But they got us in this loan. They have us in this.
And like all of these people have shown up.
gotta get jump
No, please.
a lot I
I'm down.
I don't think you can.
I thought they would have I thought I was going to be in.
That yeah, that was Michael. In fact that called coal from
1 of the emergencies still on the list We Ready Yes, dear.
Good morning.
Committee on education and Child Development will now come
to order today will be conducting a subject matter hearing
to learn more. What about alternative schools Network their
programming and budget needs. We will Begin by roll call to
establish score.
Vice chair clay president
Alderman why
Alderman Hall
Alderman bill
Alderman Chico
alderwoman Lee present
Alderman Quinn
all the woman Gutierrez
alderwoman Coleman present
all the person for win test
alderman talifero
all the woman Rodriguez Sanchez here
Alderman Gardner
Alderman's, yansi and
Gutierrez have requested um remote um
Participation. Can I get a in Gardner motion?
So move. Oh, I'm sorry. So moved by all all the person. Um
Fuentes all those in favor all those opposed.
also for Quorum I Alderman OSHA
Did I miss anybody chairman Alderman Gardner's via Zoom?
So motion to add Alderman Gardner to remote so moved by all
the person gutier. I mean for whence all those in favor.
At this time, we will begin the public comment this period
is limited to 30 minutes out of respect for everybody's
time. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes.
first we have
Mr. George Blackmore
You want to take my seat?
Good morning to our citizens.
Our back citizen that's present.
the miseducation of the black man
here in the city of Chicago with the public school man.
They having time for an election of
people back to you on the board and the attorney to school
all children are being miseducated.
over
25 perhaps more black schools was closed 50 of them and
they open up 25 Hispanic. It's something wrong with black
people.
Black Faces in high places not representing their people
education is very very important the mixed education of the
black man. Our schools are inferior than the Hispanic
School than the white schools are the Asian schools. Why
for a black leadership? No black leadership?
Something is wrong here.
A lot about children go to Walter Payton and go to these
other schools up north. They say they get a better
education there.
God has given us everything we need all we have to do is
use what God has given us we and use our mind.
Because we're being led by Black Faces in high places
misrepresenting us.
We have to change this narrative right here is is is
ridiculous, but I want her.
She didn't listen.
Or maybe she couldn't because she's a part of the
democratic machine. Also. Maybe she couldn't maybe she
wanted to go along and get along.
I'm not like that.
I think for my I said this these meetings are going at the
same time. I know Mr. Blakemore. I know did you change it
and now it's a disaster for your meeting your educational
meeting. It's a disaster when they have a big room up here.
Because accommodate all of us.
But the timing it's time for us to change. Thank you, Mr.
Blake time for us to change. Thank you.
And you take it.
You say that next we will have Nancy. Thank you, Mr.
Blakemore next. We'll have Nancy Sosa.
Good morning, everyone. Uh, thank you for your time today.
So I'm here on behalf of Association house. Um, just to
kind of
yeah, so I'm can you stand right here, please? Yeah, of
course. Thank you.
Thank you. No problem. So, my name is Nancy Sosa. I am here
on behalf of Association house coming from Associated Bank.
I'm 1 of the bankers there and just here to show how much
Association house has done for me and my family as well as
the many other students that have attended and attend that
school I was able to take advantage of the resources and
the staff there to be able to graduate the high school in
2019.
Um, then I had my children cross the stage with me. They
were able to go to school with me to attend the daycare
downstairs called the flp program from there. I was
recommended from my internship. Uh, daycare colleague Sarah
shupac who's no longer at that, um at Association house
she recommended for me to join our bank Works program
because she saw in myself what I didn't see in myself,
which was the
the willingness to succeed the willingness to learn and so
from there. I was able to get hired into a financial
institution through the free Bank Works program at
Association house from there. I am now a banker at
Associated Bank and I'm able to give back to my to my
students that go to Association house as well as to my
community in regards to financial literacy. I am able to
help those that are going to be our future presidents F
future secretaries and future Alder people. So thank
everyone for for listening to me today.
Thank you for your comments our next.
our next public speaker is
Jakia, Fulton, I am so sorry. If I said your name, can you
tell me how to say your name?
Jakiyah, I'm sorry jakiyah. How you doing? Hello. How are
you? I'm all right. Okay. I'm coming from Olive Harvey
middle college and I feel like we need more um alternative
schools only because all of Harvey is really a safe place
for us. We come the teachers are welcome and they love us
and they try to do everything possible to help us out when
we need it even through life experiences or anything
they're there to help. So I feel like alternative schools
is a good school. Thank you.
our next speaker is
Myra
Json Sampson
Sorry, I'm put my glasses on because I can't see.
Good morning, and thank you for this opportunity. I am Dr.
Myra Samson. I am the founder the CEO and the principal of
CCA Academy CCA Academy was started in 1978 and we are
celebrating 45 years of educating youth on the west side of
Chicago many.
Thank you, many of the schools that are campuses of.
What CCS youth connection Charter School began as
community-based schools in the 70s and 80s to serve
students that were dropouts push outs and students who
needed a smaller School environment these schools today are
45 to 50 years old in 1997. These schools came together
Under the yccs Umbrella. Yccs is 1 of the original 15
chartres in Illinois. The mission of yccs. Charter was and
remain
To be different it is to do what the schools know how to do
best to educate overage under skilled high risk youth who
need a small school to learn to grow and to thrive and to
educate we have in the first 20 years 66% of cca's
graduates matriculated to 4-year colleges. Yccs began
competency best based education to guarantee that students
were taught the standards and skills that they needed for
lifelong learning over 90% of seniors graduate. Yccs has
been a CPS level 1 School each year and 27,000 graduates
can attest to change lives. Yccs is the charter 2600
students and 17.
Schools depend on its renewal. Yccs is a charter that
serves the most vulnerable youth in the city helped us keep
doing what we do better than anyone else educate youth who
need a different kind of school. Thank you.
Thank you, Dr. Samson world next have Jasmine Harrington.
Before you speak Jasmine, I want to make sure that I add
Alderman bill for Quorum and non-member a woman Harris and
alderwoman cruise.
You may begin Jazz. Good morning, everyone.
My name is Jasmine Harrington. I'm 17 years old and I'm a
current student at CCA Academy.
I previously attended know Veronica College Prep. I'm I
expected to graduate in 2025 and plan on attending,
Illinois State University in
a nursing program
at the high school
CCA is different because it makes a schedule fit for you
and your needs it also helps student get on the right path
in life by helping you figure out how to stay out of the
streets. What I've learned from attending CCA is to take
advantage of opportunities given to you and not to be naive
by being less judgmental. I left my previous school because
of my mental health problems and lack of attendance. I've
stayed at CCA because I've gotten a chance to meet new
people and have opportunities to help me to improve my life
and have a better future for myself.
Thank you.
Next we'll have Crystal Williams.
Good morning. My name is Crystal Williams and I'm a proud
1995 graduate of CCA Academy.
My parents and I chose CCA for a small family oriented
environment which mirrored my previous experience in the
Parochial School.
At CCA, I received personalized support and engaged in
enriching educational and cultural activities. This
nurturing setting helped me find my identity and a sense of
belonging.
With the encouragement of cca's dedicated staff and
teachers. I pursued my dreams earned a Bachelor's of Social
Work in Mississippi Valley State. Um, I returned and worked
at CCA for a year. Then I realized I needed more. I went to
UIC Jane Addams College college College of Social Work and
earn my uh masters in social work. Um, I returned to CCA in
2003.
Um, and I obtain my masters in educational leadership for
nor Eastern. I currently serve as a director of student
services and clinical social work at CCA Academy.
