Enjoy Your Summer!

Each year at this time those of us either teaching or supporting the work of our students and teachers come to grips with the fact that another school year has come to an end. Students graduate, some move on to college, others head to work while still others will return in the fall to the start of a new and exciting school year. A few of our teaching colleagues will close the classroom door one final time as they head into retirement.

For me, as a representative of Schools Count, I will also take some time off from blogging. It's always a great feeling knowing that summer is upon us. It's a time of leisure, travel and recharging the battery.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for following us this school year. Your interest in our work, your support through donating funds and/or volunteering, and your desire to see young people grow is paramount. I'll look forward to reconnecting with you in late July or early August.

All the best my friends,
Dick

Closing of Harvey Schools

The closing of two Harvey, IL schools, Sandburg and Lowell Longfellow, is indeed sad news for the those living in the immediate area of each building. These schools have been around a long period of time, many generations of various families having passed through the doors of Sandburg and Longfellow.

The closing of each is much more than ending the chapter of an educational institution. It demonstrates the movement of people, it reflects a loss of jobs in the region, and the shuttering of each is a symbol that the community continues to suffer. There are fewer factories, less tax revenue, vacant and abandoned buildings, and all the harm that can arise out of such conditions.

The closure of these schools represents not just a shrinking of the district but stands as a symbol of decay, decay that people have to cope with and live in each and every day.

To those who say the people, the schools, and the community-at-large need to 'pick themselves up by the bootstraps' please note that the loss of schools, factories, stores and community organizations are the very 'boot straps' needed. They'd probably grabs those 'straps' if they were available.

Dick

Sad News

Our charity has worked with the Harvey IL School District 152 for a number of years. During this period we have been fortunate to assist six elementary schools and one middle school. But poverty, the loss of jobs and the attending drop in the community population has meant a decline in school enrollment.

This past year Lowell Longfellow Elementary was shuttered and next year Sandburg Elementary will also close their doors. There aren't enough children to warrant keeping these two schools open. There's enough room in the other five district schools to house the students.

I want everyone to know that these two schools did NOTHING wrong! There were, and are, plenty of good teachers and eager students in both Longfellow and Sandburg. Too often, those who know next to nothing about conditions in the community are too eager to place the blame at the doorstep of the teachers and those in charge of the schools.

To those who work in our charity as well as those who were part of Longfellow and Sandburg please know your efforts were, and are, most meaningful and greatly appreciated.

Dick

A Grateful Group of Principals

Over the weekend I contacted the various CPS principals to let them know when we would be delivering school supplies to their students in August. Below are some of the responses I received from the principals and I'd like to share them with you. As you can see as you can see they are truly grateful for the support.
Dick



Happy Sunday Mr. Flesher,

Thank you for the email. I am well and definitely looking forward to summer vacation. We are so thankful for the generous work you do to ensure our students have school supplies on the first day. We are hosting summer school this year, so someone will certainly be at the school. We look forward to this continued partnership.

Warmly,

Janelle Thompson

Hi Dick:
Thanks so much, again, for what you do for our school community! I will be in the building for the deliver on August 8.
Always,
Marilyn

Yes, thank you so much, we still have some supplies, however, they will be used to reburbish for the last quarter. I am copying the clerk and the engineer to make sure they are aware of the delivery.
Thank you on behalf of the the Lowell students.


Hello Mr. Flesher,
It is a pleasure hearing from and thank you for your generosity. I should be in the building n August. Also, my assistant principal Mrs. Walker and the secretary Ms. Bufford should both be in the building. Enjoy your summer and I look forward to seeing you on August 9, 2018.

Grateful,

Shootings in Schools

The most recent and tragic loss of life in the Santa Fe mass shooting is but another sad mark on the senseless loss of life not through disease, illness or plague. No, the loss of innocents is not due to any of these maladies; rather, it's to do with what we typically associate with weapons of war.

Yes, the gun violence which takes place all too often takes place outside of the school building has now found its way into the classrooms of America. Make no mistake, the shooting don't occur in the rough and tumble of inner cities. Suburban and rural schools are just as prone to death at the hands of a killer.

I'll leave it at this for now. What are WE to do? What can I do to help stop the carnage?

Dick

What's a Monitor to Do?

Have you ever seen the commercial currently running on television where a man is in a dental chair and a couple of people are mentioning how much dental work needs to be done and they comment that they are heading to lunch? The incredulous patient says, in essence, "are you going to do the dental work?" The two people say "no, we are just monitoring what is to take place."

I mention this because the Monitor that the State of IL has appointed to oversee the Special Education program in CPS schools may well find herself/himself in the very same boat.

That is, what power do they really have to affect change in programs and, more importantly, to affect what takes place in each of the many schools with the Special Education students and teachers? The Monitor will certainly need certain authorities that extend beyond the Administration level of CPS. If that person or persons don't have the proper abilities to make changes then this will go for naught.

Otherwise the Special Education students and parents will be left much like the patient in the dental chair.

Dick

State moves in on CPS Spec. Ed.

