The purpose of this blog is to organize documentation of the hearings that the appointed Chicago Board of Education is holding to hear public response to the proposed closings, consolidations, phase-outs and turnarounds.
Wanted to share about the Las Casa hearing at Ninos Heroes. Guys it was sad and I never thought I would see the disrespect I saw. While the hearing wasn't as well-attended as the one at the Board. There were maybe 2 teachers, some PRSP's and some parents. The most. notable was Gabrielle Turn. A 54 year old nurse (former police officer) with 12 children. Her son, a 6'9" 275 pounder entered Las Casas on 17 different medications. On his first day, he knocked out a teacher, a security guard and an aide. He is now off all meds and taking 3 AP classes (the principal actually told me this - and knew the classes he was taking). She had not testified at the Board and the "hearing officer" - an arrogant, condescending man who spoke to the audience as if they were wayward children. No one from CTU, but David Pickens, Teresa Garza and a couple of other Board hacks were there including a woman who sat behind me in one of the reserved seats on Tuesday. When I challenged the so-called hearing officer that not one single member of the Board was there, she stood up and said she represented Clare Munana. I said she was clearly NOT Munana so it didn't matter.
Las Casas has clearly been sabotaged. While they are capable of taking more students, the office of Specialized Services told people not to place any more students at Las Casas. What is so interesting to me is that the story of parents at Hamilton and Las Casas is very similar. The parents carefully researched which schools could provide the best options for their children's needs and went with that. In the case of Hamilton parents, they paid tuition for pre-school and were promised that they would have a place in Hamilton for their students. The students at Las Casas are much more vulnerable.
What sickened me the most is that the hearing officer asked whether it was the goal to get "these kids" back into regular schools. The principal stated that indeed it was, but that it was a process. Those students could not be dumped wholesale into neighborhood schools. This is a travesty and I wish I could report anything good that will come of this. Ms. Turner said that the Tribune will interview her today around 2:00pm at her home. I'm battling a cold, but will try to make it.
Sorry if I'm getting too long-winded, but something just occurred to me - with the election of Obama, people do have hope and others appreciate grassroots organization. If the people rise up, they will have the world looking in. We have to establish some consistent, targeted strategic steps that will lead to the "outing" of the establishment and demand they do their civic duty instead of the callous, bottom-line approach for those who need the most!
Abbott School Closing Hearing 1/31/09 9 a.m. 125 S. Clark. Submitted by Liz Brown Hearing notes follow. I begin with a summary. No voting members of the Chicago Board of Education were present. Overall, community members testified that Abbott is a good school with strong special needs and autism programs. Most parents spoke passionately on special needs students and disruption school closings have on their lives and learning. One counselor spoke forcefully, but no other teachers spoke (or attended to my knowledge but I missed about 10 minutes). Mark Ochoa/CTU spoke forcefully. Ms. Lee from Grand Boulevard did not fight closing per se, but instead argued CPS’ placement of Abbott students at Hendricks versus McClellan which is more racially diverse and higher performing. Principal spoke about money as the basis of CPS’s and her school’s unique wards situation – they pull students from one ward but are situated in another, resulting in political under- representation. TRANSCRIPT: Minor girl: Abbott shouldn’t close because teachers have high expectations and never let us down. My scores have improved –my brother graduated and I’ve planned to do so ever since I was in 2nd grade. Minor girl: 7th grade. I receive a good education at Abbott. All of us are treated equally even if they have problems. Minor girl: 8th grade Love my school, close to where I live and I’m doing very well. Melissa – Her three-year-old granddaughter with autism has been learning so much. Follows along with Sodoku puzzles I know she is learning My two oldest graduated from AES and they’re both in college. Minor girl: 1st grade – I love my school, it is good to all of us. CPS will you please keep our school open? Parent of minor w/speech impairment. “You would have thought he was speaking in tongues and now he has made such improvement.” He has already switched schools 3 times and moving him again will hurt him. Cynthia Gulley: School counselor at Abbott. Abbott is a small school with a better learning environment and academic gains. IEPs are followed as well as extra attention to kids that need intervention. Multiple transfer students in particular need remediation. In terms of autism, we know how to serve those children and advocate for them. We take pride in our program. We’re a model school – excellent behavior management allows