The Tribune has unearthed a September CPS memo in which is discussed delaying the closings, closing 95 schools, and even where the closed schools were located. CPS is attempting to disavow the memo as a Brizard-era document, but the timeline says otherwise.
Filed under: Daily News Roundup, Media Watch
I grew up near Roscoe & Halsted in the 1970s, left for college and moved back in 2000, started this blog in 2005 (first on my own, then with Catalyst, and now with ChicagoNow). My dad went to Senn. I went to Near North Montessori and Parker. Since 2006 I've been living in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn -- the Wicker Park of New York City. I have another education blog called This Week In Education that focuses on school reform trends at the national level.
They can try to disavow all they want. What is known, is that several steps from this Sept. "memo" have been implemented already (5-year moratorium, "deep"-community engagement, opening minimum charters, etc.). For Ms.Carroll, to insinuate that this document was drafted under past leadership is nonsensical at best. All knew that JCB was a lame duck months before the strike. Common sense would tell us that these plans have been drafted for quite some time, this shouldn't come as a shock. What was ridiculous is that, CPS-publicly- took the position that there was no master plan. This is just another example of CPS and their lack of integrity.
Carroll doesn't have any integrity. I can't believe the newspapers still print the words that come out of her mouth seeing that everything says turns out to be a lie.
Pershing is in 2 two separate buildings and should be consolidated back together. Arne Duncan separated the K-3rd (Pershing East) from the 4th-8th (Pershing West).
CPS HAD DRAFT OF SCHOOL CLOSINGS MONTHS AGO: Dear District 299 Readers, in case I didn't mention this on District 299, there are more than one draft lists of school actions that CPS has with the names of schools on them. CPS has different lists for specific scenarios based on community opposition and costs, benefits savings. You can not identify costs and benefits savings unless you identify buildings (schools). In this draft document it discusses how to deal with public reaction to school closing decisions, with ideas ranging from establishing "a meaningful engagement process with community members", these are the Commission on School Utilization meeting. Also, building a "monitoring mechanism to ensure nimble response to opposition to proposed school actions." This has been accomplished by the Illinois General Assembly approving the changing of the date of announcing CPS school actions from December 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013. By law, CPS must hold 3 hearings on ALL proposed School Actions-after March 31, 2013 Announcement. The public will get 15 days' notice BEFORE any hearings can be held, but the BOARD must still wait 60 days BEFORE making final decisions. The next Chicago Board of Education meeting after May 31, 2013 is June 26, 2013. Track E schools end on June 19, 2013 and Track R schools end on June 24, 2013. P.S.- You can only hide a lie for so long.
PRELIMINARY ACTIONS BY NETWORK-NEED TO BE REVIEWED BY TRANSITION LEADER, RESTRUCTURING TEAM STEERCO, CABINET, AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS: All information and analysis prelimanary work in process only. For pre-decisional discussion. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. 95 school closures/consilidations, 8 school turnarounds, 17 school phase-ins/outs and 4 school co-locations with charter schools, 124 school actions. BY NETWORKS: A. Austin-North Lawndale ES-11 school closures/cosolidations, 1 school turnaround, 3 school phase-ins/outs; B. Burnham Park ES-12 school closures/consolidations, 2 school turnarounds, 1 school phase-in/out; C. Englewood-Gresham ES- 9 school closures/consolidations, 3 school turnaounds, 1 school phase-in/out; a. Far South side HS- 0 school actions; D. Fullerton ES- 2 school closures/consolidations, 1 school turnaround, 3 school phase-ins/outs; E. Fulton ES- 11 school closures/consolidations, 2 school phase-ins/outs, 1 school co-location; F. Garfield-Humboldt Park ES- 7 school closures/consolidations, 1 co-location; G. Lake Calumet ES- 8 school closures/consolidations, 1 phase-in/out; H. Midway ES- 1 school closure/consolidation; b. North-Northwest HS- 1 school closure/consolidation, 1 phase-in/out; I. O'Hare ES- 1 school phase-in/out; J. Pershing ES- 4 school closures/consolidations; K. Pilsen-Little Village ES- 3 school closures/consolidations; L. Ravenwood-Ridge ES- 3 school closures/consolidations, 1 school phase-in/out; M. Rock-Island ES- 6 school closures/consolidations, 1 school turnaround, 1 school phase-in/out; N. Skyway ES- 8 school closures/consolidations, 2 school phase-ins/outs; c. South Side HS- 2 school closures/consolidations; d. Southwest Side HS- 2 school closures/consolidations and e. West Side HS- 5 school closures/consolidations, 2 school co-locations. DOCUMENT OBTAINED BY THE TRIBUNE
Oh Becky! “In terms of whatever document you have, I don’t care when it’s dated, as of today there’s no list and there’s no plan,” Carroll said. “Maybe there were multiple, different scenarios passed around at some point, I don’t know, but there’s no list of schools."
Highlights:
1. whatever document
2. I don't care
3. There's no list
4. There's no plan
5. I don't know
Great politico speak Ms. Carroll! Can someone at central office please keep searching the drawers?
Carroll's quote doesn't make any sense: CPS had a plan, but now they don't. There isn't a list of schools, but there was. So what happened to the plan? What happened to the list? And what is CPS doing now that's different than what they were doing before? Did the people who were working on the previous plan all get fired or moved off the planning? And if so, who is the new team working on this? It's a lie on top of a lie on top of a lie. City Hall needs to put an end to this.