Our motto is at CCA.
Everyone job is to learn both students and staff are given
opportunities to grow schools like CCA and other yccs
campuses are vital for students who thrive in a small
supportive environment.
These schools nurture our emerging leaders by accommodating
all students no matter the barriers. They face. Let's
continue to support our youth by providing these essential
services.
Cca's philosophy is to punch holes in the darkness and
change lives 1 student 1 family at a time.
Along with yccs. We are committed to spreading love and
light to our future leaders and their families.
Thank you for your comments next we'll have lotta
Ridgeland.
Roland, thank you.
Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Lotta rutlidge. I am a
CCA graduate class of 2000.
I started my journey at CCA as a young teenage mother of a 2
year old baby boy named macbrice. I had just gotten kicked
out of manly high school for bad attendance.
I was looking for a second chance a friend of mine told me
about CCA and I thought all my dreams had come true little
did. I know it wasn't so easy as I had an interview and I
was told that in order for me to accomplish my goals of
graduating high school. I needed to get my attendance under
control.
After my interview, I was told I would get an a call back
and I waited for that call. Oh how relieved I was to
finally release received a letter of acceptance as I took
my CCA journey. I really still didn't understand the
repercussions of my actions. I still made bad decisions. I
still hadn't realized how important to my future or the
opportunity was 1 of the teachers Miss sahiti, who was the
math teacher at the time really helped to save my life. She
encouraged me to make better decisions with my life CCA
gave me life values that have benefited me then as a
student and even now in my adult life.
CCA values have helped me to become a strong mother of 5
children. I am so grateful and thankful to CCA for
investing in me. And in turn I was able to invest in my
children the academic and life learn lessons that I've
learned at CCA have helped me to again raise 5 beautiful
children and and I've been with my husband since I
graduated CCA in 2000.
The song that I had when I entered CCA he is now 27 years
old, but he went on to receive a full academic scholarship
at UIC Champaign Urbana. He is currently a football coach
and track coach for Centennial High School in Champaign.
Well, he also doubles as a counselor and mentor
I am now in my eighth year as an employee of CCA Academy. I
am very thankful for a blessed opportunity an opportunity
to give back to current students with some of the most
significant things that were given to me besides education,
like respect Integrity grit encouragement and most
importantly love when you learn to love and believe in
yourself. You can begin to live the CCA Mission lifelong
learning. I am for why I while I am forever grateful for
the education that I received at CCA. It is the lifelong
lessons that I've learned that gets me through. Thank you
for listening.
Thank you for your testimony. I want to acknowledge all the
men cardono who is a non-member next. We will have Michelle
Harvey.
Good morning. Good morning. My name is Miss chalice Harvey
chalice. Oh, that's pretty and I am a graduate of all of
Harvey middle college class of 1999.
And I'm currently thank you currently in my 20th year as
English instructor post-secondary coordinator at all of
Harvey Middle College my
So as you can see alternative school networks yccs and all
of the charters under create leaders. Um, I love Harvey
Middle College definitely changed my life before all of
Harvey. I was definitely 1 a downward spiral. My brother
was 1 of the first graduates of olive Harvey Middle College
in 1987, and he said, you know what? I have a place for you
all of Harvey Middle College. Let's go. Try it out. Best
decision ever. I live by the model model of paying it
forward. All of Harvey middle college was that family
outside of the blood lineage that I needed and still is
because I'm still there 20 years later.
Um paying it forward to these current Scholars. It's not
all about academics. It's about number 1 meeting them where
they're at and getting them from good to Greater and that's
what alternative school networks and yccs does.
Each campus we all get our students from good to Greater and
majority of the times we go from greater to Great test.
Believe it. We have a lot a lot of politicians. We have a
we have actors we have
Huge names in education that all came from yccs or
alternative school networks, and you best believe that
alternative the word alternative is not a bad thing when it
comes to us at all alternative means there is another
chance you have another chance you have another shot and
you're going to do your best with it because guess what the
family that you're going to meet at that alternative
school.
Is going to make sure you go from good to great. So we
asked and Miss. Jakiyah Fulton is 1 of my Scholars right
next week. She'll be graduating. So she's going to go from
my scholar to my alumni sister. Right? Isn't that amazing?
It feels so good to graduate a class every year because now
I know that I had a part in creating the next generation of
Scholars. So pleased we asked do whatever you can to keep
ycc as in as in the flow. Thank you.
I want to acknowledge vice mayor Bernett, who is a
non-member next we'll have Dr. Thomas.
Thank you. Good morning, Alder women and aldermen and thank
you for serving on arguably the most important. Um
subcommittee in city council
My name is Dr. Thomas. Guiso. I've been proudly the CEO and
Sullivan House of Sullivan House High School on Chicago's
great Southside for over 20 years.
um in 1985 Lewis Sullivan and I tell my students if you've
ever been on the architecture tour of Chicago, they'll
mention him Lewis Sullivan's family donated to Sullivan
house child welfare agency a local community agency a
building to start a school with 15 to 20 students students
that were not in school students who were at that time were
called Learning Resource which then became special ed, and
now became diverse Learners, um and served primarily that
focused up until 1997 when we were approached by
Yccs to be a part of a bigger organization with the same
goals the same ideals of serving at risk students serving
students that are not happy where they are in high school
or in some cases. The high school wasn't happy with them,
um where they needed a place to go. They didn't want to get
a GED they wanted to live the high school experience and
yccs was born. Uh, as you've heard thousands of students
have graduated who would not have graduated without yccs.
And who are those students? Well, you see many of them here
today, you're going to hear many of them. You've already
heard several of them.
They're Chicago students. They're your students. There are
students. There are students that are still looking for
Education when for whatever reason they were denied that in
their past and yccs and ASN are extremely successful in in
getting them to the point of coming into our school to
graduation ASN wraparound services and programs yccs with
so many things sccl Services skill-based learning 3 plus 1
pbl it goes on and on and flexible no more than anything
else it goes on and on as far as what yccs is able to do it
all of their schools.
To get students to graduation 1 of the unique things about
our school.
And our Charter is that we take any student. It doesn't
matter what their background is. I don't even care about
their background I care about what you're going to do for
me today. Not what you did in the past whether it's
discipline related attendance related grade related. That's
our job to figure it out at Sullivan house. Our model is
if students don't learn the way we teach then we teach them
the way they learn and that really is a uh summary of what
yccs does on a grander scale.
We don't let students go when they run our Charter if a
student is not successful at 1 school. We have 17 schools
where we'll find a place for them to be successful at
however, that's kind of a rarity expired Dr. Thomas. Okay.
I want to say thank you again to everyone. Thank you to the
students and alums that are here, too.
Next we have Queen.
Marino
Good afternoon.
Um dear ycc has Sullivan house campus on behalf of the
students and staff at Sullivan house. We wanted to express
our heartfelt gratitude to living house is dedicated to
fostering an environment that nurtures both academic
excellence and personal growth for everyone that walks
through the doors. Thank you, why CCS Sullivan house for
your commitment to ensure every student that has W has the
resources and support needed to thrive by giving us great
teachers and staff. The the school's General care for our
well-being Sullivan house has created a warm inclusive
community where we heard.
And value We Are Forever grateful for the opportunities the
students the school has provided every from everything from
ex extracurricular activities that allow students the
allows the students opportunities to explore their passion
to accept no staff Who challenged us and expired us daily.
The life lessons will have learned within the walls will be
with us long after graduation as we transition to life
after graduation. We will carry the values instilled by the
entire. Civilian Health Community.
