to manipulate the public, the Chicago Sun-Times in its original story posted on April 25, 2013 has published a false flag story that seems to be a victory for charter school . . .

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CPS violates vacant buildings law, proves it can't close and secure any more 'underutilized' schools... 'If the building is deemed a public nuisance, the fines can reach $5,000 per day...' -- but who is holding top CPS officials 'accountable'?

As part of an ongoing investigation of CPS properties, the Chicago Teachers Union has reported many of the CPS owned properties are vacant. But nowhere on any CPS website does the school district even have . . .

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Union busting is alive and well in Illinois: Newest suburban Representative declares war on unions with 'Right to Work' and other legislative proposals

In what amounts to all out war on all labor unions in Illinois, Republican State Representative Jeanne Ives (42D), from Wheaton, has pushed three House Bills to be heard in the Illinois Labor and Commerce . . .

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'Push polling' by the University of Chicago and the Tribune to push Rahm's school closing and privatization schemes... Chicago Boys (and girls) Twisting 'Public Opinion'

In the ongoing public relations battle to win over people to the idea that privatization of the Chicago Public Schools the University of Chicago, the Chicago Tribune and the Joyce Foundation are conducting a "push . . .

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CPS Breaks the Law Again: No Emergency Security Plans or Training since the Sandy Hook Massacre

Substance News has received a Binding Opinion (13-0001) from the Illinois Attorney General in regards to the refusal of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to provide information on how it will keep staff and students . . .

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Rahm Emanuel's handpicked schools 'Chief Executive Officer', Barbara Byrd Bennett, has a second job working for Eli Broad against unions and public schools ... and the photographs of her works in Detroit show Chicago's future, despite the rhetoric and lies during the current 'underutilization' fight

Sometimes one picture is worth even more than 1,000 words, and in the case of the recent people imported into Chicago as "Chief Executive Officer" of the nation's third largest school system, the photograph above . . .

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Rahm's poll numbers drop for many reasons... One -- because of his fight with teachers and his attacks on the public schools

While Rahm Emanuel's attacks on the Chicago Teachers Union and pushes to privatize more and more of the city's public schools are not the only reason for it, the drop in Rahm's poll numbers during . . .

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The script is now public... Blueprint for Byrd-Bennett's 'rightsizing' attack on Chicago schools was published by her Broad Foundation colleagues four years ago as 'School Closure Guide -- Closings Schools as a Means for Addressing Budgetary Challenges'

Since Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Barbara Byrd Bennett first claimed that there wasn't enough time to hold hearings on the guidelines for preparing for closings in 2013, more and more Chicago teachers, parents, . . .

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Deadly violence goes back decades for CPS children... as Substance has reported for decades, first in print and for a decade in print and on line

While every new death of a student from a Chicago public school is a new tragedy and a new opportunity for the city's corporate media to report on the grief of families and communities. the . . .

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Rush for new calendar causing confusion as CTU members are asked to sign away their rights... Principals asking teachers, PSRPs, to give up vacation rights because of calendar glitch

In a turn of events that looks to escalate ill will from the recent Chicago Teachers Union strike, principals are being told to push teachers to give up their rights to benefit days because of . . .

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CPS budgeting plans to make Unite-HERE, SEIU, and Operating Engineers members scab on teacher work when strike begins! 'Recess Facilitation Services' to increase to $24 million as 'Broke' Board doubles union-busting 'recess' programs

In a another sneak move that the Chicago Board of Education probably hopes nobody notices, the Board will make an attempt at its August 22, 2012 meeting to increase by 1000% spending on Union busting . . .

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STRIKEWATCH: Should Your Teacher Strike? (Or your Mailman? Fireman? Sanitation man? Policeman?) May 1970, American Federation of Teachers. A Teaching Unit on Rights of Public Employees

With the Chicago Teachers Union drawing closer to a strike (possibly as early as the first week of September 2012), Chicago teachers, parents and students are asking more and more questions about the legalities and . . .

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Nonsense: CPS Wastes More Money Fighting Corey H... CPS continues expensive fight against rights of disabled children

On July 19, 2012 ruling U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman ruled against Chicago Public Schools in the 20-year old Corey H case protecting disabled students. The judge went as far to say it was . . .

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While Brizard avoids the bargaining table, million dollar outside lawyers push attack on CTU credibility... Labor Board rejects insulting attack on CTU credibility by Brizard, CPS on strike authorization

In the latest move by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to subvert the rights of Chicago Teachers Union members to hold a strike authorization vote, the leadership of the Chicago Public Schools made a melodramatic request . . .

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Rahm + Reform = a four-letter word... Rahm's union-busting agenda takes aim at cops and firefighters — as well as teachers

At least now anyone who had been paying attention knows that when the word "reform" comes out of the mouth of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, it means union busting and the bashing of public workers . . .

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'TIF', 'Fresh Start', 'REAL' — or whatever it's called— is a divisive union busting and teacher bashing merit pay program... CTU leadership said 'No!' to CPS 'Teacher Incentive' plan that required union participation, but CPS signed off anyway

The current Chicago Teachers Union leadership under President Karen Lewis refused to be manipulated with what teachers familiar with the issue are calling "blood money" by refusing to become a partner with Chicago Public Schools . . .

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STRIKEWATCH: 1966 collective bargaining vote prepared for 1967 contract... CTU flyer announced first gains from collective bargaining

For union members and working people, the history of our unions is a history of our struggle for justice. And a review of the history of the past 50 years in Chicago's public schools shows . . .

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STRIKEWATCH: 1969, the first CTU strike scores victories... Board had claimed a 'fiscal crisis' (sound familiar) and wanted to cut 7,000 teachers

STRIKEWATCH [1969]: First CTU strike lasts for two days; brings salary gains. "The Chicago Teachers Union and the Board of Education signed a contract on May 28, 1969, which implements all previously negotiated items, retracts . . .

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STRIKEWATCH 1971. King's Birthday Holiday was a contract issue... 1971 CTU strike braved January's bitter cold, won raises and other benefits for CTU and better schools for all

The 1971 Chicago Teachers Union strike lasted four days in the January snow and brought a two year contract with raises and other improvements. The teachers walked the picket lines with signs that read "On . . .

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NATO NEWS: CTU Financial Secretary Kristine Mayle speaks in solidarity on behalf of Chicago teachers at Nurses rally beginning NATO weekend

Kristine Mayle, financial secretary of the Chicago Teachers Union, gave a speech to the large rally sponsored by National Nurses United at the Daley Plaza in Chicago on May 18, 2012. The rally was part . . .