After many months of investigating the CPS Special Education program the State of IL has voted to put a monitor in place to oversee almost all aspect of the district's Special Education Services. All of this comes on the heels of a WBEZ investigation that was largely spearheaded by many parents and various advocacy groups.

The complaints have been lodged for a number of years by the various stakeholders. One has to wonder why the district, acutely aware of the problems, has done so little to address the issues and concerns relative to the delivery of services.

To a person, the vast majority of parents and advocacy groups welcomed the vote for a state appointed monitor to step in. In the next couple of days I will weigh in on the steep climb that the monitor and needed personnel will face.

Dick

Thank You

As the school year winds down in different parts of the country my thoughts turn to the teachers who have spent many long days and hours helping our nation's children. Often overlooked are the times spent by teachers to assist students in ways that many of us can't imagine.

There are times when students simply need a place to unwind. That's often during their lunch period and what better place to go than to their teachers for that respite. Some children simply want to be told that they matter in spite of all that may be happening in their lives. In this instant the kids will find a teacher to chat with.

Teachers are there to do more than 'teach' material. They are a positive force, they inspire and they may even cajole. They lend the time and energy to lift up others.

No matter where you teach, regardless of the grade level, no matter the subject matter...a thank you to our nation's leaders, our teachers.

Dick

More on CHIP

The Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a program designed to help children, and in turn students, of the lowest income families. Funding is on the chopping block. This is a federal program run by the various states. It ought to be noted that the cuts aren't being proposed because of misuse of the funds. Quite the contrary.

Not only is this a program that delivers, as intended, it's a vital program for a number of reasons. Let me give you one critical reason why this program has to continue and to be fully funded. Whether in low income rural regions or the inner city portions of America students often attend schools where a nurse is available but one or two days a week at most.

If the kids aren't able to access proper medical care at school then the CHIP initiative becomes all the more imperative. It is a vital lifeline for students from low income families.

Dick

Children Shouldn't be Bargaining 'CHIPS'

The proposed $7 billion dollar cut to the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is bound to hurt young people. The CHIP program provides health care to kids from low-income families. It is also a program that both sides of the aisle have long supported.

So I'll be as succinct as possible. From an education standpoint - since this is the work of our charity - ANY cuts to the program not only are detrimental to the health of a young child, such cuts are bound to play out in school. A child not receiving proper medical care is a child who will almost certainly be faced with challenges in the classroom.

And it doesn't have to be this way.

Dick

It's All Good!

There are weeks where, day after day, not much takes place with our charity. During those times I wonder if the general public has major concerns with the state of public education and the plight of young people who come from neighborhoods where life is more than difficult...it's down right frightening.

But today is not one of those days. Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), as others manage to do, put a smile on my face today. Why? ADM Cares came through with some funding (as they often do) to support the purchase of STEM resources for a couple of CPS schools.

I'm not the biggest backer of STEM education but there is absolutely no reason why children, and in turn CPS schools, shouldn't have the opportunity to participate in STEM. Smiles all around today!!

Schools Today

Years ago we had the same reader as our brothers and sisters if not for our parents. There were no computer labs, no one to one learning, few if any Special Education classes and fewer sports/activities. And there were plenty of other resources that are present today that weren't even thought about.

As you are well aware that's not the case today. The resources and supplies needed today are extensive and many are expensive. That's not to say they aren't needed...they certainly are warranted. The services being rendered are much different than 50 or 60 years ago.

I mention this because in this day and age of teacher strikes, the demands of educating children and more it should not come as a surprise that school districts are asking for additional funding in terms of referendums. People can't expect to pay the same amount in property taxes as they did in the past.

I say all of this as the debate continues about school funding, so called school reform and more. As is always the case, one must educate themselves about how effectively your dollars are being used.

Dick

Let me Ask You This

So some universities are paying the way for those coming from low income homes to attend college. Aside from the financial assistance and the very real fact that universities are realizing a greater degree of diversity there is another point that I believe is worthy of discussion.

Let's look at it this way. What if we just ignore these young people? What happens to these hard working individuals if they don't have the opportunity to advance? How are they suppose to realize the so called American Dream? What does America look like if these kids aren't given a chance?

I believe the only way to address the above questions is for America, and by association its citizens, to pitch in and lend a hand. That's what we do if there is a natural disaster. Why not do the same for a man made disaster?

Dick

More on the Underserved

One of the many points of contention with regard to assisting young people with respect to obtaining assess to college revolves around the issue that these individuals, who are admitted, may well be taking the place of an individual who has higher test scores and can afford to pay the tuition.

That is not 'fake news.' It is a legitimate concern for the university at large as well as for those who are denied entrance even though they seem to have the required funds and test scores for entrance.

So why admit those who are from the lower socio-economic rungs? Many of the those at various universities, along with the Gates', see that these individuals as hard working and eager to get ahead but for the lack of money. These same university presidents and provosts believe that the underserved deserve a shot at the so called American Dream. They also believe that the university benefits from the standpoint of adding to its diverse student population.

From my point of view...kudos to those involved in helping those who need a bit of help.

Dick