Return to [remote or in person] Board of Education
Live reporting by Ayesha Riaz
View on Twitter

Chicago Public Schools is actively working to hire bus drivers — something it’s been struggling to do for nearly three years.

ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline
Good evening, covering Chicago Board of Educations meeting for @Chidocumenters. Meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:00pm. Today’s meeting is in the auditorium of Chicago Vocational Career Academy High School.

05:14 PM Apr 25, 2024 CDT

ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 2/110
Agenda for today’s meeting is available here: []
President Jianan Shi gives mic to Principal Douglas Maclin of Chicago Vocational Career Academy. This is his 13th year as principal, also the longest-serving for the school.
documenters.org/documents/agen…
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 3/110
Principal Maclin shares his dedication, acknowledges Alder Harris, and the $5.4million and lobby assistance for a school-based health clinic that also serves the broader community of the Southeast Side.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 4/110
Alder Harris comes to speak next to thank the city and the community. She’s very invested and loves the community. She thanks Doug Maclin, for standing in the space even though he didn't have to. She profusely thanks staff and hopes to continue to funnel resources into the ward.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 5/110
From Jones College Prep, a teacher named Charlie Mills passed away earlier this month. Mills had been part of the Jones school community for 25+ years, supporting students and staff wholeheartedly. The school and community mourns the loss of Charlie and honors his memory.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 6/110
For this month’s Honoring Excellence section of the meeting, the board addresses the Far South Side CAC (Community Action Council). Far South Side CAC lists parent engagement as catalyst for change.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 7/110
Top 3 needs: 1) community engagement, 2) funding, 3) specific funding. Results from principal surveys show to be in line with research, that regardless of socioeconomic status, parental involvement leads to increased results and improved student outcomes.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 8/110
Additional funding for underperforming schools would provide equity if distributed directly to classrooms and to supply *new academic programs.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 9/110
Member Rudy Lazano, supports the Far South CAC, stating that their role is critical and vital to the community’s success. He takes a moment to remember the late Dr. Joyce Chapman, former Board Member, and hopes to follow by her example on the mission for equity and justice.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 10/110
VP, Elizabeth Todd-Breland enthusiastically shares her experience with students from Altgeld Gardens from earlier in the day, being amazed and inspired at the demonstration of student voices.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 11/110
The student-generated plan for the community includes a mural of Cheryl Johnson, mother of environmental justice, who was the executive director of People for Community Recovery.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 12/110
The students have been working with partnerships with the Field Museum and CTA, and have built an entire replica of their community, in preparation of the red line extension. Todd-Breland states that the students, their work and their visions are truly transformational.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 13/110
Chief Education Officer, Bogdana Chkoumbova, begins with her remarks: celebrates our assistant principals and clerks in CPS schools. They play a huge role in creating welcome scenes in schools, and hopes they felt appreciated this month.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 14/110
The district recently held its second annual Mental Health Summit at Malcolm X College to remove stigmas around mental health and social-emotional health and stress. Many workshops were student-led, and she also thanks the Office of Student Health and Wellness for their support.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 15/110
Pre-K applications are now open, and schools have received nearly 75,000 applications. Chicago has expanded for free full day Pre-K, which is open for students aged 4. Offers will be sent out by Wednesday May 22, and rolling offers will start on May 23.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 16/110
Many students celebrated Earth Day, which included landscape enhancement, incorporating art, decorating planters, planting trees and hosting clean up projects around the neighborhood.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 17/110
With a once-in-generation chance to witness the total solar eclipse on April 8th, educators also incorporated solstice-related teachings like geometric equations, literature, and physics.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 18/110
Chief Executive Officer Martinez, starts by thanking thousands of parents who came out for parent-teacher conferences and casting local school council votes. In such a large district, it's important to vote. They think opening up the application date to 6 weeks earlier helped.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 19/110