higher academic performance. We have strong relationship with parents and we want to see that continue generation after generation. Minor boy: At my other schools, I was always in the office, punished, I didn’t care about grades and had no friends. Abbott helps me understand what I’m experiencing. I made honor roll and have friends at Abbott. Parent/Male: We received a letter saying we’re closing Abbott – no meeting, a letter. My son came from a school where he completely failed. He was sad all the time and he hated life. He’s opened up and gotten on the honor roll. At Abbott he’s happy about life and that’s what’s important. Parent/Female: We chose Abbott because our son has autism. Our neighborhood school failed us and called the police many times on him. He also has Aspergers. When Abbott is closed, he’ll be shuffled again. Abbott gives him time to recognize his behavior, gives him time to work it out. He has learned to trust and respects teachers and principals – he can speak and communicate now. He hated summer vacation this past year because he just wanted to be in school. We cannot shuffle our kids like a deck of cards. You can’t transition them. Esther: I have known X student all my life (breaks down in tears). His previous school failed him, they never learned how to meet his autism needs. Abbott has taught him to cope. Closing Abbott will destroy his learning and his world. Andrea Lee (Grand Blvd representing CHA families). CPS talks about shutting down Abbott and sending Abbott students to Hendricks. Why Hendricks and not McClellan where test scores are higher and student population is more diverse? It is appalling that CPS did not offer McClellan to Abbott students. What of the racial impact – Abbott is 88% African-American and Hendricks is 99% African-American. We question why McClellan isn’t an option (mostly Latino and white) to diversify our schools. CPS closes schools for various reasons and Choir Academy students were not allowed to enroll at Abbott. Abbott is a hope for families and Wentworth Gardens community. Rochester Green: Grand Blvd – has never seen a fight at Abbott so I hope school will stay open and we need the school in the area. Rev. Davis, Pastor, Progressive Baptist church. I appealed last year and I repeat this year what I said last year. The school system should not close Abbott because it’s a performing school. Why close performingg school that serves Wentworth Gardens community? Work with your heart. John Kugler: NYC doesn’t discard highly qualified teachers but CPS does. Closings are a disruption to teachers’ lives and their families’ lives and disrupts student learning. Stop these school closings. Mark Ochoa/CTU: Sometimes change can be good, but not in this case. You are upsetting lives in a community that works. CPS loves small schools, after all, so why close Abbott? It’s time for CPS to stop treating neighborhood schools like poor step kids and treating charters like the golden child – charters are not golden. If you want to take a chance, go to Vegas. CPS is taking chances with people’s lives. CPS is planning to spend a lot of money on the Abbott building. Wiring contract RFPs on Abbott are going out right now – what’s next for Abbott building? What are your plans? Another charter? Help neighborhood schools grow. Rethink this – stop school closings. Make sound decisions. Principal of Abbott – The bottom line on CPS closing Abbott is money. We have two binders that encapsulate what’s been said here. You should know that Wentworth Gardens is a special community – to the north U.S. Cellular, and to the west and east, metra tracks. Abbott’s pulling students from ward 3 and sits in 11th ward. It’s a unique situation and it’s about money. We can’t move our kids. CPS has said they’d acknowledge unique situations and they should here. Anthony E. – attended Abbott years ago and finds it heartbreaking to see it close. Nephew at Abbott has cerebral palsy and can’t walk but Abbott deals with him, helps him. NCLB – if you close this school you’ll leave 100s behind. We are poor in pocket but rich in spirit. Houses have been torn down, construction all around, 100 new apartments not yet occupied. Give our kids better equipment, give our kids a chance. I made $72K last year and $50K the year before as an Abbott graduate -- open doors for these kids too. They’re not rich but Abbott can educate them so they can function in this world. Liz Brown – testified on last three years’ enrollment figures. Five area elementary schools, including Abbott, lost 600 students in past three years and during those past three years, 2 charters opened and have 675 students. Take a closer look at these schools enrollment figures on special needs students with IEPs: 23% at Abbott, charter 1 -- 6%, charter 2 --11% IEP. Yet Abbott has higher M&Es than the charter with only 6% special needs students. And it’s Abbott that CPS has chosen to close based on underutilization? What of performance and a level playing field? Claudia Elliott: Wentworth Gardens resident. I have kids who graduated from Abbott that are fully employed: one drives a truck, two work with CHA, a pipefitter and an engineer. Abbott is a great community asset and should not be closed. End of hearing.
