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CPS students head back to class

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Team Coverage

September 4, 2007 (WLS) -- It's time for Chicago Public Schools students to hit the books again. Today is the first day of classes for more than 400,000 students in the nation's third largest school district.

As he does every year, Mayor Daley rang the ceremonial bell Tuesday morning to mark the start of the first day of school.

It appeared students at the John Harvard School of Excellence were greeted by as many photographers as teachers and that was a little rough on Dorinda Barlow's first day jitters.

"I like to read, I like to do math, at home I try and do my times tables, and I'm really nervous at school," said Dorinda, a fourth grade student.

Chicago Public Schools Chief Arne Duncan says attendance on the first day is important not only to start off on the right foot academically -- it also helps determine state funding for public schools.

"Attendance last year was 90 percent, that may sound good, but that means the average student was missing a month of school. We think students deserve something dramatically better and that's what we're committed to doing," said Duncan.

"Every year, it's a priority. First day attendance and year round attendance, not only the first day, but each day," said Jean Lewis, parent.

"It's very important, keep your attendance up. Remember you got all brand new teachers," said Ernest Barlow, parent.

There are new teachers and a brand new principal at Harvard School of Excellence. In fact, Andre Cowling is one of 150 new principals this year at CPS. He is a former captain in the Army, a Desert Storm veteran -- and he left the corporate world to become a principal.

"My goals are for our kids to walk in today and find out that somebody cares about me," said Cowling.

Teachers, including Tiffany Smith - who graduated from this school in 1985 - say it's essential that parents maintain working relationships with them.

"Just to see all the parents here this morning, it's a really good sign," said Smith, a sixth grade teacher.

School administrators acknowledged that Chicago Public Schools have a long way to go in terms of test scores, graduation rates and attendance.

The mayor also says it's unacceptable that so many CPS students were shot to death during the last school year.

"The parents have to step up and say we are in control and not the juveniles, simple as that," said Daley.

But the mayor spent most of his time at Tuesday's news conference ripping into Springfield. He says once again that lawmakers are not providing adequate funding for public schools.

"Forget the politics, forget all the elections, don't tell us we have to wait another four years," said Daley.

Turnaround Performance Schools

Breakfast came early Tuesday for Terrence Napier, his three older sisters and their mom, Catonya Withers.

It's day one of the new school year, and they're all off to Harvard Elementary. Third grader Tekeara has a simple hope, and so does her mom.

"Control. They have to come in and be able to control the students, and the parents have to be able to work with the staff, because they can't do it by themselves.," Catonya Withers said.

Harvard is one of 18 "new" Chicago public schools opening under the Renaissance 2010 program. These are under-performing schools that either closed, or had their curriculum revamped.

The school now has a motto: "Where every child is college bound."

For Tekeara and the other students, it was no ordinary start to a new school year. There's a new principal, new teachers and a new name - Harvard School of Excellence.

"It's just a new sense of passion, a new sense of having the highest of expectations. You have a great, great group of teachers. You have a principal who will be pushing very hard to change," said Duncan.

With fewer than a third of its students meeting state standards last year, school district officials chose to make Harvard a so-called "turnaround performance model." The former principal and most of the teachers were let go and replaced by a new staff selected by the Academy for Urban School Leadership.

"So many people are tired of hearing about the whole child, but if we don't come to school ready to deal with different issues that children have and then & bring them to where we want them to go, shame on us," said Principal Cowling.

Pre-schooler Terrence is set in a school that will have strong emphasis on attendance and achievement.

Catonya Withers said she is waiting and hoping the school's new motto about making all children college bound comes true.

Harvard is the second elementary school in Chicago to go through what's called the "turnaround performance model." Sherman elementary went through it last year, and noticed a sizable 11 percent bump up in standardized test scores, the biggest increase of any Chicago elementary school..

School leadership is buoyed by that but acknowledges that long-term cultural changes must follow, with higher expectations, greater parental involvement and better attendance.

"We had first graders last year who missed 40 days of school, and that's unacceptable," said Lionel Allen, Sherman principal.

Generosity for a Fresh Start

Some students in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood have a new set of school supplies, thanks to some generous donations.

Third and fourth graders of Gary Elementary School were given backpacks filled with school supplies. Kids lined up in the auditorium to pick up one of 380 backpacks at 3740 W. 31st in Chicago.

The Chicago company Alliant Credit Union and Travelclick of Schaumburg donated the items.

The backpacks were bought at a discount from the High Sierra Sport Company of Vernon Hills.