The board is still counting votes, but should be ~90% filled in by July 1, and informed everyone that there are still some open seats, and encouraged all to apply. The board will continue to hold ongoing community forums, appreciate valuable feedback, and urge ppl to attend.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 20/110
Martinez brings up a sensitive topic: bus drivers. He acknowledges the bus driver shortage, says the Board is looking into extending pickup locations, adjusting bell times, and helping drivers obtain commercial driver's license, and waiving special requirements for buses.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 21/110
The Board raised bus driver wages to $27/hour, included signing bonus, flexible schedules, and have started recruiting new drivers at 50+ job fairs. They understand the issues for buses and will provide monthly updates.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 22/110
Update for budgets: the new model claims to be simpler, and creates a foundational standard for educational support and staff, such as assistant principal, council, and holistic teachers. This is in addition to using district’s opportunity index and flexible discretionary funds.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 23/110
For decades, advocates have protested school inequity. This change shows that the board values community feedback. With fewer students and fewer resources, funding should not be based solely on the number of students.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 24/110
Equity before enrollment. These school budgets will be felt by students on the south and west sides. Budget does not cut funding, despite the projected deficit. The new model prioritizes existing resources.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 25/110
President Jianan Shi explains that, understandably, LSCs are grappling with a new budget model. Board acknowledges the uneasiness of budget and may need to make adjustments, while responding to individual school’s remarks.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 26/110
The board will be looking for positions like counselors and restorative justice budgets. While principals and LSC’s are working through, this year will be shifting away from student-based budgeting and instead be based on students needs.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 27/110
Situating the budget within a larger financial context, the Board is already in a billion dollar deficit. Pandemic dollars are gone, so now they are in a world of tradeoffs. As CPS makes decisions, they all advocate for more funding.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 28/110
Committee Updates, Fay Hughes with updates on the Special Education Advisory Committee.
Respondents wished for the name to be easy to remember and reflect the work of the office.
Next meeting will be May 8th in Belmont Cragin.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 29/110
Announcements by Jianan Shi. Next year’s application for Honorary Student Board Members has extended its deadline to Friday May 10. Honorary Student Board Member, Kate Lynn Shaw, shares her positive experience and urges students across the district to just apply for the position.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 30/110
Regarding next meetings: Agenda review committee review meeting is May 13, next board meeting is May 23rd.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 31/110
Questions/Comments are opened for public agenda items.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 32/110
VP Elizabeth Todd-Breland, shares discomfort at outsourcing education for vulnerable students, but addresses the deadline for the budget. For summer, she requests clarity for options redesign and to come back to this question of outsourcing education.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 33/110
There is now a vote on public agenda items, which all pass. TIme is now allotted for public commentary.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 34/110
Crystal Williams, of Chicago Teachers Union, speaks on the importance of Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel (PSRPs). In her own life, her daughters are 3rd generation PSRPs. PSRPs are often the first source of contact for students.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 35/110
She invites the board to visualize a future where all students are supported by staff devoted to social and emotional learning, who are greeted by name and don't have to worry about wifi being down or Chromebooks not up to date.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 36/110
These employees were acknowledged as essential during COVID, but when schools closed, the Board attempted to privatize these positions.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 37/110
“Now, here we are again, having to defend our jobs and our purpose. Initial proposed budgets by CPS leadership will cut back, even eliminate vital care, professional positions in our schools.”
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 38/110
“Even given that there is a national PSRP shortage…We cannot sacrifice these vital staffpeople because they truly help make the difference in schools and the lives of our students.”
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 39/110
CTU teachers saw how student-based budget cuts fostered student disparity. In the new budgets, CPS leadership severely undercounted needs for teacher assistance. “CTU will not standby and allow CPS to steal from one underfunded school and give it to another underfunded school.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 40/110
“There is no way we can achieve what our students deserve unless additional state and federal funding are invested in Chicago Public Schools.”