What is most ridiculous is the idea that there has not been a plan before now (given the so called deficit). What are we paying them to do? BTW my argument made here regarding the request for extension. Wouldn't it be laughable had they not had some plan or review prior to now? Are there so many hidden agendas that the simple truth can't be communicated (rhetorical)? I am not surprised by the plan I am surprised by the ridiculous attempts made to appear as though no "scenario" i.e. plan has been addressed. Either "real truth" exposed...CPS central office is a hot mess.
Independence of independent schools commission questioned http://ow.ly/gekSP @WBEZeducation
Karen Lewis Joins Diane Ravitch in Politicizing the Newtown Tragedy @dropoutnation http://ow.ly/gel4g
Alexander Russo Joins Karen Lewis Joins Diane Ravitch in Politicizing Tragedy
125 Clark Street is the last bastion of scoundrels in this city. They are about as useful as a Helen Keller book light .
At last the media has finally mustered enough courage to call them out for the liars they are. Robert Greenwood (Outfoxed)should do a documentary on the disinformation, deception and doublespeak of CPS.
Here's a playlist that CPS might consider for their Holiday Party. It's called "Liar Liar Pant's On Fire".
Liar by Rollins Band
Jive Talkin' by The Bee Gees
Lyin' Eyes by The Eagles
Tellin' Stories by Tracy Chapman
Ain't That Peculiar by Marvin Gaye
Tell Me a Lie by Sammy Jo
Lies by Thompson Twins
I Can See For Miles by The Who
Pretending by Eric Clapton
I'm Looking Through You by The Beatles
I'd Lie For You (And That's The Truth) by Meat Loaf
You Lie by Madonna
Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley
Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots
Beautiful Liar by Beyonce & Shakira
Liar by Three Dog Night
Liar Liar by The Castaways
Lies by The Knickerbockers
The Great Pretender by The Platters
Fake Friends by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Foolin' Yourself by Styx
Great list, but you failed to include the CPS theme song, Crosseyed and Painless by the Talking Heads:
Facts are simple and facts are straight
Facts are lazy and facts are late
Facts all come with points of view
Facts don't do what I want them to
Facts just twist the truth around
Facts are living turned inside out
Facts are getting the best of them
Facts are nothing on the face of things
Facts don't stain the furniture
Facts go out and slam the door
Facts are written all over your face
Facts continue to change their shape
The illusion of inclusion continues. Which CPS spokesperson will fall on their sword next?
Sorry, can't resist mroberston718... theme only to be used until follow-up by the response of community... burning down the house... ya know the one that Rahm built..
Anyone got a match?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJmPcILfg8
Last Night at Edison School Closing Meeting | WeArePCAPS http://ow.ly/geQW5 via @mikeklonsky
CPS Board Votes Wednesday on New Charter Schools | NBC Chicago http://ow.ly/gf56e
CPS CEO insists there’s no school closings list amid growing mistrust - Chicago Sun-Times http://ow.ly/gf5aO
Steve Gering moved to another position.
Moved by choice? What position is he now in and who is now in his old one?
Yes. Because anytime someone moves it's by choice. What a silly question.
Perhaps not the nephew and not too big. Guess who that is and you will know the jig. In charge of Chiefs and moving strong, more changes to come, not too long.
little bird--a MObama relative? more clues please
Some are protected.
I'm Stalling, for sure.
Protected when clearly
there's no other cure.
Make a mistake? No need to fear.
B cubed has liked you, she made it so clear.
Others are out, no longer fit in.
Too white for the cause,
so Little slips in.
Finally a little poetry on this blog. Wow, that is refreshing. I am a science guy, so let me break it down factually. Gering demoted, Cheatham too. Little is in charge of networks. Stalling has issues, but Ma Hines is trying to protecting him (for reasons I don't understand). He will resurface soon.
Well done, you've got it!
Clues solved
How 'bout it
More changes, so soon
The Victor is gone,
Moved to green pastures
To lead in the fall
Victor of Pershing Network?
Who is the Obama relative?
What about Winkler? Will she be removed?
I have never commented before, but I couldn't help responding to Winckler's removal!!! So overdue, it is sad. She is responsible for the STRIKE and so much more. Teachers wake up.....call the CTU, ask them to demand her immediate termination. So much of what is awful about CPS has been caused by Queen Alicia Winckler. She has been around since Huberman--do I need to say more? Her hire was the beginning of the end for all CPS employees. Until she is removed, count on a hostile work environment and more of the same. NO one in CPS can understand why she is still around.
Great HR workers-who help.know what to do correctly the first time in HR are no longer allowed to talk to employees-HR can't get pay raise/steps right, her wellness program is a mess-now we have to go to classes-who has time?, tell our very personal information online or get charged if we do not comply, she has made working for CPS even MORE stressful-no subs, no subs, no subs, because teachers cannot bank days anymore! Talent Management?:she has no talent for management! As a counselor of over 800 students, I am tired from recess/lunch duty and not helping my students-yes, I have to do this now; this longer day is not going to improve test scores since all we are doing is testing. I digress-forgive me. Merry Christmas.
Who said Winckler was removed? Is this fact or rumor? More info.....???
Chicago Teachers Union, CPS Clash Erupts Over School Closings, Charters And 'Secret' Doc http://ow.ly/gfk0l