Happy Holidays

The stockings were filled by the chimney with care...Okay, I will stop there as my penchant for poetry and reciting verses is not all that it should be. The point is that the schools are about to take a break and the holidays are at hand. I will also take a break from blogging so that I can also enjoy this time of year with family and friends.

Speaking on behalf of myself along with our Board of Directors, let me wish you a season filled with much happiness. I know that the time spent with family, loved ones, and friends is meaningful. May you enjoy the peace, tanquility, and joy of the season.

Schools Count Corp will have its seventh anniversary in 2014. You should know that you have made the lives of many students and citizens richer than you might ever imagine. In hundreds and thousands of ways, you have brought young people the real hope and real promise that their lives will be better in the years to come. I found all that you do for these students most inspiring.

Happy Holidays,
Dick

Closing Neighborhood Schools Makes Room for Charters

After closing 51 CPS neighborhood schools this past spring the Board of Education and brass are now looking to open 31 new charters over the next two years. Let's see, schools are underused so they are closed. Now word, amazingly comes that 31 charters are on the horizon.

Imagine being the students, parents and communities that saw your school closed (by the way, not necessarily because it was underperforming) only to pick up the paper and see that a slew of charters are about to open its doors. No matter where you stand on charters, put yourself - if possible - in their place. Wouldn't you be scratching your head. Wouldn't you wonder if you and your children mattered? Of course you would.

By the way, CPS acknowledges that six areas in the city have schools that are overcrowded. These neighborhoods include Ashburn, Belmont, Cragin, Chicago Lawn and McKinley Park. It will be interesting to follow the unfolding of the charter growth to see if any of these six areas of overcrowding are part of the charterizing movement.

See tuned.

Dick

ADM Comes to Washington, IL

A photo of Harry LaHood Park in Washington, IL. that I was able to take last Friday as I surveyed the damage to the area. Archer Daniels Midland, a prominent company in central Illinois has pledged to help rebuild this park for the children who often play here.

As you can see the playground equipment is in place but we will have to examine the system to see if it is safe. Part of the roof of the pavilion is missing as are all of the picnic tables. Sadly, the grounds are littered with cars damaged from the Nov. 17th tornado. This park is a water park and, like the playground, we will have to assess whether or not the system is in good working order. Lots of homes surrounding the park have suffered extensive damage or are totally destroyed.

ADM has been one of our most generous donors in years past. They have assisted Schools Count with volunteers, funds for CPS school resources in addition to providing a great deal of monetary aid to the East Coast when Hurricane Sandy ripped apart large parts of NYC and New Jersey. Aiding Washington is but one of their many initiatives to help us serve those in need.

Kudos to ADM!

Dick

Adding Warm to Arctic Cold

Brutal cold, that's for sure!! While waiting in the Gregory Elementary Faculty Cafe yesterday for the Hinsdale Central students to bring winter coats and clothing to the children at Gregory I could help but notice the number of children who came into the cafe looking for gloves, mittens, and/or hats. The lost and found was pretty much picked over so they went about heading home without.

Thank goodness the Hinsdale Central High School Students Assisting Students (SAS) and the Invitation to Teach class brought needed winter wear as the school day was ending. These groups through various fundraising were able to amass over 70 winter coats, dozens of pairs of gloves/mittens and a huge collection of winter hats. Talk about making an impact and doing it in a timely fashion.

To underscore just how thankful the Gregory staff was at the sight of seeing the arrival of the winter wear, many of them took a moment to break away from a faculty meeting to thank those students who collected/bought the gear in addition to bringing it to Gregory. There were some mighty big smiles!!!

Just another way in which the Hinsdale Central community and school shows that it cares!

Many thanks,
Dick

Making a Difference

Yes, one person can do much!! Okay, they can't move mountains but in the case of Cynthia McGann, a stalwart who has brought much aid and comfort to Haitians over the years, she has done much to assist our charity in collecting winter coats and other warm clothing which will benefit area school children.

Cynthia, over the past six weeks has collected nearly 100 winter coats, jackets and hoodies that are in terrific condition and ready to wear! Cynthia conducted her drive with various area hockey clubs; the Chicago Hawks and the DuPage Stars. Many of the families stepped forward to assist Cynthia. To these families I want to express my appreciation for helping Cynthia in this effort.

No matter the cause, helping to rebuild IMN in Haiti, providing sanitation facilities for the school, collecting school supplies or gathering coats, Cynthia is always there to support our charity. Just as important, she is a rallying voice inspiring all of us to do our part for those with real needs.

Thank you Cynthia, the hockey players and the families of the various clubs and area schools. You have, and are, making a real contribution to others.

Dick

What Do You Expect?

Yesterday's Chicago Tribune lead story blarred out with "As enrollment sank, CPS kept spending." The amounts were staggering; $100 million spend to update buildings that are now closed, $1.5 billion spent on schools that today are less than 60% full and 78 schools are still overcrowded.

These aren't small amounts of money nor are many of the issues resolved.

One has to wonder about a number of issues. For example, why didn't the BOE and the brass pay more attention to the demographic studies that predicted much of this? One has to scratch their heads in amazement over the fact that the BOE is still hand picked likely resulting in a group that may not be in touch with changing events in the neighborhood. The point is...is there someone on the ground who has a firm grasp on the changing demographics?