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NATO NEWS? NATO (and other) Protests continue, targeting Mayor's home and other locations

Saturday May 19, 2012 brought more protests and some violence between protesters and Chicago police ahead of the NATO 2012 summit. Protests were most dramatic on Chicago's north side as mental health and health rights . . .

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Billy clubs were already out when the violence began... Will 2012 and NATO be a Chicago memory like 1968 and the Democratic National Convention?

It was clear that the confrontation was planned. And when the police penned in a group of protesters at the corner of Cermak and Michigan, things became very difficult very fast. The violence escalated, as . . .

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Mob ties, record of discrimination apparently won't bar privatized janitorial companies from nearly $100 million in CPS business... Corrupt Crony Companies set to get nearly $100 Million Taxpayer Dollars in May 23 Board deal for maintenance services?

Mob ties and reported discrimination against workers are apparently not a barrier for the Chicago Board of Education's contractors — provided those contractors are doing privatized work that was once done by unionized workers working . . .

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'Occupy' — along with Chicago teachers and friends — protests Rahm in Milwaukee at fundraiser for right-wing Democrat Tom Barrett

A coalition of groups protested the appearance of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel at a March 28, 2012 fundraiser for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in Milwaukee. Tickets for Wednesday’s Milwaukee luncheon ranged from $400 each to . . .

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STRIKEWATCH: 'I'd spit in their eye before I'd vote for anything but a strike!' (Robert Healey, CTU President, 1980)

As more and more people mine the archives of Chicago (and CTU history) some of the more interesting moments are re-lived. On February 2, 1980, Chicago teachers met and voted for a strike in a . . .

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Chicago teachers need to know Broad Foundation mercenaries — who they are, how they are trained, and why their mistreatment of parents and teachers are part of their mission, — and not an accident

While doing some research on answers as to why the Chicago Public Schools have fallen so low in terms of morale and public perception, I can across the following write up on the Website "Seattle . . .

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'...More people are coming to see this conflict as an issue of popular democracy versus bankers’ rule...' Analysis in 1980 showed how corporations in Chicago refused to pay taxes, then created the 'Shock Doctrine' effect that forced the School Finance Authority on CPS for nearly 30 years

As the Chicago Teachers Union moves towards its first city-wide all membership meeting in 32 years, a bit of a history lesson might be in order, and one of the best places to find that . . .

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New website promises 'Tabs on Rahm...'

There is a new website up where every day citizens can rate Rahm Emanuel's job performance. Then group, "Tabs on Rahm" states that it has pioneers this approach with "TabsOnObama..." The information and link are . . .

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Chicago schools' bloodbath continues as privatization takes its toll and one school and violence gathers at others

Chris Wormely, 17, a Chicago high school student, was fatally stabbed by a schoolmate at "AMIkids Infinity high school", 10211 S. Crandon on the far Southside of Chicago, on the morning of March 1, 2012. . . .

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Democracy Now features Chicago struggles in lengthy story on attacks on public education and the organizing against those attacks

Democracy Now in a March 1, 2012 story covers the resistance against privatization schemes of Mayor 1% Emmanuel of Chicago. the transcript of video interviews with links to the show are below. The show . . .

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New study shows rich people lie, cheat and steal more than the rest of us

A new study, recently published, shows once again what many people have known for a long time. The rich are different from the rest of us: They lie, cheat and steal more. According to a . . .

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On the West Side, a scene out of 'The Wire' 2012... Chicago Drug Gangs Operate Freely While Cameras Record What?

A video made anonymously on Chicago's West Side on March 14, 2012 tells everything anyone wants to know about the corruption of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to replace more and more police officers (and . . .

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Chicago Teachers Union reaches settlement on pay for 'Pioneer School' teachers

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have settled a long-running dispute over CPS’s unlawful implementation of a longer school day at 13 neighborhood schools without properly compensating the teachers for . . .

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Illinois Supreme Court issues advisory opinion against CTU position on tenured teachers rehire rights... Issue now returns to the U.S. District Court

Was the tenure/rehire lawsuit a "defeat" for the Chicago Teachers Union? Despite widespread media publicity that reported the February 17, 2012, ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court regarding the rights of tenured Chicago teachers to . . .

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Chicago study debunks Chicago 'turnaround' hoax

On the eve of a potentially catastrophic Board of Education vote to turnaround ten more Chicago schools, the school reform research group Designs for Change has released a report showing that school turnarounds, pushed by . . .

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Tilden hearing shows sabotage of poor schools is CPS policy before 'turnaround'...Rep Golar warns arrogant hearing officer Fred Bates, 'The fight is on!'

Illinois State Representative Esther Golar (D-6th) member of the Chicago Facilities Task Force (CEFTF) warned Chicago Public Schools that the “Fight is On!” She was rebuking Hearing officer Fred Bates during the public hearing held . . .

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Legislators calling for moratorium on Chicago closings and turnarounds after CPS thumbs nose at the law

Illinois State Representative Cynthia Soto introduced a bill in Springfield to put a halt to the Chicago Board of Educations plans to close public schools and turn them over to private operators to be turned-around. . . .

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Parents, supporters occupy Chicago's Piccolo Elementary School as Chicago Board of Education agenda shows Brizard remains firm on 'turnaround' portion of Hit List

According to a late afternoon Chicago Teachers Union "E Bulletin" — Breaking News! Piccolo parents defend their school, children and teachers, protest "Turnaround" "This afternoon Piccolo Elementary parents held a Press Conference to defend . . .

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Age discrimination lawsuit filed under Civil Rights Act against Board for 2010 teacher firings... Chicago Teachers Union hits CPS with another federal lawsuit challenging discrimination

A new federal lawsuit (11-cv-09322) was filed December 30, 2011 by terminated tenured Chicago Public Schools teachers from Ames Middle School. The lawsuit is against the Chicago Board of Education and its seven members, alleging . . .

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Rahm's Rent-A-Preacher and Rent-A-Protest exposed, even to elected state officials

In a reversal of fortunes, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's bullying and union busting tactics have been not only uncovered but challenged by state officials on the Illinois Educational Facilities Task Force and in other contexts. . . .