The lessons we have learned and the experience we had all
have shaped us into the P people. We are today why so why
CCL Solomon house has left an indepth mark on countless
lives sincerely the students of Sullivan house.
Thank you for your comments next we'll have David Piper.
Good morning, everybody. Thank you for having us. My name
is David Piper and I am the principal of Association House
High School Association house has 125 years history. Um,
but I'm not going to get into that. I'm going to get into
about 2 years of History 2 years ago on uh, June 22nd, 2022
many staff students and alumni travel to the Chicago Board
of Education to provide commentary on what was happening at
youth connection Charter School Association house.
Association House High School had announced layoffs of
roughly 1 third of its staff in response to a corresponding
1-3 decline in student enrollment. That's severely impacted
the schools upcoming funding based on the student-based
budget funding it received.
The students both current and former pointed to the unique
educational mission of Association House High School. They
highlighted the intense wraparound supports small class
sizes restorative practices that they received from
Association house.
These students felt compelled to Advocate on behalf of the
school from their experience. They had never been provided
the employment behavioral post-secondary academic trauma
support all holistically in 1 setting.
Staff spoke to they passionately pleaded for additional
support to continue to provide the high-level support for
the most vulnerable students and Humble Park.
The board chair Miguel de felt compelled to add his own
commentary at that hearing.
He mentioned that Association house was founded partly by
his effort many years previously. He indicated that he was
aware of the great work happening at Association house, but
wondered why more students weren't receiving the service.
Do you find that there's many at risk? I need students in
Humble Park that could benefit from the service. Why was
the enrollment declining at Association house? Well life
has returned to routine from the pandemic but the students
have not returned. There's still capacity at Association
house to serve students.
As Chicago begins to focus on equity and education and
neighborhoods look to stabilize by providing Community
Based support to those at risk and vulnerable youth now is
the time to capitalize on this moment now is the time to
look to Association house alternative schools network
network your connection Charter Schools as the foundation
to strengthen Chicago's communities. We need to remove
barriers to enrollment referrals and transfers to ycs. We
need to ensure that alternative schools.
With Decades of success are supported as a model for
students and that is a last resort not as a transfer to be
avoided not as a competitor in the market because truly the
students we serve if left behind or not supported will only
cycle back to the community with negative outcomes, and
we've seen it all too often.
There are 27,000 reasons that these schools are a model for
success. I had 1 of them with me here today, and there's
many more. We need to support youth connection Charter
Schools. Thank you.
Sorry, that's what I got. Um James Hendrick.
Hello. Good morning. Beautiful people. My name is James
Hendricks. I'm here on behalf of yccs Sullivan house. Okay,
I graduated from Sullivan house in 2003. I currently work
there.
Trying to spread the good word the Sullivan house has all
right. So this is the thing.
Sullivan house is really a family. It's real family. Like I
said, I went there and I went with a lot of people and now
I'm actually their mentoring their kids.
I mean, this is It's a real full circle moment. It's not a
single person in Sullivan house. Who go there that doesn't
feel a family feel and that's probably the biggest thing
that's missing in most of these schools education all that
and when they say alternative it don't necessarily mean
bad, maybe some people got
problems with speaking in public. Maybe they just don't
like being around people Sullivan house always meet the
kids wherever they need to be rather is getting a bus cars
helping them. Like now it's prom season. We got kids we
helping them with their prom getting it closed together
getting graduation together. It's just a simple
man, it's it's it ain't simple at all, but it's
Everything it's everything and I can definitely say I
wouldn't be where I am without my school.
Next we'll have Kamaya Smith.
Good morning. My name is Kamaya Smith. I'm 19 and currently
attending Innovation High School.
What I can say about the yccs community is that I came a
long way it helped me on my way in my journey me being a
2-time brain cancer survivor. It really helped me on my
way.
Far as far as experience goes it helped me learn more about
myself and make friends that I would never met. If I didn't
go to these schools and alternative schools.
I had more opportunities for
Um certificates I am a certified Barber it did a lot.
In my life to where is that? I am in my life right now. I
am currently.
a student
in a college student it helped me and um, I can really say
that.
Now I am a graduate of 2024.
And I am um, and I will be attending uh, IRS internship
job.
Thank you for our your comments our last and final speaker
is.
Miss Denton, I am not gonna say I'm not gonna jack up your
first name. Please. Say it when you get to the mic.
Good morning. My name is Chantal Denton. I'm currently a
senior at Innovations high school. I graduated in June. Um,
I would like to thank Innovations in particular for giving
me.
the second chance believing in me when nobody else did and
um, like we really a family and our school motto is higher
standards and they definitely push us to higher standards.
Uh, it's a lot of opportunities a lot of resources. I just
want to say thank you. Thank you Mr. Jackson.
At this time that concludes our public comment ma'am,
please thank you know we it's 30 minutes. No, I didn't I
didn't have an opportunity. Um, Miss I still got at least
40 other people who would like to speak no, no. No. No you
cannot. I'm sorry. My apologies. I'm sorry here. Look. No.
This is the reason I come. This is the reason I and I and
you're here all the time these
Young people never have an opportunity. No, I want to speak
to them know.
No, you can speak to them outside. No, no it absolutely you
and I don't understand that better than you know, it feels
like kind of kind of delivery because you're you're
actually exposing. No, I can't do that. My apologies now, I
don't want to ask you to leave but I will please don't do
that. Please be respectful to the people who come down
here.
No.
Can you remove them please? No, I can't do that just 3
minutes. No, no, I can't do that Mr. Can you please remove
them know because these young people came I gave them an
opportunity to speak. We have a hearing we still have to
get through.
I'm not gonna do this with you. Have a good day. Have a
good day. Have a good day. Have a good day.
You need to represent.
So I'm back and I'm saying peacefully know because there
are other people who signed up.
Monique Scott, can you raise your hand? Okay.
Can you raise your hand Jordan? Can you raise your hand?
These are all?
And so no there's a 30 minute. I'm there. There's no room
for debate. Have a good day. You either can stand in the
back and listen or you can leave.
Want to do Jeremy? No. No, I'm standing in the back. Okay.
Thank you because we need
No, don't please don't do that because now you're you're
speaking.
All these little different things. So what you missed was
the majority of the speakers were young people. So I'mma
ask you now I'm gonna ask you to leave because now you're
disturbing me all the woman for uh, all the person for
Wentz.
Come on, sergeant-at-arms. Could we clear the room? Please
stay tuned to everything above us alternative to Second.
Y'all should have a first chance Sergeant at Arms and you
remove so this is not for the butt but please close the
door.
My apologies we have people who come down to City Hall and
want to be heard every time they come and that is not about
him today. So I for the uh for the record, I want to
acknowledge, uh chairman Rodriguez. Um, who is an Our
member?
All the woman all the person who went to ask. Can you go
ahead thank you. Thank you chairwoman. Well first I want to
thank every young person that came to this hearing today.
So can we please give the young people a round of applause?
And so all the bio Educators and school leaders and District
leaders. I want to thank you for organizing for today. Um,
today. Um, it was a very short turnaround and your ability
to fill a room. I am always in awe and impressed.
For the young people in the room, my name is Jesse Fuentes
and I am the older person of the 26 Ward and I am a proud
graduate of alternative schools Network. I use connection
charter schools.
I am a graduate of a yccs school called Dr. Pedro. Bissu
Campos Puerto Rican High School in Humble Park a school
after graduating that I had the privilege to return to as
the dean of student affairs now led by the great giant Dr.
Melissa Lewis.
I was 16 years old when I was expelled from Carl Schurz
High School for getting into a school fight.
With the peer who called my mom a crackhead poking fun at
her addiction addiction.
