NAC Update

Thank you to all who attended the Tuesday meeting hosted by the McKinley Park Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) at SEIU offices at 2229 S. Halsted St.

Here is an update on this community meeting regarding the proposal to open a new school, Be The Change Charter School, in Bridgeport. The charter team wants to locate their new school at the Bridgeport Art Center, 1200 W. 35th St. They will recruit students from Bridgeport, McKinley Park, Armour Square, Bronzeville and Pilsen.

The NAC reported the results of their evaluation of the Be The Change charter proposal and found that the proposal:

• lacked depth and detail in curriculum planning.
• had little evidence of community involvement and outreach -- 85 surveys out of a possible 114,000 residents in the target area with most from Bridgeport residents, not parents and not representative of the CPS mandated target area.
• had only two community partners with only one sponsor offering immediate assistance.
• Community attendees asked questions of both the NAC members and of the charter school team. Many felt that their questions were not answered by the charter school team, plus their answers were not to the point. Since CPS did not release the written charter proposal before the community comment meeting, few attendees could find out the information they requested.

The majority of the attendees felt that opening a school in Bridgeport is wrong and a poor use of our tax dollars. The Bridgeport area schools have hundreds of available seats according to CPS. And with per-pupil budgets, a decline in enrollment could cause one of our neighborhood schools to close. The new CPS per-pupil budgeting system doles money out to individual schools based on their enrollment. A new school could also affect enrollment at our great parochial schools.

When CPS issued their request for proposal to open a new school, the purpose was to relieve overcrowding in "Priority Communities".  McKinley Park was identified as a Priority Community by CPS but most of their overcrowded elementary schools are west of Western Avenue -- schools at 3542 S. Washtenaw, 4747 S. Marshfield, 4747 S. Winchester, 4600 S. Hermitage , and 3625 S. Hoyne are overcrowded. A new school at 35th & Racine would not help these children.

We are asking you to call Alderman Balcer at 773-744-6663 and tell him we do not need or want a charter school in Bridgeport.  Tell him to go to the CPS Community Meeting on Charter School Proposals Monday, December 16, at CPS, 125 S. Clark, and speak against this proposed new school on our community's behalf.

We are asking you to contact the CPS Board of Education at 773-553-1900 or via http://www.cpsboe.org/contact  to tell them we do not need or want the Be The Change charter school in Bridgeport.

Other ways you can voice your opinion:
A Community Meeting hosted by CPS will be held at CPS headquarters, 125 S. Clark St., on Monday December 16.   If you want to speak, sign up begins at 4 p.m. and will conclude at 6:30 pm.  Bring a valid ID with you.  The meeting will begin at 4:30 pm and end at 9 pm. Nine charter proposals are on the agenda for that night.

On Tuesday, January 7, CPS will host a Hearing on each of the nine charter proposals at CPS headquarters.

Charter school design teams will make brief presentations.  CPS Office of New Schools will share the NAC recommendation as well as its own recommendation on whether the charter should be approved or not.

Then, the public is welcome to comment.  The procedure will probably be similar to the above.
A final decision on all nine proposals will be made by the Chicago Board of Education at their January 22 meeting at CPS headquarters, 125 S. Clark Street, 5th floor at 10:30 am. Registration to speak at this meeting will begin online at www.cpsboe.org on Monday, January 13, at 8:00 am.

Something else to note.... CPS had already approved 10 other new charters to open in the Fall of 2014:
http://voices.suntimes.com/early-and-often/backtalk/the-10-cps-charter-schools-that-may-open-in-fall-2014/

Please Make A Call

773-843-1500


Dear Representative Acevedo, My name is _________.

I am a resident of Bridgeport, and a member of Bridgeport Alliance. I am calling to thank you for your support in our efforts to get a 31st Street Bus on the east end of the route. I am also looking forward to our meeting with you, Senator Munoz, Alderman Balcer, and the CTA.

As this bus is very important to our community and our people, it would be quite a gift to have this meeting before Christmas, this year.

As you know, we need a bus! Let's get this done together!

Protect CPS Kids!

