Schools Back in Session

Now that my surgery is over and I'm on the mend, it is time to get back to the business of children, schools, our charity and the plight of education. As they say in the elementary grades, "if you can play right you'll have to have a timeout!" Well, that's just what I needed as I recuperate. Doing much better!!

As October has quickly moved into November, the time is short on a State of Illinois budget. Why is this a big deal? The budget passed by the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education is banking on receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in order to make the budget work. Word has it that if the state doesn't 'pony up' then the CPS brass will make drastic teacher cuts, translate...thousands of positions, leading into the holidays.

I don't get the sense that much positive movement has taken place on this front and there is every likelihood that the wheels are already turning in terms of determining which staff members and how many of them will get pink slips. In fact, I'd be shocked if these draconian cuts don't occur.

A sad state of affairs for all concerned. That last word is really it, isn't it? Are the 'powers that be' really that concerned?

Dick