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IG urges CPS to fire Claypool over ethics flap
The CPS Inspector General (IG) says Claypool lied during an ethics investigation and, on Wednesday, he urged the unelected CPS Board of Education to fire Claypool. Read more here:
Sun-Times: Fire Claypool, CPS inspector urges; Rahm cites ‘lapse’ but defends CEO
WBEZ: IG Recommends Firing Embattled CPS CEO Forrest Claypool
Earlier today the IG report was actually made public. Here’s some coverage:
Sun-Times: CPS’s Claypool ‘repeatedly lied’ to cover up ethics breach, report says
You can sign our petition to fire Claypool over his mishandling of special ed here.
***UPDATE: On Friday, December 8, 2017, Claypool resigned.
BOE Recap
It was a heated day at the CPS board meeting with the meeting lasting almost 5 hours. Many students and parents from Harper HS came out to protest the closing of their school and all the neighborhood HSs in Englewood. The students were not allowed in the Board overflow room as CPS set up their Board meetings to only accommodate 100 people to observe the meetings. Harper HS students sat in the lobby waiting to get in. On Twitter, you can check out the hashtag #cpsboard to see many live tweets from the meeting. You can also see video of the Harper students protesting in CPS’ lobby here and a great Twitter moment (a collection of tweets telling a story) captured here.
RYH interviewed a member of the Harper LSC recently who said that no one from the LSC was invited to be on the steering committee around the closings:
Alternet: Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Officials Shuffling Students Around “Like Cars”
During public comment at the BOE meeting, RYH parents spoke out against Art In Motion (AIM), the church-affiliated charter school backed by Common (which CPS approved at the BOE meeting), special ed injustices and the closing of all the neighborhood HSs in Englewood. You can read those statements here and watch video of the RYH statement against approval of AIM here.
RYH did some research on the AIM charter school and submitted it yesterday to the BOE. You can read our concerns here.
Other press coverage from the BOE meeting:
WTTW: Claypool Blasted by Rapper’s Dad Over Plan to Close Englewood Schools
CBS: Protesters: Emanuel ‘Back At It Again’ With Plans To Close 4 Englewood Schools
CPS Special Education Letter to ISBE Update
Last week, it was reported that CPS sent a letter to ISBE in response to the request by numerous organizations including RYH for ISBE to investigate CPS for their practices around special education. CPS denied a lot of the claims in the joint letter, and the groups sent a follow-up letter to ISBE today. You can read it here.
In other news
Great article by Chicago Magazine: What Teachers Know
Chicago Now: Chicago Public Schools Leaders Continue to Ignore Unsafe Conditions in Southwest Side School
Sun-Times: Chicago Public Schools plans to open 2 new ‘classical model’ schools, add 3 new magnets
Chicago Tribune: Hirsch High students attempt walkout to protest plan for charter school in building
ABC: CPS plan to shutter 4 Englewood schools sparks student protest
LA Times: Column: SAT, ACT test firms are selling out high school students to marketers
Associated Press: US charter schools put growing numbers in racial isolation
CPSuccess
Congratulations to Mr. Roadruck of Northwest Middle: IL Middle School Art Teacher of the Year!
Senior citizens committed to the students of NTA Elementary!
Burke Elementary designs Fort Dearborn models!
Upcoming Events
⟹ The Future of Education in Bronzeville
Hosted by The Mid-South Education Association
Sat, Dec 16, 10:00am
Kennicott Park, 4434 S. Lake Park Avenue, Room 212
Guest Speaker: Jitu Brown, Executive Director, Journey for Justice Alliance
Breakfast will be provided.
⟹What Makes A School Great? Public Forum
Hosted by Raise Your Hand, Fair Test, CTU, CUE, Generation All
Tues, Jan 30, 7:00pm
Kenwood High School, 5015 S. Blackstone
⟹ CPS Community Meetings & Public Hearings on CPS Proposed School Actions
At the link above, click on the “School Actions” tab for full list of proposed school actions as well as 2 community meetings and 1 hearing for each proposed action.
January 2018
Various locations
⟹ January Monthly Meeting: Chicago Unelected Board of Ed
Online registration to speak or observe Mon Jan 22, 10:30am
Meeting Wed Jan 24, 10:30am
CPS, 42 W. Madison
Please contact us at info@ilraiseyourhand.org if you need more information or advice.