I had to suffer with for most of my childhood.
I also had a father to spend an overwhelming majority of my
life in and out of prison.
Going to school wasn't fun.
Being a learner wasn't exciting.
And going into an academic institution in which I was
constantly criminalized for my ZIP code and the color of my
skin made it all the more daunting to want to even
graduate.
It wasn't until I walked into a yccs school.
That had no metal detectors.
had no armed police officers
It had a mentor at the door. His name was Carlos contra.
And the first thing that he told me was when you walk to
these doors you are going to be treated like the full human
being that you are.
And you will always be welcomed here.
And it was for the first time that I felt excited to learn.
It was at that school. I learned about my Puerto Ricans.
Where I learned how to take care of myself and grapple with
the historical and generational trauma of my family.
Where I learned how to be a restorative justice
practitioner and be a peace Circle leader.
Where I learned how to stop violence in our communities and
intervene in gang tension.
Where I learned the importance of building a community
often success is defined by graduating from school and
leaving the place that you were born and grew up in taught
me you go back and you transform that Community for future
generations to come.
It is because of a place like albisu Campos. I became
politicized enough to have the courage to run for office. I
am probably the first and the only graduate of yccs to be
elected to city council.
But that possibility.
That possibility was given to me by that unique space.
you see alternative schools Network and yccs married in
their Vision to support young people to have often been
pushed out or dropped out of traditional spaces has been a
legacy of over 50 years of saving young people.
What we are talking about today.
Is not a Charter system that seeks to compete with Chicago
public schools and take students that are succeeding in
those places, but rather to educate to wrap around and to
love on the students that did not reap the benefits of our
traditional schools in the city of Chicago.
you see schools like albisu CCA Association house Olive
Harvey Innovations are all schools that look at a young
person like me and see everything that's right with them
and not the things that are wrong with them.
We have too many systems in the city of Chicago.
That continue to disgust folk and exacerbate the
limitations of young people in the city of Chicago rather
than celebrating all the they have to offer.
Today we're going to learn about all of the great things
that both use connection charter schools and alternative
schools Network have to offer but we're also going to talk
about the reality. How many young people are out of school
today? How many young people didn't return after Co better
yet. How many young people didn't return after school
closures?
How many young people are left unemployed?
How does that impact?
The community safety and the City of Chicago and what role
does yccs and ASN have to play in assisting else and
building a better and safer Chicago. So I want to thank
Jack leis executive director of alternative schools Network
and Sheila Benson.
Heads, why ccs?
for their Vision their hard work
and today their expertise in their testimony. Thank you all
for being here today.
There are 2 items before the committee item 1 is approval
of the March rule 45 report.
You want to speak? Oh, I'm sorry, okay.
Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was trying to okay. So uh
chairwoman Harris.
Thank you. Thank you chairman. Um, I'd be remiss if I did
not get up here and acknowledge all the great work that
yccs has done. Um, Olive Harvey Miller School my favorite
Dr. G over at Sullivan house.
Uh, that was my baby's. Uh, I'm coming back over to cook
every year I try to get over and get in their their
Culinary Kitchen and cook with them. Uh, but I say that
everybody is not a square peg or round circle or a
triangle. So trying to make them fit.
Ain't going to work. You can't do it. You cannot put a
square peg in a hole and so in a round circle, so I say
that to say that that ain't bad.
It's nothing wrong with not fitting that's just find the
right fit just like to pay shoes. Let's find a pair of
shoes that will fit on your feet and won't make them hurt
and I use that analogy because our children are in pain and
sometimes the traditional programs just are not going to
work for them. And so what I found when I go in there I
feel loved.
I feel cared about.
I feel embraced. So I am here today to say that we need
programs like this.
In our community, I'm the recipient of 2 wonderful ones and
I want to thank Sheila Benson for being that that person
who talks to me ask me questions and not the easy questions
all the time, but I am so grateful for the options that my
children have and my community um because of yccc as and so
today I say thank you for everything that you do. It is so
important that we keep these resources until my colleagues
point and it's great 264. We not in competition with CPS.
This is not about a competition. We are about giving the
best educational process for a kid who just couldn't fit in
and I say that because I got a loved 1 he's uh, 17 years
old who just don't fit but he fits in a program and he's
found love and compassion and caring so every
Everything that's outside of CPS is not bad. It's not bad.
We have processes that are working for our children and we
have to continue to fight for you to keep the resources
there so that we can continue to have these options options
for children of color.
That we need for our community. So again, thank you. Thank
you chairman for letting me disrupt your meeting. I'm so
tired. Thank you chairwoman chairwoman Cruise
I also I also want to say um some you know, some kind words
to all of you. Um, thank you for being here and you know
hearing all this powerful stories is the fuel that we need
us as elected officials to keep going and you know,
bringing those things that is needed. But I also want to
say that um, my husband graduated from an alternative
school and what I'm hearing today with all of you what I'm
hearing from. My husband is the alternative schools did not
give up on you instead. They locked arms with you and say
walk with us, but we're going to walk at your pace. We're
going to meet you where you at and then we're going to take
it from there giving you the education that you need but
also the understanding and not setting um standards that
might be too high or may not be where you add and I think
that's what alternative schools is doing for. All of you
has done for my husband and I can thank enough Marion
panto.
Which was a school he graduated from to give him that
opportunity. We all make mistakes and I always tell people
as adults. Sometimes we forget what are the actions that we
have we took when we were young and we have Sometimes some
of the most highest standards for youth but however, we're
forgetting what we came from. What are some of the mistakes
that we did what are some of the good decisions we did
let's take the time to reflect that and how do we change
things for all of you? We need all of you to be continued
to doing that. There's so many powerful stories here. Not
only with my colleague which speaks volumes of the
dedication the work and she had so I just want to say thank
you for taking the time and how do you know we all work
together to make sure that alternative schools SC keep try
um thriving around the same to make sure that we have more
students impacted by the changes that this schools do. So,
I just wanted to say that you all look great. I love the
smiles. I love those seniors, um graduating this year, but
thank you so
much
vice mayor Bernett
Thank you very much. Madam chairman. I would be remiss also
if I did not say anything, of course, I've been supporting
these organizations for a long time. Uh, and I've had the
um, the pleasure of uh speaking at Several of their
graduations, uh on many occasions and I'm always inspired.
Uh, especially when I see the parents,
Uh that come to the graduations who who come to a
graduation for a for a child who they thought wasn't going
to make it.
who have turned it around whether it be because maybe they
were in trouble with the law or maybe they couldn't go to a
certain school because some guys was after them or maybe
they got pregnant and had a child and had to start off
start all over these presidents are so inspired so happy
when they see their kids graduate from high school get a
high school diploma. Not a GED get a high school diploma
and they walk across that stage in their gowns, and they
are so proud of themselves and and every time I go I'm just
so inspired after I leave this is a this is like, you know,
I mean this organization to me is just like church, right?
They saving lives you all literally save lives and and and
they and those young people end up letting their friends
know. Hey, man, if you can't make it over there you can
make it over here. So this is a great organization to give
young people another opportunity to get it right and um,
they need all
All of the support that they can get and they do not have
enough resources. I know that because I know 1 of my
schools always asking for stuff so
Um, and he always asks for something but but but they need
more resources and these are the kids that these are I
shouldn't say kids but these are the young people that a
lot of other folks give up on right and what kind of
society would we be if we gave up on all of our young
people because they may be a little different or they may
do things on their own time, right? Everybody learn
differently this organization do not give up on them. We
need to get them all of the support all of the help that we
can give them because it helps to save not only these young
people but it helps to make our society a better place. So
I support you 100% Congratulations.