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Where is all that 'Transparency' Rahm's been promising? Certainly not from CPS

Maybe it is a bad case of old left over turkey that is clouding Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's memory, but even the right-wing cooperate Chicago Tribune Newspaper is finding their favorite anti-Union hack is not . . .

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How much did the Obama administration coordinate the violent and often sadistic October and November 2011 attacks on Occupy movements across the USA (and noting that journalists were especially targeted)?

[Introduction. By Thanksgiving 2011, it was clear to anyone paying attention that there was national coordination to the active police repression against the Occupy movement from California to New York City. In Chicago, we had . . .

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Eight-hour session at City Hall results in CTU victory... CPS surrenders in 'Longer School Day' waiver battle with Chicago Teachers Union

In a stunning turn of events the Chicago Public Schools declared on November 4, 2011 in a statement that it would stop direct dealing with school workers about the length of the school day and . . .

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City Hall declared a 'crime scene' as groups challenge mayor's budget on TIFs, Mercantile Exchange

Community leaders, joined by Chicago Alderman. John Arena (45th), rallied against Mayor Emanuel's budget proposal citing cuts to city services and expanded fees for city residents at a time when a $240 million surplus will . . .

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Did clout help CPS cover up for a drug dealer?

The question continues: Did clout get CPS officials to cover up while a known drug dealer was working in security at Hyde Park High School on Chicago's South Side? . . .

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Occupy Chicago grows along with Occupy Wall Street... Occupy Chicago Day 9 — Universal Outrage Against Corporate Greed and Abuse

In an expansion of growing anger towards cooperate greed, activists are in their ninth day of occupation in front of the Federal Reserve Bank building at Jackson and LaSalle — "24/7" — in Chicago, Illinois. . . .

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CPS Covers Up Drug Trafficking Employee David J. Pittman

In a year and a half investigation Substance News has uncovered the fact that a wanted felon was on Chicago Public Schools (CPS) payroll, working at Hyde Park Career Academy High School. David J. Pittman . . .

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Cops blog picks up story about Rahm's attempt to raid all Chicago worker pensions

The always interesting Chicago cop blog, Second City Cop, has become the second media (after Substance) to notice that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to stack the trustees of each of the city's public worker . . .

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Darlene Senger trying to strip public workers of pension rights... Naperville Legislator Involved in Move to put Chicago Public Pensions under the Control of Rahm Emanuel

In what looks like a fiction novel of corruption and influence peddling a suburban Naperville Illinois State Representative is the Chief Co-Sponsor of Pension legislation that aims to turn back the clock one hundred years . . .

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Tribune and Chicago's corporate elite are pushing for control of the city's pension funds to go to Rahm Emanuel... Tribune's 'Investigation' is smokescreen behind which the raid on municipal pension funds is being orchestrated

Precisely one week after two Republican state reps introduced legislation in Springfield that would put control of the pensions funds of all public workers in Chicago in the hands of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago . . .

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Police arrest 'Occupy Chicago' protestors after stand off at Congress and Michigan

Chicago police arrested a group of people from 'Occupy Chicago' following a standoff at the corner of Congress and Michigan avenues on the evening of October 15, 2011 that continued until after midnight. The arrests . . .

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Complete text of Illinois Education Labor Relations Board (IELRB) decision finding that Chicago Public Schools has violated the law in its pursuit of the 'waiver' votes

Below is the full text of the IELRB decision on the Chicago Teachers Union unfair labor practice complaint against the CPS "waiver" and "pioneers" pushes. As the reader can easily learn from the following, over . . .

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Nine minutes and eleven seconds... Charity Chili eating Contest Chicago Police Vs. Chicago Fire Department

Lindy's Chili and Gertie's Ice Cream hosted the first annual chili eating contest between Chicago Police (CPD) and Chicago Fire Department (CFD) on October 15th at 2:00pm., Lindy's is located at 3685 S. Archer Ave . . .

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'If permitted to pursue this conduct, the Chicago Board of Education would end collective bargaining as we know it in Illinois' (Karen Lewis)... Labor Board Approves Injunction to Stop CPS’s Violations in 'Waiver' votes

In a unanimous vote the five-member Illinois Education Labor Relations Board (IELRB) approved the Chicago Teachers Union claims for injunctive relief to stop the Chicago Board of Educations unilateral imposing of a longer school day . . .

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Chicago Teachers Union IELRB Victory... The complete text of the decision... Brizard claims 'business as usual' for illegal campaign

The complete text of the unanimous decision of the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board (IELRB) in favor of the Chicago Teachers Union and against the Chicago Public Schools on the question of the recent flap . . .

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Another 130 arrested in Grant Park Chicago on October 23, 2011... Rahm Emanuel begins Police State tactics against Occupy Chicago... Cops bar press from Grant Park while making arrests against non-violent 'Occupy' protesters

The former Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, is determined to suppress protests in Chicago as the city draws closer to major political events in 2012. And for the second . . .

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'We need to put on a show of strength...' Teachers and cops to join on buses, and lobbying against attacks on pensions in Springfield

Chicago teachers and Chicago police officers will be joining on the buses to Springfield on October 26, 2011 and lobbying together for a common cause: and end to the attacks by right wing conservatives (of . . .

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Are coerced waiver votes legal under Illinois labor law?

The Chicago Public Schools announced on September 2, 2011 that three schools waived their contractual rights agreed to work longer days. One of those schools is just beginning, one has a tiny staff, and the . . .

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How STEM became 'The Mayor's Pet School'.... Chicago Teachers Union's Unfair Labor Practice Complaint is Comprehensive

As the campaign by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the administration of Chicago's public schools to get some Chicago elementary teachers to approve a waiver on the length of the school day entered its second . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: Tribune censors Doonsberry cartoon on behalf of Sarah Palin, but allows publication of a racist editorial cartoon against Karen Lewis, CTU

There are few Chicago teachers who believe that what the Chicago Tribune prints as "news" reflects any kind of real version of what's happening in the city's public schools. Examples of the Tribune's biases against . . .

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Union busting Wisconsin governor's aides facing criminal probe. A top aide is searched by the FBI

In a turn of events that shows the corruption and malfeasance of Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker, a top Walker aide has had her home raided by law enforcement, including the FBI, as part of . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: Huffington Post runs extensive story on Chicago's longer school day fights, while New York Times weighs in, too

By the second full weekend of the regular school year in Chicago, the "Longer School Day" story out of Chicago had gone national. The New York Times reported it (from their Chicago bureau chief, not . . .