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 41/110
Next speaker is Jen Conant, CTU-ACTS Chair who brings up 4 concerns: 1) Charter accountability is changing to assessing only academic performance, disregarding the previously included assessments of financial and operational performances.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 42/110
Individualizing the metric means that there is no standard, which is concerning. These standards would also not be public, which is also problematic.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 43/110
While acknowledging CPS’ efforts, the new funding structure will not apply to charter space, which will continue to have student-based budgeting but under a different name, still maintaining that structure, which harms alternative schools.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 44/110
Changes in location. Like YCLA, other charters are also interested in moving locations, wondering if moves are based on affordability or student needs? Does CPS help partner with charter holder schools? Instability isn't good for students.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 45/110
management structures of alternative schools, more money needs to go into the classrooms and not into administration.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 46/110
Public commentary continues with registered speakers from the speaker list. Speaker 1, Dr. Angel Alvarez: CPS has made mistakes for lack of transparency and are currently not being transparent for funding proposals with the budget formula.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 47/110
He references Page 35, middle column, to the report that Harvard and Stanford used, stating that their conclusions are inaccurate. Stanford claims that CPS students suffered 2.5X learning loss prior to the pandemic than between 2019-2022. Alvarez claims this is insulting.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 48/110
Findings are inaccurate due to poor statistical modeling. He says to release the projections, and be more accountable.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 49/110
Speaker 2, Kimberly Johnson, asking the board to listen. She has been at CPS for 28+ years, and was just told that her position are phasing out. They are parents/counselors. She had never taken her job for granted.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 50/110
‘We need everyone in place, but it won't come at the expense of pushing my peers out of a job either.’
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 51/110
Speaker 3, Ebony Durham, thanks the board for coming to the South Side. She is representing the Great Lakes Caregivers, and shares her encouragement from the voices of parents and community members.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 52/110
Speaker 4 from Noble Schools, rising senior Cecil M., urges that voting matters, and wishes to teach young people the importance of presidential voting.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 53/110
Speaker 5, Abril Green, of Noble Schools speaks on the unique opportunity, privileged, refuses to sugarcoat the realities of the future. She is excited about new voters and Noble graduates, as they are prepared, propelled, and promised a brighter future.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 54/110
Speaker 5, Jasmine Brown, on October 25, 2023 found her son unresponsive at Marshall High School and has received no response from CPS regarding any of her inquiries for justice.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 55/110
Earlier this week, she received an email from her son's school stating that she was not allowed on campus and she would be arrested if she was.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 56/110
As an elected member of the LSC for Marshall High School, this feels like retaliation. She mentions Terrance Lane, who is being paid out of the special education budget while working in administration capacity. The schools are in corruption w/ ppl who don't even reside in Chicago
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 57/110
She reminds again that she has been asking for support for 6+ months since October 25th, 2023, and she has been asking for results and not to be ignored.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 58/110
At this point, tech support has cut the audio as audience members applaud behind her and another person has lowered the mic.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 59/110
At 7:05 pm, the board meeting visual was cut to the Board of Education seal. This lasts ~5 seconds and then the next speaker is shown on screen.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 60/110
Speaker 6, Mitsi Moore, parent of elementary and middle school students in Chicago Lawn. As a former student of Maria, the building was given to Catalyst to operate a charter school.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 61/110
She appreciates and admires staff in their interactions with her children, one of whom is an introvert and the other diagnosed with ADHD. The teachers go above and beyond to help and she feels as if her children are thriving.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 62/110
Speaker 7, Erin S. Begins by referencing Jasmine Brown’s earlier demands, stating no mother should have to go through that. [ignored while requesting information regarding child’s health and safety]
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 63/110
Admissions cause segregation, but it's also due to lack of bussing. For students whose families can't afford to pickup/dropoff their kids, cutting bussing creates less diversity. She demands that the budget formulas be made public.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 64/110