Thank you. Vice mayor. I'm going to turn it over to Jack
and his team. Um, and then we'll go back to our city
council members to answer questions and add commentary Jack
sure. I think it's great, uh chairwoman Taylor you're doing
it. There's a lot of aldermen here who understand
As a uh, Alderman Bernett said the work done we do in
tandem with yccs saves kids lives.
That better now I can sing karaoke. Oh.
It's a it's critical, uh and Walter. I don't want you to
feel alone. We're asking the state for hundred million
dollars to employ over 80 90,000, uh students who need
jobs. We've met with leader Sims. Uh, Justin Slaughter Kam
Buckner and we're we're confident. They're going to put a
good deal of money to help the city and help the mayor get
more kids off the street in a positive way.
We started in the network to help raise resources to do
professional development to prom Sports and then work on
policy. We we just issued a a report with the great cities
Institute University of Illinois that showed in Chicago
alone. There's 20,000 young people 16 to 21 who are out of
school and out of work. I mean that's devastating. We need
your help and we know it can be done to work with uh, CEO
Martinez to do a few things, uh in this paper. It's just
it's a little wordy but it's basically providing yccs 1 the
flexibility of a charter school because they're being
micromanaged at a very, uh small level and it really ties
their hands and makes it much more difficult. Uh, secondly,
uh, they should be out of the option schools and in The
Innovation and incubation whenever I talk about an
innovation and incubation, I think it's like a sperm donor
thing or something, you know.
Just a little weird.
Uh
but they they should be out of the options which was set up
set up by my favorite Federal felon, Barbara Byrd Bennett
option schools, and they should be in a as a charter
school. I'm serious that she set up option schools. Ycs
should not be in there and these are points. We want to
work with you to get this done. Uh third. Uh, there's a a a
rule that YC that the CPS, uh passed about 3 years ago that
public high schools anybody in a public high school should
not refer a student to any of the yccs schools. I mean,
it's crazy. I understand why they did it because they're
desperate based on a funding based on enrollment. But that
means the kids who needed it the people in the schools who
knew they had won or both feet out of the door of the high
school could benefit from yccs. And that should that should
stop and there ought to be a broader City campaign to get
more of these young people in the yccs right now. They have
4,000 openings and only 27
600 filled that's 1400 openings that are not filled that
means about 2,000 more young people each year could have
gone through ycc as they get their diploma. And as I said,
there's the latest studies and I'll send you those studies
that show tens of thousands of young people out of school
and out of work in the city in the state. It's over 160,000
kids. That would make it the third largest city in in the
state.
uh, the
Yccs is uh under some new policies that what uh CPS is
going to implement to judge them and evaluate them.
Honestly the people in in the option schools. Haven't got a
clue. They don't know about evidence-based model funding
that passed with Andy Manar representative Davis, uh in 6
2016. They have a clue about the report that we issued back
in 2008 about the best practices and research how does uh,
you know get kids who are off the street in they should be
looking at those performances, but they don't know though.
That's why they why CCS should be out of the option schools
program.
uh third lastly, uh, there should be
funding based in the mayor's taking a lead on this funding
based on need it's a critical and as I I said earlier, I
think a lot of the high schools are devastated because they
they didn't have enough kids and they're holding kids on
the roles. Uh, the the opportunity is to get a lot more
students into yccs, uh and get the, you know, even more
programs eventually served once yccs is uh units of 4,000
are filled but to get these kids off. I'll tell you a
personal story. I went to mail Friday related to this. I
went to St. George High School up in Evans. I'm a good
Catholic High School and I remember my counselor told me I
had a 93 IQ when I was a senior and I believed him.
And that was devastating. What what helped me was when I
went to Xavier University to my second year. I met a guy
who was a great English professor as you talk about
mentors. He invited me to his house for dinner. I became an
English major it it turned my life around. Uh, it was just
the same thing. We talked with students and mentors. I
really believed I went to a college uh in my freshman year
at St. Joe and Rental here. I never left the library. I
scared to death. I went to mass every day thinking I was
going to flunk out and when I went to Xavier and my
sophomore year, I I believed in myself as everybody here
has talked about their students believing in themselves
when someone works with them and helps them believe in
themselves and they cheese stuff.
Uh, the last thing is, um,
can't read my hiding.
Uh, the the the the judgment and the evaluation of wisely
CS should use the evidence-based model. Uh, and it's in
here in the back a research of most effective programming
it in other states when they worked on developing the
evidence-based model funding which meant that schools with
lower property taxes would get 350 million dollars more and
to judge that they looked at the different elements of a
budget 1 element. They looked at not in Illinois, but all
the other studies was an alternative school element and
looked at best research. It's in here. Uh, I think it's
from the uh study in Maryland. It just simply says you have
good leadership. You have people who work as a
The team you make it seem like a family you have specific
out outcomes you're working on and that's the kind of stuff
that yccs should be reviewed and judged on. Uh, and those
are the points. We need your help to get these points. So
there's the flexibility that yccs should have not the Noose
around their neck from what a CPS and if you've delved in a
bureaucracy, you understand what I mean?
We could get it you can help us get it that will help
expand the number of 2,000 kids a year and successfully
raise these kids expectations and save their lives. So I I
really am very thankful for all of you for having this
hearing, uh, especially to all the women chairwoman. Uh, uh
Taylor. I know you've had your own experience with your son
who who got off the streets and and moved forward too as a
parent. You want the best thing for your kids and our work
is to have the best things for the young people we work
with and I can't thank you enough that we'll move forward
and get CPS to be flexible and workable for yccs not having
the better, you know beat him up. Thanks very much.
So let me just uh, you can take a state your name for the
record. Oh, okay, Sheila Vincent, uh the director of yccs.
Uh for the past 27 years.
Uh, let me just follow up on Jack's Point. Uh, he he
mentioned the problems with enrollment. So let me just say
we're in danger of closing in 2 years bottom line.
Bottom line. We're in danger of closing schools in 2 years.
That is because CPS has made a
policy that prohibits high schools from referring students
to the so-called option schools
They want all the referrals to go through the district
office and then they make placements. So we've gone from
4,000 kids down to 2600 kids. Bottom line is the story.
We can't continue.
On that number me a problem with you know recruiting kids.
We do have a problem with CPS creates these obstacles to
the enrollment CPS thinks that they can bring the
programming that we do back into.
the schools
that that schools can do their own.
alternative schools
I doubt if that's true.
But by the time they figured that out, we may be gone.
So I need to say that and we have and as a community of
schools we have decided we have said that we cannot
continue under the current conditions with CPS.
So like they're wrong. It's you know, that's 1 I mean we
get paid on I mean, we're still student based budgeting
whatever they want to call it. It's still student based
budget.
So you get paid on the basis of?
The number as soon as that you have, uh, the second issue
with that Jack alluded to was this.
We've been doing this work for a very very long time.
We are the best practice.
We don't we've been on it for 50 years.
This is all we do.
And you hear from the and you heard from the kids and you
heard from the alumni and we graduated 27,000 kids. We are
the experts.
CBS is now trying to tell us what to do.
Change the programming.
They're trying to evaluate US based on.
their
practices their practices have already failed these kids.
And we've already proven.
And I don't know how much more poop we need.
I mean under the 27 years nobody thought we were going to
make it this far.
We've been a level 1 School level 1 School.
every school
is level 1
for for 15 years
since they had these since they had these uh,
these evaluations
so
I'm not sure what
We don't want to do CBS is best practices. We need to do
what we do. So we're pushing back on.
I would pushing back on that.
Uh
Now, I know that Charter is a bad word. It's a dirty word
these days.