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Brizard admits 'mistakes' on waiver fights to establish 'Longer School Day Pioneer Program' ... Then adds some more contract violations

In an email regarding the recent waiver votes to extend the school day in elementary schools — sent Friday, September 16, after schools closed and the news cycle was ending (4:31:43 PM September 16, 2001) . . .

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Are coerced waiver votes legal?

The Chicago Public Schools announced on September 2, 2011 that three schools waived their contractual rights agreed to work longer days. One of those schools is just beginning, one has a tiny staff, and the . . .

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Rap hit takes down Duncan... 'Two Teachers and a Microphone' return with a great piece on Arne Duncan, worth a four-minute before class this morning




Can Arne Duncan take the humor that is now being thrown at him as the 2011 - 2012 school year begins in the aftermath of the SOS march . . .

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Fresno School Supt. takes $800,000 pay cut to promote public educaton

Maybe we need to ask JC to man up and put some skin in the game. The following story, from the Huffington Post (August 28, 2011) tells an interesting story about what a school leaders . . .

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Chicago's Arne Duncan gets an 'F'! NEA speaks at Chicago RA... 3.2 Million Teachers Declare Duncan a Failure

The largest Teachers Union in the nation voted yesterday to warn U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan that the 3. 2 million member National Education Association is not happy with his performance. The vote came on . . .

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CORE brings message of Chicago's rank-and-file activism to NEA national convention

CORE members discussed activism with NEA Peace and Justice Caucus Committee at the National Education Association (NEA) annual meeting and representative assembly in Chicago July 2, 2011. NEA representatives and their leadership are meeting in . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: Chicago's corporate media black out NEA meeting, message

In classic fashion, the Chicago news media blacks out any information on one of the biggest teachers meetings in the nation right here in downtown Chicago; this even on a slow news day like Saturday . . .

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AFSCME members picketing July 12 against Governor Quinn's attack on their union

Join the picket line on Tuesday, July 12! AFSCME members are taking to the picket lines to stand up against Gov. Quinn's efforts to cancel state employee pay raises. AFSCME members across Illinois are turning . . .

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'Income tax refunds' of nearly $5 million... Murdoch's News Corp Took $4.8B from US Taxpayers over 4 Years

&In a post on Daily KOS, it is revealed clearly of the complete corruption of the American tax system and how big corporations get away with not only paying nothing in taxes. But as the . . .

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Following the Big Lie about the $712 million 'deficit', attack on veteran teachers is renewed... CPS hosting another secret 'Job Fair'.. July 21 'Career Event' to be held at UIC Forum this year

Another Secret Invitation Only Government Job Fair? That's the question being asked by hundreds of Chicago teachers and others who were ripped out of their jobs during early and mid-July 2011, just as it was . . .

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Union and Displaced Teachers Fight to Get In... Job Fair — er, the 'Career Event for Impacted Teachers' — another insult to veteran teachers

After firing at least 1,000 teachers this summer — adding to hundreds illegal fired last summer who are trying to get rehired — the Chicago Board of Education pretended to help them by holding what . . .

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General Assembly finally approves Chicago Facilities Legislation, despite Emanuel's opposition

At the end of its session, the Illinois General Assembly has finally passed the Chicago school facilities legislation, more than two years after the legislation was first proposed by State Rep. Cynthia Soto as a . . .

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'Which Side Are You On' sung by Pete Seeger

One of the things teachers might want to do this summer is learn more labor songs. One of the most famous is "Which Side Are You On?" which grew out of the coal miners' . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: While Mayor Emanuel continued teacher bashing (saying teachers had 'shafted' the kids) and tried to destroy police, firefighter and teacher pensions — Chicago's massive drug gangs went on a rampage across the Humboldt Park area and south across the city

No sooner had Mayor Rahm Emanuel gotten off his most recent scripted one-liner attacking teachers and scapegoating public worker unions in Chicago (the largest of which is still the Chicago Teachers Union) for both the . . .

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Chicago Tribune publishes Karen Lewis's Op Ed 'When Trust Goes Out The Window' on June 19

The Chicago Tribune has published Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis's Op Ed "When Trust Goes Out the Window" on its Op Ed page on June 19, 2011. Does this mean that the anti-union corporate . . .

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Karen Lewis on WBBM 'At Issue' program... Tribune pushes CTU on corporate 'concessions' agenda and vapid corporate talking points (like getting rid of 'bad teachers') one year before contract is up

The current Chicago Teachers Union contract doesn't expire until June 30, 2012, but already in May 2011, Chicago's corporate media are beating the drum for concessions from the Chicago Teachers Union. On WBBM's "At . . .

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New York Mayor wants to cut 6,000 teachers despite $3.2 billion budget surplus... New York City teachers union vows 'Wisconsin' protest this Thursday

In the continued attack on public education and teachers unions New York City, billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg released news of his proposed budget in which includes a cut of five percent of all public school . . .

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AFL-CIO chief Richard Trumka declares labor's 'independence'... Obama and reactionary Democrats can no longer count on knee-jerk support from 'Big Labor'

While at least one of the major teacher unions is already moving to endorse Barack Obama, the AFL-CIO is beginning to see that it has to become more independent of the Democratic Party in order . . .

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New York Times story exposes tip of CPS iceberg, as teachers are being purged across Chicago... Austin Woes Are Capped by Decision to Fire Teachers and a Student Protest

An article appearing in today's Chicago edition of The New York Times — Austin Woes Are Capped by Decision to Fire Teachers and a Student Protest, By MERIBAH KNIGHT, on line on May 19, 2011, . . .

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Prospective teachers '...discouraged by increasingly crowded classrooms and more emphasis than before on testing and scripted lessons...' College students beginning to avoid teaching as a career because of layoffs and corporate teacher bashing

When the Los Angeles Times notices that something is wrong with the orgy of anti-teacher 'education reform' it's been promoting, you can bet it's a lot more wrong than the Chicago Tribune's Los Angeles newspaper . . .

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CTU victory in Springfield on Chicago layoff procedures?

In the current legislation, SB7, to reform the Illinois School Code that passed out of the Illinois Senate April 14, 2011, there would be a more complex lay off process that mandates a recall procedure. . . .

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BRIZARDWATCH: Brizard's bizarre views come straight from the Broad Foundation, which trained him

There is a great deal about Jean Claude Brizard available on line, much of it reported in the Rochester press. Foremost in reporting the Brizard story as it unfolded following the hiring of Brizard there . . .