There are plenty of other questions, though far too late, that need to be asked and addressed. Of course, the one real sore spot or 'third rail,' if you like, is what is to be done to stem the tide of people leaving the city? What can be done to provide decent jobs at a living wage? In the final analysis, if the employment issue isn't addressed then the flight will continue.

Dick

Washington Update

Yesterday the Washington, IL government officials gave an update on some of the sad effects of the tornado that hit the town on Sunday, November 17th. The data is very disheartening.

The Mayor said that there will about a 50% reduction in property value in the town. Obviously, the revenue from property taxes will be greatly diminished. It just makes it that much more difficult to rebuild given that condition.

It has also been reported that 80% of the destruction still remains on the ground and yet to be cleaned up. People have been working like crazy, including at night, to remove the debris. This gives you an idea of the extent of the hardships in the process of starting to rebuild.

Spirits remain high though I know some people are getting fatigued. As one policeman told me..."I'm tired." He certainly wasn't complaining...just stating the truth. In some respects, the town will most need our help commencing right after the holidays.

Dick

Gould is Gold

Yep, Robbie Gould's 47 yard field goal attempt, which failed, would have won the game in Minnesota this past weekend. No doubt that hurts a player who is almost automatic. Add to this, the fact that he and his wife welcomed their first child over the weekend. He's got plenty on his plate with a new addition to the family. And yesterday, a day with no practice at Halas Hall, would have been the perfect time to chill out.

Well, that's just what he did in tornado ravaged Washington, IL!!

As Skip Begley and I delivered school supplies and food gift cards to Washington High we noticed a number of Bears in the Panther lunchroom. What was inspiring to me was seeing Robbie put aside all that is going on in his life to chat with students at the lunch table. It was clear that Robbie wasn't looking for the camera or reporters; rather, just spending time with youngsters who have really had their lives turned on their heads.

Talk about a guy who has his head screwed on right!!! Yes, missing a field goal is big but putting that aside and endeavoring to help others; well, there are no amount of words to describe what that means to people trying to get their lives in order, to rebuild, and to move on.

Like I said, Gould is Gold!

Dick

Back to Washington!

As Skip Begley and I get ready to head back to Washington, IL. a bit later this morning I wanted to take a moment to thank the various people and groups for helping to generate the aid being brought to the residents and students at the various schools. Your efforts have provided 150 warm coats, over $1400.00 in food gift cards, over 100 backpacks and enough school supplies for all those students, at all the Washington schools, who lost them in the tornado.


Sheralynn and Jeff Kellough
Kathy and Mike Gabric
Hinsdale Central H.S. parents and students
Hinsdale Central H.S. Students Assisting Students Club
Dawn Oler
Hinsdale Central H.S. Invitation to Teach class
Joni and Paul Holinger
Gary and Mary Waight
Bruce and Marilyn Feldman
Len and Carla Feinkind
Linda Hurt
Kathleen Rodriquez
Corky and Julie King
Kim Williams
Laura Milas
Lisa Hikes
Mary Ellen and Bill Mertz
Ann and Pat Scott
Myles and Patricia Laffey
Pat Edwards
Jim Westphal
Mary Lothrop
Deborah McGarvey
Jan Bujan
Ted Graham
Ed and Sue Bulak
Suzanne Strohschein
Kathy and Bob Shields
Keith and Kristie Giltner
Len and Claudia Serwat
Deborah Trujillo
Deborah Kowal and her class at Eisenhower Jr. High
Alan and Linda Burke
Gary and Bev Rautenberg Panko
Karen and Frank Krohn
Nancy and John Schuessler
Skip and Jan Begley

Thank you one and all!
Dick

Stay the Course

I am sure the day will come when Schools Count will no longer be working in Washington, IL. That was the case, some years ago, after Hurricane Katrina ripped apart many neighborhoods in New Orleans. Eventually, we left NOLA but not until we had served 43 schools over a period of six years.

Now is not the time to say 'we've helped Washington, it's time to move on.' As things settle down and as some aid slows to a trickle, it will be time to further assess and help the people of this small Midwest town. Providing aid for a week or two, although very helpful, is but a small part of what it will take for the people to try to cope with and recover from the devastation.

Besides, as time goes by, people will find that they have new needs as they start to rebuild their homes and lives. At that time we may well have to adjust what we do for the schools, students and citizens. If there is one lesson that we've learned, after all these years, sustaining aid is an imperative to helping folks get back on their feet.

To all of those who have supported our efforts to bring school supplies, winter coats and food gift cards to the residents of Washington...thank you so very much!!

Looking forward to going back tomorrow!

Dicki

Calling All Cards - For Washington, IL

I have no clue what it would be like to lose all of my possessions, live in a hotel, dine out for all of my meals and still try to have some normalcy in the family. This, and so much more, is what is facing thousands of residents of Washington, IL today and in the many days to come.

I will head back to Washington this Wednesday, December 4th with many food gift cards and school supplies. I think we have enough student supplies for the various grade schools. In terms of gift cards, if you would like to get one to a family then simply purchase it and put it in Dawn Oler's mailbox at Hinsdale Central High School. You can drop off the gift cards either today or tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 3rd. Please be sure to put your name and address on the envelope.

Any amount will certainly help! We are looking for McDonalds, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Hardees and Subway gift cards. To all of those of you who have participated, already, please accept my thanks. We already have over $1,200.00 in gift cards and are looking at collecting more!!

Many thanks!
Dick