We are not your ordinary Charter.
We were started. Ycs is just a vehicle. It's a vehicle for
these schools these now.
17 schools that's under this umbrella, right?
to have funding
and to have the services that they have.
Bottom line period we're different these schools have
worked together. Uh, this is black and Latino schools white
school have worked together.
For the past 50 years, you won't see that anywhere.
It's not just a funding arrangement. We actually
collaborate we actually work together. We actually learn we
actually teach each other. We actually improve we actually
like innovate.
We do that.
And the thing is is that we're not like the other chargers
because we're homegrown.
These schools started in 1975 by some of the people in this
room.
They started from community.
from a community need
there was no CPS funding. There was no Public Funding at
that time. These were people these were Pioneers that get
out there and did the work and made it happen.
We're a safety net in the community.
For people coming out of Corrections see as soon as coming
around the corrections for students that are uh were to the
state.
But she was at a homeless. We're a safety net.
We're just not we're just not only a school where safety
net.
in these communities
uh, so
you know with that I you know, I've been doing this now 45
years. I don't think I started thinking I was going to be
here on this time and do this work, but you know, but you
but here I am and I'm going to retire soon.
Um and
it's time for us to pass the
is to pass the on baton to younger those coming up and to
try to maintain this system, you know, but here's the
thing. We work too hard for too long.
To have CPS destroy what we've built.
over to
Um my co-workers. Um, I need to go back to the approval of
the March, uh, rule 45. If you sent you all ahead of this
meeting. Can I get a motion for approval? Do I have a
second all those in favor? Any opposed? There are none so I
will start off by saying
There are literally 5,000 young people that never returned
from the school closing in 2015. I would know because my
children is seeing what they called to welcome in school.
And so a lot of those young people never returned if we
never look for those young people, but I'll even go further
back.
My son was a dumbar vocational school, um football player.
He got hurt and he broke his arm and could no longer play
and he got depressed being in this school and he started to
get in trouble. And so I had to return to the alternative
school network. There was something that I knew nothing
about it wasn't actually something that I kind of believed
in my son today will be 34 and 2 weeks. He's married with 2
children. So I know what alternative schools do. Uh, you
ain't you didn't come here to convince me.
couple of deadlines and we got to get to a place where I
need we need to figure out if it's state law that we go
change because I don't know if this happens on the city
level when it comes to the rules because I agree if young
people wanted to go to school 5 days a week for 8 hours.
They would stay in traditional public school. And that's
what not young people are not doing right another issue
that we have in is these young people who are out
committing crimes in trouble are not in schools. Let's
let's be honest. If you go look at the Juvenile Detention
Center those students look like the majority of me and my
coworkers and they come from the south and west side that
say problem. And so this is not us. This ain't no I hate
CPS because I am the poster child me and my family. Oh what
why not to deal with Chicago Public Schools, but I get up
every day and say they have an opportunity to make a
difference. I had a child an alternative school. I had a
child in therapeutic Day School. I put a child in smile
school. So it ain't nothing. You can tell me about Chicago
Bird School. I've been there for about a bird Bennett. I've
been
there for John Clover's art. I was there for Craig Chico.
I've seen them all been there done that and what stays
consistent is these young people that we have to help and
protect and so the young people in the room, your
generation ain't lost it's been neglected. You got every
right to be mad and upset and pissed at the adults in the
wrong, but give us an opportunity to fix what we wrote.
Rodriguez she walked out Alderman Moore
Thank you so much.
Thank you chairman, and I appreciate you saying that
chairman because um
Okay before I get into that.
our
West s was the ycc S. Um
teachers unionized
so some are okay. And so I appreciate um
chairman Taylor saying that because I was starting my
statement out for anybody.
If you haven't lived this thing for real.
And I'm talking about definitely from a Chicago standpoint.
If you haven't lived this thing.
Please is is very little that you can say to me and
probably anyone else.
she gave her story I think about my sister who got pregnant
at an early age at 16 and was a student at Robinson High
School and had to deal with that and then she wasn't
comfortable about to drop out of school and I can't
remember the name of the school and everybody know what we
called it back in the day the pregnant school just yeah,
but we we know what we called it though, everybody. Nobody
called it bad name they go to the pregnant school, you know
and and but
even with that name the fact that she was around people who
were dealing with the same situation that she was dealing
with she excelled and graduated and had 3 boys that
graduated from high school if she would have dropped out.
What would have happened to the boys that was just the
first child? She would have continued to probably have more
kids do all this all that stuff or the boys would have been
getting locked up and all that, but they went on to
graduate.
from high school
That's why this is important. I'm thinking about cydi right
now Community Youth Development Institute. Not just because
it's in the 17th Ward. I'm thinking about it because how it
started it started by a gym teacher that I was at Hinton
Elementary School with in the sixth grade when he was my uh
gym teacher Mr. Um, Aaron Royster senior,
yeah, and what he did with us at Hinton was try to keep
young boys out of trouble so that when now he's gone from
Hinton and years later he's pastoring but he's still got
that passion to keep young boys out of trouble.
And so he started cydi.
That's still going on as well as what was called an
alternative school, which is now a school as an option.
Based on the type of um, um, the way that they teach it's
not regular just regular teaching. They learn English. They
learn math.
But you can go there you can learn trade. You can learn how
to do technology. You can learn radio broadcasting you got
girls in their learning sewing how to make clothes start
their own businesses. It's not an alternative school.
They're now making it a keep people want to come there by
choice.
And so and so instead of us looking for ways to end this
and trust me. I am a strong advocate of a person who are
against and let me use this word traditional charter
schools. Let me tell you why because I believe they
destroyed our communities when people who had this false
notion that you can go here and get a better education do
all of this and all of that kids from our neighborhoods
started leaving and the kids down the street 1 block from
each other don't even know each other.
And they make it easy for them to shoot each other. But that
wasn't that way at all. Um the alternative schools that
we're talking about here today. Those have been in
existence.
For years in our communities and have helped our
communities remain stable and that's why I supported and
that's why I'm going to do whatever I can do to make sure
whatever funding is necessary whatever CPS is doing and
trying to stop this because I'm telling you it's going to
mess up. Yep. It's going to it's going to mess up.
And so and so I I I support you I stand with you all and I
want to make sure that we continue this fight and whatever
we have to do including going to Springfield or anything or
anybody that we have to call. Um, you know, nobody owns
David Moore. Nobody owns a Janette Taylor. That's why I
love her so much. Um, uh, we will stand up and we will make
sure that we fight for this because going back to the
original statement that I made if you haven't lived it keep
your mouth shut.
And if you haven't lived it.
Coming out of Chicago not from the suburb not from anywhere
else. If you haven't lived it from coming out of Chicago
keep your mouth shut on this. Thank you so much. I
appreciate it.
Alderman Hall
Uh, good afternoon. Well, good afternoon now, good morning
Steve for 4 more minutes. Um, but needless to say, um,
first of all, I just want to say that um movements like
this is what makes the world better. Um, not a maybe about
6 7 months ago. I come out of church and it's this
gentleman who's about 5'9 close to 6 foot. And he says are
you William Hall? And I said, yes.
And he said to me your father taught me how to read now, my
father spent 43 years in education. And before this was a
movement of such his alternative approach to dealing with
kids with love and respect and educating them made life
better for so many people.
About a month ago another gentleman shows up in my church,
and he says to me that your father is what kept me out of
the streets.
And I was shocked but not surprised.
Because an alternative approach is what we always need
because everybody is different.
The danger is that difference is looked at as deficient in
education.
Rather than difference as a means to discover ways to serve
kids who are simply just different.