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BRIZARDWATCH: Can Chicago legally hire a man who violated anti-discrimination laws in Rochester New York?

Can the Chicago Board of Education Legally Hire Jean Claude Brizard? Even though mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel has already announced that he will retain Chicago Board of Education attorney Patrick Rocks and as a result it's . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: Meet the Press, Sunday talk shows, give forum to Scott Walker's right wing attacks on unions

As the sun rose on February 28, 2011, on Madison, Wisconsin and the governor of Wisconsin tried another day to evict the protesters from the People's Capitol Building, working people also had the chance to . . .

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United Airlines received $31 million! Corporate giants received Chicago TIF money, records show

New investigations into Chicago's controversial TIF (Tax Increment Financing) program shows that the money mostly did not go to helping development in "blighted" areas, but instead went to some of the city's largest corporate giants . . .

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Bosses plan to try and use scabs... Electrical workers strike in Hawaii

One of the few things that the bullies who currently run things fear is the word "Strike!" and even more than that, the reality of a strike of workers who have been pushed around for . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: 'The system was in free fall' according to Mazany... Tribune reporting that Mazany is breaking with Huberman policies, major criticisms of predecessor

As Chicago school teachers and students woke up for the Pulaski Day holiday and the soon-to-be ending of winter, the Chicago Tribune is reporting that current "interim Chief Executive Officer" Terry Mazany is making a . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: Meet the press, national shows tout right wing position on Wisconsin

As the sun rises on Madison, Wisconsin and the governor of Wisconsin tries another day to evict the protesters from the People's Capitol Building, working people also have the chance to review how many ways . . .

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Harvard report challenges value of 'College for All' approach

A recent report published out of Havard University concludes that it is now evident that the college for all and test prep schooling that has destroyed opportunities for millions of children through the nation is . . .

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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg claimed 21,000 city teachers would lose their jobs, but... New York Governor claims education budget cut won't cost New York City schools teaching jobs

Less than a week after New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg claimed that as many as 21,000 of New York's teachers might be hit with layoffs under the new budget facing the city and state . . .

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SNOWZILLA REPORTING: February 2, 2011 at 37th and Winchester on Chicago's South Side

I've taken some pictures of us cleaning up and having fun out on the South Side. I think I overdid it because today I got aches and pains — plus feel like I am coming . . .

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'Research was demonstrably flawed'... Review challenges value of 'value added' claims just as Duncan, major districts expand its use

A major review of the research supporting claims that teachers can be effectively evaluated using something widely referred to as "Value Added" measurement has been challenged again by careful review of the research. The so-called . . .

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'F_CK RAHM': New website exposes facts about Rahm Emanuel's record, personal history

There is a new website that is beginning to provide delightful reading to anyone who doesn't believe Chicago's corporate media hype about the inevitability of the election of Rahm Emanuel mayor of Chicago in the . . .

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Huge turnout for Chicago rally in support of Wisconsin workers' struggle

Thousands of people turned out on a cold and wet Saturday, February 26, 2011, for a solidarity rally with the Wisconsin workers struggle outside Chicago's City Hall and State of Illinois building. Substance overage . . .

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Trouble in paradise, too, as corporate 'school reform' increases push... Pressure building on teachers, unions as Duncan and Obama policies scapegoat teachers' rights

Pressure is building on teachers and teacher unions from Honolulu to Boston and beyond as the policies of the Obama administration's 'Race to the Top' become supplemented by local and state pressures, often supported by . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: Emanuel escalates attacks on public workers, unions... Cut existing pensions, mayoral candidate tells Chicago Federation of Labor, then follows up with a teacher bashing session at Chicago Sun-Times editorial board

Chicago Mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel, who once made $18 million as an "investment banker" between stints in public service (time with the Clinton administration and his time as Congressman for the Fifth Illinois Congressional District), . . .

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Duncan lies again... Harvard/Duke/Berkeley scholar takes a closer look at PISA results

While U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan seems to be escalating the lies and half-truths that have characterized his work since he was Chief Executive Officer of Chicago's public schools, for several months people across . . .

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How do you know novice teachers are the 'best teachers'? Because billionaires like Michael Bloomberg say so

In case anyone believes that the fight over teacher seniority and tenure is limited to Chicago and Illinois, a recent article in the New York Daily News reminds us that the billionaires who are aiming . . .

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Kelvyn Park High School out of control while Board and principal harass teachers facing serious illness

In addition to the tasering of a student on November 19, 2010 inside of Kelvyn park High School, a staff member most recently was hit in the face with a trash can. The tasering took . . .

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Hawaii teachers face increased health care costs, other problems in 'paradise'

Hawaii public school teachers are fighting back against health care cost increases that have been forced upon them without proper notice and in violation of a court order. In a sign of what is happening . . .

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Another major win for CORE as Chicago teachers elect Jeff Blackwell and Jeanne Freed to pension fund Board of Trustees

Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE) candidates were victorious, as election results for the October 29, 2010 voting for two Teacher Trustees for the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund (CTPF) show a resounding win for Jeffrey Blackwell . . .

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IN HIS OWN WORDS, REST IN PEACE BILL BUCHANAN: Teacher dies of cancer after Huberman, CPS get rid of teacher coaches and continue attack on tenure

William Buchanan, one of Chicago's teachers, died last week after a battle against cancer that was made much more difficult because Ron Huberman and those who run CPS took away Buchanan's work, benefits, and — . . .

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MEDIA WATCH: Wall Street Journal gives balanced story on Whittier library fight

On October 1, 2010, the Wall Street Journal published a balanced story on what has become the most important national news out of Chicago — the struggle of Whittier parents and community for a real . . .

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COMPLETE DECISION REPRINTED... Chicago Teachers Union upholds teachers' tenure rights... Judge Coar's decision shows how completely CPS has lost (again) in federal court

"Four hundred thousands students will have their teachers returned to them," an elated Karen Lewis told a press conference at the headquarters of the 30,000-member Chicago Teachers Union on the evening of October 4, 2010. . . .

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Fitch Ratings downgrades CPS bonds

Fitch Ratings, one of three rating services that rate almost all corporate and government debt in the world, announced on Thursday, October 7, 2010, that it was downgrading the debt of the Chicago Board of . . .