Speaker 8 is Tomas Lobato, a bilingual special education Pre-K teacher at Sadlowki Elementary. Lobato states that PreK are the only teachers to go through additional evaluations.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 65/110
During his evaluation, the evaluator said only engagements in English would be tracked and he asked if he was just supposed to ignore his Spanish speaking students? The observer repeated the statement that only ‘engagements in English would be tracked’.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 66/110
He used guided reading questions directly from the PreK creative curriculum and still received low scores. He urges the board to change evaluation techniques because they are not indicative of formula and detrimental to teacher morale.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 67/110
This is also detrimental to dual-language learning efforts and shows that evaluators are not held to the same pedagogical standards.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 68/110
Speaker 11, Kevin Moore, Social Studies teacher in George Washington High School is a member of CTU and advocates partnership for affordable housing for students and members. In 7 years of teaching, he's seen the negative effects of unhoused students and their growth.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 69/110
Number of unhoused students has doubled since last year, and they are in dire and immediate need of support.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 70/110
Moore addresses other avenues like rental assistance, repurposing vacant lots, using TIF funds and dedicating a percentage for students in temporary housing, the goal is not to alleviate, it is to eliminate. Housing is equity.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 71/110
Speaker 16 is Jordan K, dance teacher at Disney Magnet school. As a first year teacher, she is struggling with students with no housing. She speaks of a student who is frustrated by larger problems, misses opportunities, and instead wanders the halls.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 72/110
STLS (Students in Temporary Living Situations) must be included in school funding. Students need stable housing to be able to learn, and deserve to have devoted resources.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 73/110
Speaker 18, Lisa of Nicholson Elementary. She states that in her school, there are over 175 students that need housing. Students deserve permanent affordable housing. Shelters are a temporary fix and not a solution. She urges the board and CTU to work together on homelessness.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 74/110
Speaker 21, Dr Dianne Castro, argues against recent class evaluations: National Louis conducting class evaluations and is disappointed that it was not conveyed to them. The evaluations made class redundant, and outsourcing classes was not necessary.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 75/110
The observers sometimes do not show up and teachers with advanced degrees are seeing lower instructional scores. Castro states disappointment as the board has voted to outsource them.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 76/110
Speaker 9, Alex R, teacher who is noticing that SCLS students are rising. He worked closely with students and noticed that the STLS students were struggling the most, and heard students’ stories of eviction. ‘We can't feasibly expect our students to be concerned about a grade.’
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 77/110
As a district, we are behind, and stresses the importance of asking that the city fund affordable housing units around schools, and convert vacant school buildings into affordable housing.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 78/110
Speaker 22, Angelica H., comes to the board as a parent facing significant budget cuts. Reduction does not align with the needs of the students. Any interruption will lead to significant detriment to the students and disastrous outcomes.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 79/110
Regarding the school’s existing funds of $769,000, these funds are not allocated, and requests for them to be reinstated to ensure program continuation.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 80/110
Speaker 26, Mia D., mother and LSC president for Newfield Elementary School. Request for a collaborative method to welcome newcomers. Request was sent to the board for a strategic plan for how to accommodate. Another ask is for a collaborative and centralized approach.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 81/110
Speaker 10, William Guo, joins virtually, brings up the problematic significant discrepancy between reported and actual gains of student achievement, from the IAR and NOS as provided by an independent study by Harvard and Yale analyzing data.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 82/110
Like Alvarez (speaker 1), Guo found improbable claims that CPS students lost over 2.5X more learning from 2017-2019 than they did during the pandemic. Comparison of data suggests that CPS test scores decrease as CPS prepandemic spendings increased, which is not supported by IAR.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 83/110
“It is concerning that such gross errors and analysis are evident using questions about the accuracy and integrity of deeper leadership…We suggest the board take a thorough review of its educational policies, budgetary practices and data analysis procedures."
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 84/110
"We owe it to our students, parents and community to ensure that every decision we make is grounded with accurate information and serves the best interest of our learners."