And the difference is not a deficiency oftentimes. It's
misunderstanding. And so I just want to say to every young
person that was labeled as different. You're not deficient.
You're just discovering things that other people just don't
have the courage to discover.
And so making space for your difference for you to discover
discover. What it is that your purpose is in life is the
reason why we're here and the reason why we support you is
because difference is not deficient again, and we grateful
that you're different enough so much to the point that you
so different you came down the city council.
And spoke better than some grown folks in Council. That's
just how different you are. And so I'm grateful for this
opportunity, uh, Jack you presented a case, uh, not
necessarily an illegal defense, but you presented a moral
case to make sure that every child in the city of Chicago
that's labeled as different is not treated as a deficiency,
but treated with dignity and so I'm grateful for Bishop
Banks, um being another 1 who's an advocate for making
space for children that are different John Scott the
community never sleeps.
Pastor Hunter, these are the 3 who I know personally have
fought hard alongside you to make space for children that
are labeled as deficient. And so thank you for your courage
and your differences. What's going to make the world go
around. So God bless you all.
I gotta go to another committee meeting because I bless you
Alderman Chico.
Can you hear me?
I just want to share a brief story in my life and why this
is important to me. Um upon graduating college. I worked at
a children's shelter.
and
these youth were looking for
uh placement within DCFS system and many of the children. I
dealt with at the shelter went to alternative schools.
And it got me reflecting it got me thinking about what was
going on in their life.
And how unfair their life was at that moment.
And I started looking in more to the services provided and
what was being done.
And that's where I became open-minded and that's why I saw
the work and how important it was because we never know
what a child's going through and there has to be another
route a non-traditional route. So
thank you. Thank you for coming before us and thank you for
sharing this. It's the young lady right there. I I see your
big smile. I see you on your head and and I just want to
let you know. I see it. I'm appreciative of you. So, so
thank you guys. Thank you.
Jeremy Rodriguez
Um, thank you Mr. Chair for Madam chair for allowing me to
to speak as a non-committee member. Um
You know as the uh, former board member of an alternative
school, uh here in the city of Chicago, uh, I witnessed
firsthand.
uh, the es and flows the the the mountaintops
and and The Valleys of the work that goes on in alternative
schools, um, you know councilors and teachers and
principals and security guards and Etc. Are there every day
for our students and I want to just join the chorus in
applauding the work of all our staff of these schools our
leaders, um, but then also our students who are really
achieving and uh, they're really getting things done as far
as their own education, but more importantly I have never
seen a greater group of young people more committed to
their local communities than those young people who go to
these schools. The fact is these are going to be the young
people who who are and will be our leaders of our society.
Um, nonetheless older woman of the 26th Ward, right? So
keep it up. You have good examples. I do have um, some
questions regards to the issues that are being faced. Um,
and forgive me if
from using incorrect words, but the data that you provided
in your package, uh, um on Jack around what I call
disconnected youth. Yeah, those who are um older teens
early adults out of school and out of work. We know that
these individuals who are out of school out of work tend to
be um by 3 to 5 fold more likely to be black and brown in
our city of Chicago. Um, they are more likely to be
involved with the criminal justice system a juvenile
justice system more likely for a number of uh, detrimental
factors. It really speaks to the importance of keeping
these young people in school and on a pathway, uh to
success in society, which we do know does uh include a high
school diploma which alternative schools do provide. So,
um, just a question around the per where do we sit as a big
city the city of Chicago per capita as far as out of school
youth disconnected, uh youth from um you
or not not good. Yeah, you know that there's other cities
that are better but there's major. Uh, I'm sorry, they're
not good. Our other cities that are a little bit better,
but you're talking about you know, 20, uh, you know, a few
percentages that are more working and going to school than
not working and going to school just too many young people
who are just out of school and out of work. Uh, the good
news though. Is that the
uh, when the city did a study with the University of Chicago
students who worked 7 weeks in a program, uh summer
program, uh going out they followed them for 17 months
their crime violent crime dropped nearly in half 43%
Uh, and so that's why you know, we're working at the state
level leader Sims and rep, uh Buckner and rep Slaughter and
all them to get much more money to get kids to experience
of working, uh in in a community and get some money in
their pocket and do it the next summer and it will lower
the violence in the city. It really will and I think that
perspective is extremely important particularly as we're
thinking about what's the number 1 driver of people either
just investing or leaving our city. Yeah, you know, we
could think about public housing we could think about a
number of issues but
violence, um is right up there, right and I think
the prospective of around alternative schools embracing our
young adults. Yeah, you know, we're not trying to get young
adults from being out of school out of work to being
straight A students.
What we're trying to do is make them productive members of
our society. Right? Right. Right, right. And I think that's
when you when you highlight the differences of the model
and the best practices. That's what I think of that ability
to achieve that right there. Um, I did want to get on to
the to the to the issue that you brought up around
school-based funding and the formula and the inequities of
school-based funding formula as it sits right now. Yeah.
I do think we have a board of education that uh here in the
city that's very committed to changing that formula and
going to Springfield to change that formula fact. This is
that that this Equity has largely driven so many gaps in
Chicago and our public school system and alternative school
system. What's the answer Jack? What's the answer uh to the
per pupil funding system? Well, I think having funding
based on need but also the evidence-based model funding
should be at 600 million a year for school districts that
have low property taxes and low funding. Uh, there are some
people advocating that but it's only been 350 million. I
mean that in itself legislation, but that you know, Andy
Manar and Will Davis pass was amazing school districts that
have more resources gave those up, but there has to be more
funding for and not 350 million, but about 600 million a
year and building up towards 3 and a half, uh billion over
3 or 4 years, that would make a big difference for the
schools here.
and then in terms of structuring, we hope that the school,
uh, the CEO, uh, Martinez, uh will look at helping yccs and
removing the barriers that we've outlined, uh, and then
there could potentially be more charter schools that
re-enroll dropouts. Uh, we passed legislation with Senator
lightford. It was uh supported in neutral by the unions to
have 5 more multi-site charters in the city.
that passed in 19 or 2009, uh, you know things were in
together, but in 2009 had someone else besides Barbara Byrd
Bennett been in if they had implemented those things over
12 years. We would have upwards of about 75 more small
schools in the city 75 and they would have been enrolled
enrolling up to 150160 students each year.
That would have made a huge difference. It hasn't happened.
We we were we were essentially incentivizing private school
conglomerates.
Oh, no, these were making money and who were profit motives
right versus um, the motive to educate our young people the
legislation passed would be like yccs. It'd be a charter
schools to re-enroll students not private schools. I know
the 2 Guys Joe Nathan in Minneapolis and Howard Fuller who
started charter schools and they just can't believe how bad
it is. Now. You're right. It's become an industry.
But these multi sites when yccs has its full capacity that
could be looked at to have more of these small schools out
in the neighborhoods. Again. It has to be tied to
employment there used to be a big federal employment
program that Clinton ended unbelievably it used to fund up
to 400,000 low-income kids across the country. It was a
huge deal in right after the Rodney King riots Bob Dole and
tip O'Neal passed 1.3 billion dollars in 92 and that is
gone. There's no federal commitment at all. We've got a
good core of legislators and hopefully Biden can win and
will win the House and Senate Chan chewy Danny. We want to
form a core here that will force a federal commitment to
use employment.
Of 8 or 9 billion dollars sounds like a lot of money, but
it would provide so many young people with moving forward
with employment and education. Thanks Jack. I'm sorry, um,
just a couple of things. Uh, uh,
Uh, it would be helpful with I mean you asked I'm sorry.
You asked a question about the numbers. Michelle was
speaking to Mike because the IRS thank you. Okay. You asked
a question about the number of students that's out there.
