Today's the Day

Time to make some noise, make some music!!! The 7th Annual Hinsdale Central High School Jazz Benefit is tonight. Make your way to the Community House in Hinsdale for the 7 pm extravaganza!!! There are a variety of performances which are bound to put a smile on your face.

Not only are there a number of different groups performing but the main goal of raising funds to buy instruments for the Harvey Elementary School District will come to fruition. There are six elementary schools in the district and right now they have no band program (Brooks Middle School does have an outstanding band).

So, in many respects tonight is a watershed event in terms of bringing music to the hallways of the elementary schools. I'll look forward to seeing you tonight!!!

Thanks,
Dick

Don't Exclude Me

I wonder what it would be like to enjoy music and that I had a desire to play a trumpet or sax and my family or the school couldn't really afford to spend the money on one. I guess I could continue to listen to some great jazz or the blues or some other genre of music but it wouldn't be the same unless I could get my hands on that precious instrument.

Admittedly, I have never played a brass instrument and am not likely to do so in my lifetime. But, like everyone else, I have gone without something I have long desired. I am sure those of you reading this blog have found yourself in a similar circumstance. It might, therefore, be easy to say to this child, "we never get what we want."

Of course, there is a difference here. What we are talking about is a situation where all students have access to a well rounded public education and that includes the arts. Yes, we all go without but, a public education for all must include exposure to every facet of what our culture and society has to offer.

With this in mind, I want to again extend an invitation to all to attend the HC Jazz Benefit on Monday, April 27th at 7:00 pm at the Community House in Hinsdale. Let's see to it that music is a part of each child's early education.

Thanks,
Dick

Music in Five Days!!

In just five short days the students who participate in the Hinsdale Central High School Jazz Ensembles will strut their stuff. There are lots of great reasons to go to the event on Monday, April 27, the jazz being one of the main attractions. And it isn't just for the patrons, the kids get great joy out of playing/performing!

This is exactly why Schools Count is teaming up with the high school music program; to give other students, who have no access to music instruments, the opportunity to enjoy jazz just like the Central musicians.

As Dr. Kyle Pruett, Clinical Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, recently put it, "It [music] enriches his or her appetite for things that bring you pleasure." There you have it. Among all the other benefits of music, when you get right down to it, the real value of music is in the pleasure it provides to the musician.

That being the case, let's further the joy of students in areas that otherwise don't have access to music instruments. Looking forward to seeing you at the Community House at 7:00 next Monday.

Thanks,
Dick

Financial Woes at CPS

To say that there is a financial mess at CPS is to resort to understatement. Here are but a few of the problems; first, pensions are taking a growing bite out of the budget; second, poor borrowing policy/debt repayment woes has the district in a bind; and third, the yearly budget is running in the red. There are other problems to be sure but these are among the major ones facing CPS, the city and the State of Illinois.

What will be done? Likely, a fix involving many moving parts. More revenue might be generated, CPS cuts are likely, getting a 'pension holiday' granted from the state is a real possibility, putting off hard choices seems sure to take place (kicking the can down the road if you will) and more. There is even talk of filing for bankruptcy.

Whatever the solutions, it will be incumbent for Mayor Emanuel, CPS, the CTU, state legislature and Governor Rauner to sit down and work this out. Unless everyone mentioned comes to the table to solve the problem, well, good luck. People will have to face this dire situation with the aim of solving the problem rather than merely protecting their turf.

Dick

A Fine Mess You've Gotten Us Into!!

Page after page of the Tuesday edition of the Chicago Sun Times paints a tainted and tarnished CPS school system. The CEO has taken a paid leave of absence, there is a federal probe of a $20 million no bid contract with SUPES Academy, the school system has a growing budget problem, and there are many other lurking questions swirling around the Mayor's Office and that of the Governor's Office.

Add to this fact that a new teachers' contract is on the horizon in addition to growing calls for an elected School Board and you have a recipe for an impending disaster.

These are problems that won't go away anytime soon. They can't as the amounts of money are in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Just what the CPS, city and state do will be interesting to watch. Sadly, it is everyone's problem and it will take the talents of many to solve the crisis. This can be emphasized enough.

I will add to final points and pick up on this tomorrow. First, this black eye is not good for those in the trenches; the schools, staff, students and their families. Second, and related to this first point, the work of our charity must continue to engage with the real stakeholders in the CPS system...the kids. They aren't responsible for this mess and they can't be ignored just because the adults in charge have created this fiasco.

Dick

Each of You DO Make a Difference

Often times it happens in bits and pieces. Of course I am talking about the contributions of so many of you. I want you to know that donating one musical instrument, providing one hour of volunteer service and contributing even a single dollar makes all the difference in the world to a young person who has so little.

Don't ever think for a moment that any contribution is significant in the eyes of someone who goes with appropriate school supplies, a musical instrument, a uniform, warm clothing or the opportunity to participate in something many of us may take for granted.

Never be dissuaded from stepping up and saying "I want to help make a difference." Put another way, you'd be pleased to have someone, unbeknownst to you, to step forward and lend a helping hand. Just let me know...and I'll find a way for you to help our charity; more importantly, helping a student move ahead in life.

Thanks,
Dick

CPS CEO Facing Serious Allegations

Chicago Public Schools Chief, Barbara Byrd-Bennett is facing a serious allegation that would be harmful to her and the entire school system not to mention Mayor Emanuel. In short, the investigation revolves around the allegation that Ms. Byrd-Bennett had a role in awarding a $20 million no bid contract to SUPES Academy for principal training. Oh, and by the way, Ms. Byrd-Bennett use to work at SUPES Academy.

That in and of itself, if true in terms of any involvement by Byrd-Bennett, would be harmful to the school system and Mayor Emanuel. After all, the mayor has placed a good deal of trust in his hand picked CEO and she does have a good deal of support in many circles. If guilty of the above transgression, the high regard for Barbara would dissipate almost immediately.

The schools have lacked stability and Ms. Byrd-Bennett brought a degree of that to the CPS system. At a time when a new teacher contract has to be negotiated and the fact that the district faces a $1.1 billion deficit, the time could not be more inopportune for such calamity.

Everyone is in a bind here; the system, the CEO, Mayor Emanuel and others. Time will tell how this plays out but right now the optics aren't good.

Dick