Karen Jennings wrote:
ReplyDeleteWanted to share about the Las Casa hearing at Ninos Heroes. Guys it was sad and I never thought I would see the disrespect I saw. While the hearing wasn't as well-attended as the one at the Board. There were maybe 2 teachers, some PRSP's and some parents. The most. notable was Gabrielle Turn. A 54 year old nurse (former police officer) with 12 children. Her son, a 6'9" 275 pounder entered Las Casas on 17 different medications. On his first day, he knocked out a teacher, a security guard and an aide. He is now off all meds and taking 3 AP classes (the principal actually told me this - and knew the classes he was taking). She had not testified at the Board and the "hearing officer" - an arrogant, condescending man who spoke to the audience as if they were wayward children. No one from CTU, but David Pickens, Teresa Garza and a couple of other Board hacks were there including a woman who sat behind me in one of the reserved seats on Tuesday. When I challenged the so-called hearing officer that not one single member of the Board was there, she stood up and said she represented Clare Munana. I said she was clearly NOT
Munana so it didn't matter.
Las Casas has clearly been sabotaged. While they are capable of taking more students, the office of Specialized Services told people not to place any more students at Las Casas. What is so interesting to me is that the story of parents at Hamilton and Las Casas is very similar. The parents carefully researched which schools could provide the best options for their children's needs and went with that. In the case of Hamilton parents, they paid tuition for pre-school and were promised that they would have a place in Hamilton for their students. The students at Las Casas are much more vulnerable.
What sickened me the most is that the hearing officer asked whether it was the goal to get "these kids" back into regular schools. The principal stated that indeed it was, but that it was a process. Those students could not be dumped wholesale into neighborhood schools. This is a travesty and I wish I could report anything good that will come of this. Ms. Turner said that the Tribune will interview her today around 2:00pm at her home. I'm battling a cold, but will try to make it.
Sorry if I'm getting too long-winded, but something just occurred to me - with the election of Obama, people do have hope and others appreciate grassroots organization. If the people rise up, they will have the world looking in. We have to establish some consistent, targeted strategic steps that will lead to the "outing" of the establishment and demand they do their civic duty instead of the callous, bottom-line approach for those who need the most!
Abbott School Closing Hearing 1/31/09 9 a.m. 125 S. Clark. Submitted by Liz Brown
ReplyDeleteHearing notes follow. I begin with a summary.
No voting members of the Chicago Board of Education were present.
Overall, community members testified that Abbott is a good school with strong special needs and autism programs. Most parents spoke passionately on special needs students and disruption school closings have on their lives and learning. One counselor spoke forcefully, but no other teachers spoke (or attended to my knowledge but I missed about 10 minutes). Mark Ochoa/CTU spoke forcefully. Ms. Lee from Grand Boulevard did not fight closing per se, but instead argued CPS’ placement of Abbott students at Hendricks versus McClellan which is more racially diverse and higher performing. Principal spoke about money as the basis of CPS’s and her school’s unique wards situation – they pull students from one ward but are situated in another, resulting in political under- representation.
TRANSCRIPT:
Minor girl: Abbott shouldn’t close because teachers have high expectations and never let us down. My scores have improved –my brother graduated and I’ve planned to do so ever since I was in 2nd grade.
Minor girl: 7th grade. I receive a good education at Abbott. All of us are treated equally even if they have problems.
Minor girl: 8th grade Love my school, close to where I live and I’m doing very well.
Melissa – Her three-year-old granddaughter with autism has been learning so much. Follows along with Sodoku puzzles I know she is learning My two oldest graduated from AES and they’re both in college.
Minor girl: 1st grade – I love my school, it is good to all of us. CPS will you please keep our school open?
Parent of minor w/speech impairment. “You would have thought he was speaking in tongues and now he has made such improvement.” He has already switched schools 3 times and moving him again will hurt him.
Cynthia Gulley: School counselor at Abbott. Abbott is a small school with a better learning environment and academic gains. IEPs are followed as well as extra attention to kids that need intervention. Multiple transfer students in particular need remediation. In terms of autism, we know how to serve those children and advocate for them. We take pride in our program. We’re a model school – excellent behavior management allows higher academic performance. We have strong relationship with parents and we want to see that continue generation after generation.