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 85/110
Speaker 12, Marie N., 11th year educator in Humboldt Park, and newly elected LSC member in 26th ward asks for community voice through 2 way communication 1) learn from Maclin and Harris about coalition building, asking for a summary report of this meeting
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 86/110
and 2) asking for increased conversation through these meetings.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 87/110
Speaker 13, Jacquelin, English network specialist, along with colleagues who wish to join Chicago Teachers Union. As a specialist, they have 30-60 schools at elementary and high school level, for multilingual education approaches and shared goals and interests.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 88/110
This is a high demand, and helps them advocate equitable bilingual programs [which are required by law]. This will be a part of negotiations, asking them to expedite the process.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 89/110
Speaker 14, Yverres, of Acero Charter School. She is very enthusiastic and dedicated to Acero.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 90/110
Speaker 20, Sandy G, parent of a student at Acero Charter School. Student is a transfer, she felt welcomed by teachers and leadership. School has been an affiliate of UnidosUS, largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization for over 20+ years.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 91/110
Speaker 15, Jade M, former CPS student and mom of 2 CPS students. She demands that George Washington High School needs a new state of the art building. For 15 years, they grew up in places where the water was unsafe, the air was unsafe and had to mitigate toxins.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 92/110
Schools have been economic and budgetary collateral damage. CPS students have been overlooked because their kids are not worth it due to long overdue upgrades.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 93/110
Families deserve safe spaces to thrive together, and they can start by funding a new green space for George Washington High School and correct decades of environmental racism by providing solar panels, green pathways, and student run produce gardens.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 94/110
Speaker 24, Ann F, CTU member is a middle school science teacher in Brighton Park. She strongly urges stable and affordable housing, and that these topics belong in the CTU contracts as well. Great students disappear due to being priced out of neighborhoods.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 95/110
She states that the board supports housing and supports rent control and should overwhelmingly work towards it because it affects the students.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 96/110
This year, there has been an influx of Venezuelan student additions to the community, who are also frequently absent, which has a detrimental effect. Many cities have already passed legislation tying housing to schools, and it's time that Chicago addressed its homelessness issue.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 97/110
Speaker 19 is Liz W, 25-year veteran teacher in CPS. Benito Juarez is in the industrial part of Pilsen, which includes a nearby looming defunct smokestack and across is a dumpster recycling container facility. The air becomes dark, dank, and stale, leading to air quality issues.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 98/110
She wishes for the Board and CTU to consider more for its schools.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 99/110
Speaker 23, Kimberly, representing Youth Connections Charter School. In operation since 1997, the school is moving to a new building. At the new location, they have additional facilities like science and athletics which will offer an opportunity to increase their capacity.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 100/110
Speaker 25, Jennifer Jones, PreK teacher at Stowe Elementary School came to speak against the National Louis amendment. Assessors began assessing her at obscure times and demanded a robotic set of actions. Additionally, it is mathematically impossible to be assessed for 4 cycles.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 101/110
Coaches and early childhood specialists are concerned about timings and the eligibility of assessors themselves.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 102/110
She shares that she will likely receive coaching next year, which has nothing to do with improving teacher performance. It is about teaching teachers how to do better, and voting on it before they heard from teachers was a bad choice.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 103/110
Speaker 27, Chinella, LSC, shares recommendations. Regarding the feedback survey, the LSCs don’t have the capacity to produce a fair or democratic election process. In some cases, candidate forums were not held and student elections were held outside of hours.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 104/110
From 2020 survey, “I heard nothing about LSC’s anywhere…”
From 2024 survey, “None of the alderman included this in their newsletter. There is no advertisement or engagement…”
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 105/110
Speaker asks CPS to adopt some practices: a streamlined 1 stop shop for all LSCs and schools. Stakeholders expressed that some schools didn't show voter eligibility, demanding overhaul of judge training and to formally consult the Chicago Board of Elections for proper training.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 106/110
Speaker 28, guest teacher, shares experience with student Jay, who moved 6+ times and dropped out. There are over 24,000 students who do not have a permanent place to sleep at night. What happened to him was an atrocity, and the system ultimately failed him.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 107/110
The Board of Education should provide unbridled support, access TIF funds that prevent homelessness, and include transitional spaces for CPS students that are in between homes. Students deserve a place to shower, eat, and sleep. Do the right thing and follow the CTU proposal.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 108/110
Speaker 30, Camille Ivy, Principal of YCLA, happy to show support for relocation for the school. Relocation will be more of a permanent solution, newly refurbished, and is spacious to expand enrollment.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 109/110
Alderman Lopez is a frequent visitor, and YCLA plans to be in the community and reach out to local businesses. This concludes public participation.
ayesha_offline @ayesha_offline 110/110
Meeting is adjourned at 8:06 PM.