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To be replaced by the D.C. 'Deputy Supt. for Human Capital'... Michelle Rhee to announce resignation as Washington D.C. schools chancellor on October 13, 2010

The infamous chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public schools, Michelle Rhee, will announce her resignation on October 13, 2010, according to the Washington Post. As noted in the article, Rhee will be followed by another . . .

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CORE Pension Trustee Victory... Jeff Blackwell and Jeanne Freed win seats on Chicago Teachers Pension Fund Board of Trustees

Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE) candidates were victorious, as election results for the October 29, 2010 voting for two Teacher Trustee for the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund (CTPF) show a resounding win for Jeffrey Blackwell . . .

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Chicago City budget hearings September 9, 10 and 16, just as important as CPS hearings

Budget hearings for the City of Chicago budget take place this week and next week. The largest budget in Chicago is the Chicago Board of Education, followed by the City of Chicago, which is a . . .

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Rhee bragged about taping students' mouths shut while she was a Teach for America 'teacher'

In a recent Washington Post audio posting, Washington D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee is shown admitting that she taped shut the mouths of her young students because she could not control their talking while . . .

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Court rules that interns cannot be 'highly qualified' under federal law

According to a press release on September 27 regarding an important legal case involving Teach for America and other groups that provide young, inexperienced teachers for the nation's public schools, a school system may not . . .

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Another magic bullet misses the target... New study — paid for by the U.S. Department of Education! — shows that charter schools churn teachers and make claims that are untrue

A new study conducted by Vanderbilt University researchers shows that charter schools have more chronically inexperienced teachers and raises questions about other claims being made for charter schools as the U.S. Department of Education under . . .

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New Chicago Teachers Union leadership announces CTU staff jobs open for union members

The new leadership of the 30,000-member Chicago Teachers Union announced on Friday, July 16, 2010, that it will be considering applicants for a broad range of union jobs. Deadline for applying for the jobs is . . .

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Seventy-eight displaced teachers sign grievance after grievance meetings at PUSH... Teachers Organize and Fight Back Against Terminations

On Tuesday, June 29, 2010, at 6:00 a meeting was held at Operation PUSH with CPS Literacy Coaches who were to be terminated by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) on June 30, 2010. In addition, other . . .

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Los Angeles grand jury continues criticism of LA Unified School District's payroll system... Why no lawsuit in Chicago about Chicago's payroll mess?

According to a June 30, 2010, report in the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Unified School District's payroll system "remains at risk of collapse" because of problems identified earlier but never solved. Does this . . .

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Praising New Orleans for busting the New Orleans union. Attacking Houston public schools while praising KIPP's anti-union charter schools... Why should this man address the AFT convention Friday? Bill Gates in his own words in a June 29, 2010 Chicago speech

Two weeks before his scheduled speech to the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers, billionaire Bill Gates was in Chicago to address the The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (http://www.publiccharters.org). The meeting, . . .

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Are Stewart and Huberman in secret negotiations to announce a miracle and give Stewart a last-minute boost before June 11 CTU runoff election?

In what a growing number of Chicago Teachers Union members characterize as a shocking turn of events, Marilyn Stewart, President of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), declared in a June 2, 2010 letter sent to . . .

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JUNE 'FIRE CODE' PUBLICITY STUNT NOT THE FIRST TIME: Stewart's losses in court — in case after case — and her losing ways have cost CTU members millions of dollars in lawyer costs and settlements

Marilyn Stewart President of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) in a June 7, 2010 press conference announced that the union would be filing a lawsuit challenging Chicago Public Schools proposed raising class sizes to 35. . . .

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CORE victory party June 11, 2010

Anticipation turned into excitement after years of organizing and months of campaigning when the word came to CORE that it was winning the June 11, 2010 runoff election for the leadership of the Chicago Teachers . . .

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Mayor, Huberman tout ISAT 'preliminary' results on day of Board of Education meeting

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago Schools Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman drew the majority of Chicago's media to the Burr Elementary School on the city's northwest side on June 23, 2010, for a . . .

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Large police and security presence as students protest CPS budget cuts in downtown Chicago

Students left classes across Chicago and protested against proposed school budget cuts on May 5, 2010. An estimated 1000 students converged at the front doors of the 125 South Clark Street headquarters of the Chicago . . .

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interview with Chicago Teachers Union Treasurer Linda Porter, who is the CSDU candidate for President of the Chicago Teachers Union

[Editor's Note: With the interview below, Substance reporters will be trying to interview each of the candidates for the presidency of the Chicago Teachers Union. Since the candidates all became official with their nominating petitions . . .

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Massive Chicago student walkout against Huberman's proposed cuts expected to begin at 10:00 a.m. today, May 5, 2010

A large walkout is expected to begin around 10:00 a.m. today, May 5, 2010, against the cuts proposed by CEO Ron Huberman. The walkout, which is modeled on a recent protest by students across New . . .

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Stroger gives Rufus Williams's wife a big raise to $230,000 at Cook County

The Chicago Tribune reported on Thursday, May 6, 2010, that Todd Stroger, outgoing President of the Cook County Board, has given Jaye Williams a raise of $54,000 (to $230,000). Jaye Williams is the wife of . . .

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Double your money by building charter schools? New York begins to blow the whistle on charter scams

Charter school investors and management firms can make money in many ways. As New York began learning a few days ago, one of the reasons why Hedge Fund managers and other wealthy people in New . . .

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What is going on in Chicago's Career and Technology Education (CTE)?

[Editor's Note: The following article was printed in Progress: the Journal of the Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education, v. 10, no. 54, p. 3. by President- Elect of New and Related Services John . . .

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California court strikes down LA middle school cuts

Citing civil rights law and the California constitution, a California court (not a federal court) in Los Angeles has struck down cuts layoffs at Los Angeles middle schools, issuing a preliminary injunction against the layoffs. . . .

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Marilyn Stewart's company unionism... Stewart and other CTU leaders worked with Ron Huberman to censor teachers and others critical of Stewart and Huberman policies

Chicago Teachers Union President Marilyn Stewart and three of her staff members, including Chief of Staff John Ostenburg and Recording Secretary Mary McGuire, worked hand-in-glove with the administration of Chicago Schools Chief Executive Officer Ron . . .

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THE HOME STRETCH: CORE does phone banking in final days before CTU election

In the final push to win the upcoming Chicago Teachers Union election for control of the 30,000 member union CORE — the Caucus Of Rank and File Educators — held personal phone banking sessions at . . .