Across the city, school budgets have been slashed - taking with them teachers, programs, counselors, even basic supplies. There are many proposed solutions to this problem, but they all start with the same step - letting your legislators know that you believe education is a priority in Chicago.

The short form here does all of the work for you - it quickly locates your legislators based on your address, provides you a prewritten message that you can edit any way you like, and handles all of the addressing and sending.

A few years ago, lawmakers threatened to increase class sizes to 37 students. Parents and community members just like you used this site to send over 150,000 messages to legislators, and turned back the attack on our children's - and our city's - future. So please invest 30 seconds to let your legislators know where you stand - and share this site with your friends, family and community.

Bridgeport Residents - Please call Alderman Balcer and Senator Munoz:

For Alderman Balcer (773) 254-6677
Thank you for supporting our schools. We need you to ask CPS to provide a 10 year plan that improves all of our Bridgeport/Chinatown area schools. A plan that lists the facilities, curriculum, tech, environmental and community support our children deserve. Please join us at the September 11 CPS hearing and insist that CPS create a real plan. Thank you.

For Sen. Munoz (773) 869-9050 or (217) 782-9415
The CPS 10 Year Master Facilities Plan draft needs to be revised to show how CPS intents to improve our Bridgeport/Chinatown schools. We need to know what CPS plans to improve the facilities, curriculum, tech, environmental and community support our children deserve. Please join us at the September 11 CPS hearing and insist that CPS create a real plan. Thank you.

Then, join us on September 11!
It is very important that Bridgeport Alliance and all of its allies have a presence at this meeting and provide testimony as to how they want to see CPS facilities (i.e. what type of school is in them) run over the next 10 years.
Pershing Network:
CPS 10-Year Educational Facilities Master Plan – Public Information Session
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Gage Park High School - 5630 S. Rockwell

A Small Victory

Your calls, emails and visits to his office worked!

Along with 26 other colleagues in the Chicago City Council, 11th Ald. James Balcer stood with Chicago's children and signed onto the ordinance that return this year's TIF money back to CPS, fully funding our schools for the next school year.

This is a great first step, but there's still much work to be done.

Kudos to Ald. Balcer for standing with parents, neighbors and children in the 11th Ward, and city-wide.  773.254.6677

Your calls and emails helped demonstrate what an important issue this is to Bridgeport.

If you can, please call or email Ald. Balcer to say thanks for the support!

Our work isn't done - getting this ordinance proposed is only the first step to making sure our schools are fully funded.

Call Alderman Balcer TODAY

7/23/2013 - Schools Action Alert - Call the Alderman!

Our schools will experience major budget deficits next year. To give you an idea of local loss:
Armour $430K
Graham $300K
Holden $150K
McClellan $150K
Sheridan $516,329
Tilden $800K

Please call Alderman Balcer and ask him to tell the Mayor to declare a TIF surplus.
Alderman Balcer's Office phone number: 773 254 6677.

Possible scripts:

a) If you just want to leave a message OR that's the only option: "Hi! I'd like to leave a message for Alderman Balcer. My name is ____ & I am a (CPS Parent/Parent/Concerned Citizen/Taxpayer/Voter) concerned about the severe budget cuts to our schools. (Pick a school or Pick all 3 above) lost $___ which will result in the loss of teachers, support staff, supplies and textbooks, impacting the education of thousands of kids in our Ward. The mayor needs to declare a TIF surplus & give money back to the schools. Mayor Daley declared a TIF surplus 3 years ago and returned $90 million to CPS. We know this can be done. We expect you to call the Mayor and ask him to declare a TIF surplus. We'll be bringing a letter by to get your support. Thank you."

b.) Maybe you actually get him on the phone: "Hi, this is _________I am a constituent and my school _______just lost _________ ( x dollars or x positions). We need Alderman _______'s help in restoring these positions. As you know, our schools weren't properly funded to begin with and we can't operate with this loss. Possible answer: Well, there's not much the City Council can do when it comes to education. You: "Actually, there was $1.7 billion in TIF accounts at the end of 2011 and $454 million was diverted from Chicago property tax revenue into TIF accounts. 53% of all TIF surplus money would go back to the schools. We would like you to call Mayor Emanuel and ask that he declare a TIF surplus so that we don't have to lose ______ positions." Possible answer: "Well, much of that money is tied up. We don't know for sure how much is in there." You: "Mayor Daley declared a TIF surplus 3 years ago and returned $90 million. We know this can be done. We expect you to call and we'll be bringing a letter by to get your support." Thank you so much!