Rev. Jackson Joins Attendance Push

Some public school students on the city's west side received a little help getting to the first day of class.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson, local ministers and some elected officials knocked on doors near John Marshall Metropolitan High School.

Parents were encouraged to get their children to school Tuesday because it directly affects the school's funding. Each percentage point increase in attendance equals $18 million in federal funds for schools.

"Last year we lost in Chicago because you fund schools on attendance, we lose on absenteeism, we lost about $150 million from absenteeism," said Jackson. "We need to change those numbers.

Rev. Jackson is scheduled to visit Harper High School Wednesday.

Bio-diesel Buses

Some Chicago school students were breathing a little easier Tuesday during their bus ride to school because more school buses will be using a less polluting fuel.

The buses rolled out right on schedule Tuesday morning at Chicago School Transit, ready to pick up thousands of Chicago Public Schools students. The big difference this year is the company's entire fleet is now using the environmentally friendly bio-diesel fuel.

"It cuts down on harmful emissions by over 50 percent, so any of the children on the inside of the buses as well as the outside of the buses, loading and unloading of the buses, emissions are cut down drastically," said John Benish Jr., CEO of Cook-Illinois Corp, which operates 1800 buses in Chicago and the suburbs.

The cleaner burning fuel is made up of 80 percent diesel and 20 percent from a renewable source, in this case, soybean oil. This blend significantly reduces particulate matters, carbon dioxide and the noxious smell of diesel exhaust. Bio-diesel is a bit more expensive than regular diesel, but there are no retrofits required for the buses' engines or exhaust systems. Parents and teachers give it an "A."

"It will help students with asthma. They'll have a healthier recess, a healthier ride," said Matthew Ditto, principal of Andrew Jackson Language Academy.

"She's the last kid on the bus at the end of the day, and she's always sound asleep when I get her," said parent Carmeloa Saraceno. "I'd really like to know she's not laying down breathing diesel fuel."

"I think it's great, helps pollution and the environment and global warming and everything like that," said Olivia Martorina, student, Andrew Jackson Language Academy.

Students can learn more about bio-diesel fuel and other ways of helping the environment with a new interactive Web site. It's appropriately called clean air club

"We have contests on there, they can get involved and if they like, they can write an essay and win a prize," said Benish.

Web site: Clean Air Club

Only a small percentage of students rode the bus Tuesday.

"(Out of 16,) we actually only got two today," said Finola Hoard. "I know once we get ready to come back and get them, we will have all of our children to take home."

School Security

The start of the school year comes with enhanced security measures, including more cameras, better training for security guards and a call for parent patrols and parental involvement.

The scene outside the Ames Middle School was exactly what CPS security officials wanted to see on the first day of classes. At times, there appeared to be as many parents on their way to the building as there were students.

"The parents are more alert this year. This year we're looking to a brighter and better year. We'll see what goes on from there," said Angel Vasquez, parent.

And some of the adults--those who signed up for the Ames "parent patrol"--promise to join groups of children en route to and from the school every day.

" You have the parents literally on corners keeping an eye on their kids, so you don't see a lot of bad activities," said Miguel Guzman of the CAPS Program

But protecting older students who use public transportation is a more difficult challenge. Last spring, 15-year-old Blair Holt was shot to death and several other students wounded when another teenager, a dropout, opened fire on board a CTA bus.

Seniors at Hyde Park Academy, 6300 S. Stony Island In Chicago, all say they've been attacked en route to or from school on public transit.

"They can't afford all the security guards on the school bus, nothing like that," said student Courtney Holmes. "They can't even afford police officers on the school bus like that. All they can basically do is -- they can't do nothing.."

This year, the CPS will spend more than $50 million securing its 600 classroom buildings. And while continuing their focus on keeping weapons out, security staff members will try to improve their effort to maintain order in the city schools.

"You're managing 300, 400 people in a hall change. It's you by yourself. It makes it difficult.," said anselmo Chaparro, security officer.

The teachers' union complains that there needs to be more consistency in the enforcement of the student conduct code.

"My biggest problem is class management. Teachers not being able to handle the situation," said Leonard Palmer, security officer.

Last week, the district invited hundreds of security guards to hear student recommendations on how the guards might better relate to young people, with an eye toward reducing classroom disruptions.

"We tell them that first you have to speak to the student in a very respectful manner. Then you will get that same respect back. They really agreed with that," said Dmitri Westbrook of Curie High School.

The school district security budget was increased by $2 million for this year. That money will add equipment and personnel at new schools. Security is reportedly one part of the district's budget that has never been cut. There were good results last year and officials hope for a repeat in the 2007-2008 school year.

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