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Linda Porter, CSDU endorse CORE

Chicago Teachers Union Treasurer Linda Porter and the Caucus for a Strong Democratic Union that she led endorsed CORE (the Caucus of Rank and File Educators) and King High School Chemistry teacher Karen Lewis now . . .

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Another secret CPS job fair, March 31, 2010 at Reilly Elementary School, but...

In the ongoing cat-and-mouse game with Chicago Public Schools engaging in secret job recruitment fairs and hiring events, a tip to a clandestine fair in Area 1 of the Chicago school district came into SubstanceNews. . . .

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Chicago's schools 'Chief Executive Officer' was apparently on vacation during 'Clean up week'... Huberman still hasn't issued order after Judge declared his policy unconstitutional

Danny,

Should I keep this under wraps or work it into a story?
CPS lost without Huberman
Bus Losing Direction: Where is the Driver
Huberman takes Spring Break and Ignores Judges Order
1st Amendment . . .

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Union Members Excluded from Union Meeting: Stewart Violates Union Members' Rights — Again — by ejecting two CTU members from April 12 Hyde Park meeting

QUESTION: When is a member of the Chicago Teachers Union not a member of the Chicago Teachers Union? ANSWER: When the union's president Marilyn Stewart is holding an election campaign meeting at a school and . . .

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CHARTER SCHOOL NEWS: Stanford University charter school has

A nine-year-old charter school overseen by Stanford University's School of Education will be closed in June 2010, according to a recent article in the New York Times (April 16, 2010). What the Times did not . . .

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California teachers threaten strikes over cuts

Teachers in a number of California school districts have been threatening to strike over cuts and the refusal of their boards of education to negotiate contracts in good faith since the beginning of the funding . . .

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STRIKE! Orange County California teachers strike for first time in decade... Strike against cutbacks and a ten percent pay cut!

[Editor's Note posted on April 26, 2010. Substance will try to update the story of the Capistrano teachers' strike on a daily basis as long as the strike continues. Sources for this story will include . . .

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STRIKE! Students shut down Puerto Rico's largest university, 19 guards injured in clashes

Press reports are beginning to come in to Chicago about a massive strike of students at the largest university in Puerto Rico, as cuts similar to those planned for Chicago and already in place in . . .

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CPS proposes to hire hundreds of new teachers while Ron Huberman says he has to prepare to cut thousands of jobs because of a near billion dollar 'deficit'

While claiming it must cut hundreds (perhaps thousands) of jobs, the Chicago Board of Education is simultaneously advertising around the nation and locally to hire new teachers. Is there an explanation? Secret Job Fairs and . . .

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CSDU turns in more than 7,000 signatures on nominating petitions by deadline

The Caucus for a Strong Democratic Union (CSDU) turned in more than 7,000 signatures on nominating petitions in all categories by the Chicago Teachers Union's March 23, 2010 deadline, far exceeding the number required. . . .

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Illinois Republicans aim to further cripple Chicago Teachers Union

The Chicago Board of Education is trying to get legislation (HB 5596) introduced by Illinois State Republican House representatives to allow the school board to to reopen the Chicago Teachers Union contract without the agreement . . .

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CTPF files lawsuit charging Northern Trust lost millions of Chicago teacher pension money through highly risky investments

The Chicago Teachers Pension Fund (CTPF) along with the Atlanta City Firefighters Fund filed a class action lawsuit against Northern Trust in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, . . .

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'Turnaround' of Marshall High School challenged... Corrupt Administrators and Special Education problems dooming Marshall High School?

Marshall High School staff, students, administration, alumni, and community representatives testified against the turnaround of the school at the hearing on February 1, 2010 at Chicago Board of Education chambers.



Turnaround . . .

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Gillespie Elementary School defends itself against 'turnaround' Performance Management attack at February 4 CPS hearing

Joined by Alderman Fredrinna Lyle (6th Ward), Gillespie Elementary School principal Michelle Willis — joined by more than 100 Gillespie teachers, parents, students, and community supporters — told the Chicago Board of Education's hearing on . . .

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Friday night in Chicago... More than 100 teachers, parents, and children speak out at hearing against closing of Paderewski Elementary School

More than 100 students, teachers, parents and community activists from one of Chicago's smallest public elementary schools turned out on Friday night, February 5, 2010, to tell the Chicago Board of Education and the Board's . . .

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More than 300 people turn out for late hearing on Mollison school closing on February 8... Alderman, dozens of others denounce CPS attacks on Mollison, Wells Prep.

One of the largest turnouts for a hearing in the current cycle of hearings on school closings, turnarounds, phase outs, and consolidations took place on the night of February 8, 2010, when approximately 300 people . . .

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Deficit of up to $900 million claimed

In a last-minute press conference, Ron Huberman CEO of the Chicago Public Schools is projecting almost $1 billion budget deficit for the fiscal year 2011. During the news conference at CPS headquarters Mr. Huberman alluded . . .

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Another cover-up of Chicago corruption as well? How much clout is keeping St. HOPE charter schools receiving federal money despite scandals?

This United States Senate [and House] staff report below is related the investigation of Kevin Johnson's eligibility to receive federal grant funding for his charter schools after he was found to be misusing grant money . . .

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Michael Scott death will resonate in 2010 across Chicago's public schools

The November 16, 2009, death of Michael Scott in the middle of the night at a lonely spot beside the Chicago River near Kinzie Street was just about wrapped up as a news story by . . .

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Stewart, Huberman procedures are a violation of federal labor law

It is a violation of Federal Labor law for anyone to discipline, threaten, coerce or take any other action that infringes on the rights of union members to share information, have meetings, form groups within . . .

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Lets Talk After the Big Show: Stewart’s Last Meal

In the ongoing attack against public education in Chicago, the president of one of the largest teacher's unions in the nation elects to meet after an important board meeting instead of organizing any protest or . . .

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Video and audio tapes of Curtis and Guggenheim hearings from January 28, 2010

I just uploaded pics on my face book page and youtube. The audio of each meeting is also included in the URLs below. We will have more in the next day or two.
Guggenheim Elementary . . .

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Pension Board sues Northern Trust over huge investment losses... Did any retired teacher know what a risk Northern Trust was taking with the billion dollars of pension money entrusted to it?

The Chicago Teachers Pension Fund (CTPF) along with the Atlanta City Firefighters Fund has filed a class action lawsuit against Northern Trust. The lawsuit charges that Northern Trust, which had a reputation as a conservative . . .