Learn More About TIFs Here!

Blue Cart Recycling coming to Bridgeport

Found this on the 11th ward blog today!

Blue Cart Recycling 2013

Cook County Commissioner John P. Daley and Alderman James A. Balcer, along with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Patrick D. Thompson are happy to announce that the city’s Blue Cart Recycling Program will be rolling out in the 11th Ward very soon. Service Roll Out will be August 12 or August 19, depending on the zone. For more information, please check out the website: www.chicagorecycles.org.

Schools Action Alert - Call the Alderman!

Our schools will experience major budget deficits next year.

To give you an idea of local loss:
Graham: $300k
Haines: -$300k (Loss of 3 positions)
Sheridan: -$516k (Loss of 3 teachers & 3 teacher assistants)

The citywide parent organization, Illinois Raise Your Hand for Public Education, is gathering budget loss information from parent members. So far they have heard from 142 schools and over $82 million has been lost.

Please call Alderman Balcer and ask him to tell the Mayor to declare a TIF surplus. A

lderman Balcer's Office phone number: 773 254 6677.

 Possible scripts:
a) If you just want to leave a message OR that's the only option: "Hi! I'd like to leave a message for Alderman Balcer. My name is ____ & I am a (CPS Parent/Parent/Concerned Citizen/Taxpayer/Voter) concerned about the severe budget cuts to our schools. (Pick a school or Pick all 3 above) lost $___ which will result in the loss of teachers, support staff, supplies and textbooks, impacting the education of thousands of kids in our Ward. The mayor needs to declare a TIF surplus & give money back to the schools. Mayor Daley declared a TIF surplus 3 years ago and returned $90 million to CPS. We know this can be done. We expect you to call the Mayor and ask him to declare a TIF surplus. We'll be bringing a letter by to get your support. Thank you."

b.) Maybe you actually get him on the phone: "Hi, this is _________I am a constituent and my school _______just lost _________ ( x dollars or x positions). We need Alderman _______'s help in restoring these positions. As you know, our schools weren't properly funded to begin with and we can't operate with this loss.
Possible answer: Well, there's not much the City Council can do when it comes to education.
You: "Actually, there was $1.7 billion in TIF accounts at the end of 2011 and $454 million was diverted from Chicago property tax revenue into TIF accounts. 53% of all TIF surplus money would go back to the schools. We would like you to call Mayor Emanuel and ask that he declare a TIF surplus so that we don't have to lose ______ positions."
Possible answer: "Well, much of that money is tied up. We don't know for sure how much is in there."
You: "Mayor Daley declared a TIF surplus 3 years ago and returned $90 million. We know this can be done. We expect you to call and we'll be bringing a letter by to get your support."

Thank you so much!

If you'd like to learn more about TIFs you can listen to & view slides of the 11th & 12th Ward TIF Illumination talk from a couple of weeks ago. It was sponsored by the McKinley Park Civic Association & the Bridgeport Alliance.
 http://www.civiclab.us/2013/06/11th-and-12th-illuminated/
Don't have time to listen? Here's some basics on TIFs: http://www.civiclab.us/the-tif-report/how-do-tifs-work/

Education News

BUDGET CUTS
In a partnership with Raise Your Hand, a citywide parent group, we are helping to form a Ward 11 TIF Squad. CPS has drastically cut individual school budgets for next school year. Some known examples in our neighborhood include: Graham -$300k; Haines -$300k; and Sheridan -$516k. We need people to call Alderman Balcer at 773 254 6677. Ask him to call the Mayor to tell him he needs to declare a TIF Surplus to give some funds back to our schools. If you'd like to get updates on the TIF Squad and possible Toilet Paper Drives (yeah, it's that bad) in our neighborhood, please contact Jennie at jenniebiggs72@yahoo.com.

