Tomorrow Nights Jazz Fest

The Hinsdale Central High School Jazz Ensembles are ready to rock the Community House tomorrow night, Tuesday, April 25th, in order to benefit Medgar Evers Elementary School as they embark on starting up their very own band program. Admission to this great event is $5 per person or $10 for the entire family. The benefit starts at 7:00 and you won't want to miss one single arrangement!!!

Great music, refreshments, lively entertainment, a great cause and some time to unwind and listen to some of the best jazz played anywhere in the western suburbs.

Looking forward to seeing you!!

Dick

America First - Education Last!

At a time when far too many critics bemoan the alleged inadequacy of the American education system we've now learned that the Administration is willing to eliminate the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. Mind you, this program serves 1.1 million students in 9,600 centers nationwide.

Mick Mulvaney, on behalf of the Administration, said there is "no demonstrable evidence" that after-school and summer programs benefit low income students when it comes to their success during the school day.

Sorry Mick you're dead wrong!! A study by the Harvard Family Research Project found that the Learning Centers provide positive outcomes with respect to; better attitudes toward school, higher school attendance, lower dropout rates, better test scores and grades and improved homework completion.

You can be sure of one thing...I will get this data to Congress, Mr. Mulvaney and Ms. DeVos

Dick

CPS Money Woes Continue

The financial picture at CPS remains about as clear as muddied spring flood waters. At isue is a lawsuit filed by CPS which asks that the money doled out to the city's teacher pension plan not count as funding for regular classroom education. The Illinois State Board of Education claims otherwise. CPS alleges that the manner in which schools and pensions are funded is discriminatory.

A Cook County judge will make his final ruling in the case on April 28th with regard to the city schools being able to receive immediate financial help from the state. Plenty is at stake here as the district is facing a $721 million June 30th pension payment in addition to figuring out the remaining length of the school year.

One thing is certain, even if the judge rules in favor of the district many financial problems will dog the system.

Dick

We Could Use Your Help

Our charity is not in the business of changing the world but I would be remiss if I didn't admit that Schools Count Corp. is definitely trying to alter things for the better. America and Americans have always stood for the principle of the 'common good.' And that's exactly why I'm reaching out to you. Our charity needs your help.

We are in the process of helping to build a band program at Medgar Evers Elementary School in Chicago. We need funds to be able to buy the instruments for the children. To that end, Schools Count is working with the Hinsdale Central High School Jazz Ensembles as they gear up to put on a benefit concert.

And that's where you come in. The more people who attend the Tuesday, April 25th 7:00 pm program the more money we will have to buy instruments. It's that simple!! Individual admission is $5 and the whole family gets in for $10!! Of course, if you make a charitable tax deductible contribution in excess of this amount you also enter for free. What a deal. I hope you have the opportunity to join us at the Hinsdale Community House located on Madison St. in Hinsdale next Tuesday.

This is bound to be a wonderful event and you will be making a diffence in the lives of Medgar Evers students.

Thank you,
Dick

Education Matters - Contact these Individuals

Since when are people seriously, and I mean seriously, questionning the worth of before and after school programs? To get students, wherever they live in America, to school early and/or to stay late is no mean feat!!! That in itself is a real task and to be able to have meaningful programs for them is particularly useful.

I have a request of you, if I may. The legislation to keep these programs or to eliminate them (which is, unfortunately, a possibility) is in the hands of Congress, specifically the Subcommittee called Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. I'd like to ask you to take a minute of your time to write a simple two or three sentence letter and get it off to the two ranking members of the subcommittee. Ask them to maintain the above critical program and others facing the chopping block.

Please send your letters to Representative Todd Rokita and Representative Jared Polis. They both share the same subcommittee mailing address which is: The U. S. House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, 2716 Rayburn House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515.

Many thanks,
Dick

A few Questions

I have some questions I'd like to ask Boards of Education, Ms. DeVos and members of Congress. Are they fine with the proposed elimination of the Department of Education (introduced by U.S. House of Representatives member Mr. Mathis)? Are they also on board with the proposed elimination of seven programs in the Dept. of Education?

Further, where do each of these people and groups stand on funding for Title I? Likewise, are any of these officials thinking of cutting funding for Title IX? Short of eliminating any title programs, where do you stand on providing monies for school breakfast and lunch programs?

Let me be clear, programs need to prove their worth. Various school initiatives, at any level of government, must deliver on value. I can tell you, from many of my contacts and experiences in working with school officials, that the types of cuts proposed by the federal government are not warranted.

Our public officials need to understand the impact of some of their likely cuts. Until they stop the mish-mash, willey-nilly approach to dealing with public schools, we are certainly going to witness some negative consequences both inside and outside of the classroom.

Dick

Best Laid Plans...

The Chicago Public Schools were offering to buy out teachers in order realize some savings for the cash strapped district. CPS was hoping to lure a minimum of 1,500 teachers into retiring. The district was offering $1500 for each year of service. Teachers had until March 31st of this year to sign up for the plan. Just one glitch...only 900 teachers signed up which is not enough for CPS to break even and save money.

Had enough teachers opted to participate, the district would have saved millions beyond the anticipated payouts/buyouts. Since too few people enrolled, CPS is cancelling the plan. Those 900 teachers who signed up to participate can withdraw their names as long as they do so by April 30th.

No matter what plan is put forward to get CPS out of the red invariably a glitch pops up. As I said, 'the best laid plans...'

Dick