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McCorkle, La Casas refute Chicago Board of Education claims that the two schools should be closed

Land Grab and Special Education Privatization
Testimony - CPS School Closing Hearings 1/29/10
On January 29, 2010 there were more hearings on the closing and consolidation of two public schools in Chicago. The first hearing . . .

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Is Lehman claim tip of CPS debt iceberg?... Bankruptcy court says CPS owes $1.1 million because of derivatives speculations by Chicago Board of Education

In a strange twist of fate where the "market forces" are coming back to haunt and expose the dealings of the Chicago Board of Education in the derivatives market, lawyers for the now bankrupt Lehman . . .

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How Mariyn Stewart, UPC cheated on November 20 CTU referenda... School-by-school results reveal how Stewart, UPC stole the votes in the all-important CTU referenda November 20

[Editor's note: Technical difficulties mean that Substance is unable to publish the Excel spreadsheets compiled by John Kugler and mentioned in this article. Those who wish to receive copies of the spreadsheets can contact Dr. . . .

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Schools that didn't vote in the November 20 CTU referendum total more than 80 if CTU Web site is credible

A preliminary review of the PDF files showing the alleged vote totals for the November 20 referenda conducted by the Chicago Teachers Union shows the largest number of schools not voting in memory. According to . . .

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Chicago Teachers Union rank-and-file leaders join to protest November 20 referendum irregularities

More than two weeks after the members of the Chicago Teachers Union voted in the city's more than 600 public schools on three major changes in the union's governance supported by union president Marilyn Stewart . . .

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Meet the Press gives Duncan, Sharpton, Gingrich a national stage for teacher bashing on its November 15, 2009 show

[Editor's Note: The following materials were forwarded through SubstanceNews by John Kugler and are being reprinted here because of the timeliness and importance of the materials, especially the complete transcript of the show and the . . .

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Stop the sentimental silliness about Michael Scott... Hood News video shows how Chicago worked while Arne Duncan and Michael Scott served Richard M. Daley to destroy Collins HS and privatize dozens of Chicago public schools

Perhaps it's true that people should try and speak only good things about people who have passed along in a shocking way.

But while Chicago gets ready for the Michael Scott memorial at the . . .

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Huberman's corruption at City Hall beginning to get attention ($2.25 Million Irregularities under Huberman)... CPS corruptions are ignored

The City of Chicago's Inspector General’s office is recommending that Jim Argiropoulos at Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications be fired. But while the name Jim Argiropoulos may not be well known in . . .

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Were CPS derivative deals through Lehman Brothers illegal under Illinois law and Chicago Board of Education policy? It certainly looks that way!

The recent revelation in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court (Southern District New York, August 27, 2009) that officials of the Chicago Board of Education had invested Chicago Public Schools funds in speculative derivatives through one of . . .

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Chicago brings back veteran area officer Cynthia Barron to fill spot left by controversial outsider who wasn't hired

Less than a week before school began for Chicago's more than 400,000 public school students, Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman quietly put former Area Instructional Officer Cynthia Barron into the position of . . .

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Arne Duncan was on 'Face the Nation' but didn't have to answer any tough questions

Duncan does The Duncan on 'Face the Nation' and gets away with it.

Arne Duncan, United States Secretary of Education and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, was interviewed on Face the Nation September . . .

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D.C. teachers march and rally against D.C. schools chief Michelle Rhee and their union president

On September 24, California was not the only place where there was a massive protest against the attacks on public schools. Check out the following story from the Washington Post about the protest in Washington, . . .

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EXTRA! Deregulation at 'CAO' level lets convicted frauds run Chicago areas... Huberman appoints convicted fraudster to new 'AO' position

A preliminary review of the new executives of the Chicago Public Schools being appointed at the Chicago Board of Education's August 26, 2009, meeting shows that at least one of them has admitted to criminal . . .

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Board explanations on Reinhard appointment filled with contradictions

On the morning of August 26, 2009, SubstanceNews reported that the Chicago Board of Education was scheduled to appoint a man named Jon Reinhard to the position of Chief Area Officer for Area 25 in . . .

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Chicago Teachers Union Official Testifies Against Union Members at Chicago Board Termination Hearing

Union Treachery: Wells 4 Update
April 14, 2009
By John Kugler

Chicago- The Chicago Board of Education with the help of the Chicago Teachers Union is proceeding with the State process to permanently remove . . .

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'Fresh Start' being used to destroy tenure... Chicago Teachers Union Official Testifies Against Union Members at Chicago Board Termination Hearing

The Chicago Board of Education — with the help of the Chicago Teachers Union — is proceeding with the State of Illinois administrative process to permanently fire four tenured teachers from Wells High School. One . . .

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Poltrock is back... Chicago Teachers Union delegates skeptical about pronouncements of 'Parliamentarian'

Who is Making the Rules?

In an interesting twist of events at what was to be a new beginning in the first House of Delegates meeting February 18, 2009 for the new three-year term . . .

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How union solidarity saved one teacher's job

“March 11, 2008. Dear Mr. Bennett: Based on the results of the investigatory conference held on February 13, 2008, I have determined that sufficient basis exists to terminate your services as a probationary appointed teacher . . .

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Practical solidarity in action... What does 'Union' mean?

Unionism is a new word in my vocabulary and in the vocabulary of many newer teachers in Chicago. It’s been more than 20 years since the last teachers’ strike, and a whole new generation has . . .

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Stewart getting $90,000 + for part-time IFT job

Chicago Teachers Union President Marilyn Stewart was signed to a part-time job paying more than $90,000 per year as secretary treasurer of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) as soon as the Chicago Teachers Union . . .

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CTU facing massive deficit but... Stewart's top eight staff make between $180,000 and $200,000 per year

At least eight appointed staff members of the Chicago Teachers Union are currently being paid a total salary (base salary plus total benefits) of $200,000 or more in the current year. These include two field . . .

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CTU President hired scab for $100,000 per year legislative lobbying job

What is a union? Is it collecting dues, going on strike, fighting management, getting a good contract, or protecting each individual member? It depends on whom you talk to and when you talk to them. . . .

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Alderman Cardenas Chicago Charter School On Toxic Site... EPA Lists Site as a Toxic Chemical Release Inventory System site

In an ongoing investigation by Substance News of Chicago Alderman George Cardenas (12thWard) rushing to push through a zoning change of an industrial site to charter school, it is has been found that 2245 W. . . .

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