10 YEAR DRAFT MASTER FACILITIES PLAN Please read this blog post to find out more about our efforts to bring people together to provide input to CPS: http://bridgeportalliance.blogspot.com/2013/06/schools-update.html Thank you!!!

CTA Board Meeting

Back in August Tom Gaulke (BA Chair) declared on this very blog, "in case you haven't heard, we're winning."  At that time it sincerely felt like we were winning.  The CTA board had extended the 35th street bus to include the west end of 31st and promised a study of the east end of 31st.  Members of BA met with CTA board president Forrest Claypool with Alderman Balcer.  They also met monthly with the folks who do the planning and studies on bus routes.  So far... nothing has happened.

We need to make sure that the CTA board knows that we are still here and we still want this bus.  Will you come with us on March 13 to remind them?

At the next board meeting of the Chicago Transit Authority, the board will be discussing the future of bus transit along 31st St.

We need to show up in numbers so that they know that our communities need a 31st St. Bus!

We'll meet at the corner of Halsted and 31st St. at 9:00am and take the Halsted Bus to the CTA Headquarters.  Or, if you are downtown, just meet us there.  If you can't make it, but know others who want the bus, share this information with them, please. 

You can RSVP on facebook here or email info@bridgeportalliance.org. 

BA In the News

A great article in the Gazette features Jennie Biggs and Tom Gaulke:
“We parents have the strongest voices,” Biggs added. “We need to start using them.
Read it here! 

Also in the Gazette, Tom Gaulke on the systemic issues that are causing violence in our neighborhood.  Read it here!

BA in the News

Kevin Robinson on School Closings, Charters and Clout

CPS School Closings Plan Has South Side Schools Making Pitch to Stay Open

Public School Closings Could Harm Special Education Students, Critics Say

Southwest Side Braces for More CPS School Closings Forums

Ald. James Balcer: McClellan and Graham 'Should Not Close'

And, Claudia in the World Journal!

BA in the News

Articles on the SOUL King Day Event!

DNA Info -Activists Plan ‘King Day’ Rally

Progress Illinois - Community Group Brings Together Politicians, Religious and Community Leaders In A Call For Social Justice

Partial Victory

While we did not get a full 31st Street Route which was proposed. The CTA is going to extend the 35th Street Bus for 180 days as a partial phase-in experiment.

The 35th Street Bus which currently ends on Kedzie will now be extended north on Kedzie to 31st Street, then it will turn west onto 31st Street to Cicero and finally head north to Cicero/26th at the soon to be remodeled Metra station.

After the 180-day experiment. The CTA did agree to a new proposal that after reviewing the data collected, they will consider any changes and the possibility of the full 31st Street Bus Route from Cicero to the Lakefront which was our original proposal.

While this route is not exactly what everyone may want. It is a victory. The CTA has not been in the habit of adding new service lately. This would be something new and it is needed. We will continue the fight for the full route. The fight is not over yet!

Suntimes, CBS, Tribune

From BA member and 31st street bus supporter, Joe Trutin:  I would like to thank Aldermen James Balcer (11th), Alderman George Cardenas (12th) and Senator Martin Sandoval and the many community members/groups along the 31st Street Corridor for coming to today's CTA meeting to speak for the need of the 31st Street Route. 

There were many other politicians who did come out in support of this route and deserve a huge thank you for making phone calls and writing letters of support. Senator Mattie Hunter (3rd), Senator Antonio Munoz (1st), Aldermen Pat Dowell (3rd), Alderman Ricky Munoz (22nd), and Cook County Commissioner John Daley (11th)

Most of all thank you all for being part of this facebook page. I promise you that the wheels are still in motion to move forward with plans to get our FULL 31st street route along the 31st street corridor which will improve mobility and access to an employment center, rail lines, and other bus routes for low income individuals, seniors, and the disabled.