Minor boy: At my other schools, I was always in the office, punished, I didn’t care about grades and had no friends. Abbott helps me understand what I’m experiencing. I made honor roll and have friends at Abbott.
Parent/Male: We received a letter saying we’re closing Abbott – no meeting, a letter. My son came from a school where he completely failed. He was sad all the time and he hated life. He’s opened up and gotten on the honor roll. At Abbott he’s happy about life and that’s what’s important.
Parent/Female: We chose Abbott because our son has autism. Our neighborhood school failed us and called the police many times on him. He also has Aspergers. When Abbott is closed, he’ll be shuffled again. Abbott gives him time to recognize his behavior, gives him time to work it out. He has learned to trust and respects teachers and principals – he can speak and communicate now. He hated summer vacation this past year because he just wanted to be in school. We cannot shuffle our kids like a deck of cards. You can’t transition them.
Esther: I have known X student all my life (breaks down in tears). His previous school failed him, they never learned how to meet his autism needs. Abbott has taught him to cope. Closing Abbott will destroy his learning and his world.
Andrea Lee (Grand Blvd representing CHA families). CPS talks about shutting down Abbott and sending Abbott students to Hendricks. Why Hendricks and not McClellan where test scores are higher and student population is more diverse? It is appalling that CPS did not offer McClellan to Abbott students. What of the racial impact – Abbott is 88% African-American and Hendricks is 99% African-American. We question why McClellan isn’t an option (mostly Latino and white) to diversify our schools. CPS closes schools for various reasons and Choir Academy students were not allowed to enroll at Abbott. Abbott is a hope for families and Wentworth Gardens community.
Rochester Green: Grand Blvd – has never seen a fight at Abbott so I hope school will stay open and we need the school in the area.
Rev. Davis, Pastor, Progressive Baptist church. I appealed last year and I repeat this year what I said last year. The school system should not close Abbott because it’s a performing school. Why close performingg school that serves Wentworth Gardens community? Work with your heart.
John Kugler: NYC doesn’t discard highly qualified teachers but CPS does. Closings are a disruption to teachers’ lives and their families’ lives and disrupts student learning. Stop these school closings.
Mark Ochoa/CTU: Sometimes change can be good, but not in this case. You are upsetting lives in a community that works. CPS loves small schools, after all, so why close Abbott? It’s time for CPS to stop treating neighborhood schools like poor step kids and treating charters like the golden child – charters are not golden. If you want to take a chance, go to Vegas. CPS is taking chances with people’s lives. CPS is planning to spend a lot of money on the Abbott building. Wiring contract RFPs on Abbott are going out right now – what’s next for Abbott building? What are your plans? Another charter? Help neighborhood schools grow. Rethink this – stop school closings. Make sound decisions.
Principal of Abbott – The bottom line on CPS closing Abbott is money. We have two binders that encapsulate what’s been said here. You should know that Wentworth Gardens is a special community – to the north U.S. Cellular, and to the west and east, metra tracks. Abbott’s pulling students from ward 3 and sits in 11th ward. It’s a unique situation and it’s about money. We can’t move our kids. CPS has said they’d acknowledge unique situations and they should here.
Anthony E. – attended Abbott years ago and finds it heartbreaking to see it close. Nephew at Abbott has cerebral palsy and can’t walk but Abbott deals with him, helps him. NCLB – if you close this school you’ll leave 100s behind. We are poor in pocket but rich in spirit. Houses have been torn down, construction all around, 100 new apartments not yet occupied. Give our kids better equipment, give our kids a chance. I made $72K last year and $50K the year before as an Abbott graduate -- open doors for these kids too. They’re not rich but Abbott can educate them so they can function in this world.
Liz Brown – testified on last three years’ enrollment figures. Five area elementary schools, including Abbott, lost 600 students in past three years and during those past three years, 2 charters opened and have 675 students. Take a closer look at these schools enrollment figures on special needs students with IEPs: 23% at Abbott, charter 1 -- 6%, charter 2 --11% IEP. Yet Abbott has higher M&Es than the charter with only 6% special needs students. And it’s Abbott that CPS has chosen to close based on underutilization? What of performance and a level playing field?
Claudia Elliott: Wentworth Gardens resident. I have kids who graduated from Abbott that are fully employed: one drives a truck, two work with CHA, a pipefitter and an engineer. Abbott is a great community asset and should not be closed.
End of hearing.