I don't think we have real good numbers because some uh, 10
years ago. She has kept stopped, uh counting dropouts.
Uh, they used to be Dropout codes used to be like, I like 8
of I think 8 of them now. There's only 2
So, I don't know. I don't think we have good numbers.
Um and uh CVS was doing some programming recently with this
Back to the Future where they were supposed to locate those
kids that didn't come back from co uh, you know, so after
co uh, and I think that's something like to look into
because I don't I haven't seen any numbers from that. I
don't think they're being successful. They're also not
referring students to us when they do recruit. I think
they're referring them back in.
uh
back into like the regular system. I also say this.
When CP when when the city started with the Chargers and we
were there in 1997 and like I said we were vehicle.
We were funding Vehicles right? I was there Jack was there
we'll see schools were there at most people in this room,
uh, you know were there at that time? Uh, but CPS capped
our numbers.
at 1000
we stayed at 1000.
until
2010
2011
while Noble and international charter school and all them
they grew they grew
15,000 6,000 you know, whatever it is. We couldn't grow
because we would capped.
They wouldn't let us enroll any more students. Now if it
hadn't been for the other funding that the schools got uh
through the alternative schools Network, which was
employment and Social Services.
Uh, there were no way that we would still be here.
So I do think that you need uh in our situation you need a
combination of funding. It just can't be uh, you know, just
education dollars. It should be a combination of funding
that is out there and it is out there because it's going to
take not just the schools. We're small schools, right? It's
not just that you have the social services you have social
services at the city is funding.
If you target those resources and you coordinate those
resources to benefit students.
so over
a period of time not just through graduation, but beyond
graduation, um, and and you combine that you know Workforce
dollars Jack and then write out there trying to get more
money around employment. But you also have like the Human
Services right that is targeted for these students. We
would I ensure that we would have better outcomes. But I
think my point here is that there has to be a will
somewhere.
where these students are
a priority
Amen. Alright, thank you. We didn't we didn't get in these
base funding we never did.
Right, we got less money than the regular, right?
And we couldn't grow we couldn't we couldn't bring in more
students for you know for a very long time.
But we survived that.
And I want to see this continue into the future. Thank you.
Thank you and what I find interesting are 2 data points and
then I have to give them uh, uh the mic back to the uh,
Mike needs to get the mic back to the chair. Um, you know,
appendix 2 figure 5 of your presentation speaks to the
increase in the number of out of school out of work 16 and
19 year olds in our city. It went from 9,429 in 2019 to in
2022 11559 speaking to the great need of your efforts and
and engagement particularly as it relates to the downfield.
build a uh issues that we face if we're not keeping young
people in school and graduating them the other the last
thing I'd stayed and it's just a it's just a a fact that I
like to bring up maybe uh, and potentially in the context
of this. This is the first year this past year that CPS has
experienced an increase in student populations in in the
last decade.
And we need to look hard about where that increase is
coming from and how we are working with that population.
You know, the fact is is I largely believe that that
increases is due to to to to the migrant influx that we've
had over the last uh 2 years. So we also need to be looking
at how um, this migrant mission that we have is also a
migrant opportunity.
And I want to make sure that our alternative schools are
also looking at this as and migrant opportunity. And to be
honest with you the 1 sector of our social network that I
know has been thinking about that has been the alternative
schools networks. I know it for a fact because I see it day
in and day out and I believe that these large societal
issues that we are experiencing if we don't have that base
of alternative schools to be able to be there to be that
uh, uh incubator of talent to be that welcoming
institution. We're really missing the boat. So thank you
all for your work and thank you all for coming today.
Let me add 1 Thing.
Up until 1983 nobody really knew except people working in
the inner city. How many kids were on the streets? And then
when Harold Washington was elected, uh designs are changed
and Fred has came out with 2 studies that showed the
Dropout rates at 50 and 60 percent. Now the Board of Ed is
sort of fudging it again, uh, and the numbers you're
looking at and I'll get you to study that we released
that's from the uh, great cities Institute study and it
shows almost 20,000, uh, 16 to 20 year olds in the city who
are jobless and out of school. Those are the real numbers
what we get from CPS. I don't believe I think there's ways
that they can fudge it like they did 383 so
so before I go to chairwoman Lee the Chicago Black Caucus
went to Springfield, um a couple of weeks ago and our ex
was a billion dollars and I know you're like, well, that's
what the the billion dollars were for half was for CPS. The
other half was for alternative schools. That was the
conversation because we definitely know in the black and
brown communities those young people our represent what
they call old block. Yeah normal people know it as Parkway
Gardens and what people don't know is that there are a lot
of homeless young people who actually live here which means
they can stay with their relatives in the evening time, but
during the day while they work these young people have
nowhere to go and so we are not what I what I want to bring
home is we going to have to take this fight to the state
because a lot of this is State legislation, and we've
actually had we're
Facilitating a conversation with Kimberly Lightfoot, um in
the state so that we could actually do some work. And so,
um the automatic Black Caucus is going back in January and
we want you all to join us. Absolutely and she's great. She
was the 1 who helped pass the legislation for the
multi-site charters in 2009.
Thank you chairwoman. Um.
Oh, I'm gonna Echo a lot of what my colleagues have already
said I want to thank all of you in this room who have made
this, um possible for for students for for as long as you
have um, and and fighting the fight with all of the odds
against you and every barrier that's been put before you I
just kept thinking, um, the the 2 words that kept ringing
in my head as all of you were talking, uh was adaptability
and resilience. Um, nothing's going to keep you down. I I
have faith in that. Um, I I had uh ycla in my ward for a
time when I was first appointed and then the remap put it
uh in the uh 25th Ward, but I did have the great Fortune of
meeting a number of students from that school. Um, and I
will I will say absolutely that um, the students were so
impressive, um, the the the students um were articulate
they asked questions, uh, you know, in terms of just being
so committed to their own educational process. Um, and you
you have my support 100% on this
Um, we we can't keep thinking that there's a 1 size fits all
for everybody. Um and as much as we talk about meeting
people where they are we need to have that borne out in our
actions and and actions means funding. Um, how many
students do you have today?
Um approximately
You just stole my thunder. I'm sorry. It's okay. Well, I'm
sorry. What was that? 2600 did you say?
And what do you have the capacity for 4,000? That's just
what you have the capacity for today. I know you were
Jackie you were talking about, you know, there's room for
another 25 small schools. Um, I I think that you know, I'd
like to join you for that, uh for that trip down state
chairwoman. Um, because I think this is this is something
that we all have an interest in. Um, I'm not a member of
the black caucus but in Black Caucus friendly, um,
You're the chair of the women's caucus. I am the chair of
the women's caucus and this is an important women's issue
too. Like I I've heard so many amazing women speak today
about the experience that they had as students and how that
changed their lives and how now they are now giving back
and working for these schools. Um, the other thing that
resonated more than anything, um than adaptability and
resiliency is the family that you've created the family
that you've offered to all of the students who may not have
had a stable family situation, you know, for whatever their
circumstances where they found a home in your school
system. Um, and and you know, I I appreciate that and I
think you know, we need to we need to go with what works.
Um, and if it's not
Broke don't fix it. Let's help build it more. Yeah, thank
you. Yeah, I I just want 1 thing. It's really you made a
great point about the resilience. Uh kids can struggle 18
19 20 if they have someone working with them for the next 3
or 4 years. It's like they come out of a tunnel if they
don't get too deep. It happens to middle class and upper
class kids and we've seen it with our kids. You can help
them get through that difficult straight.
I just make 1 more comment and that is a so I've been doing
this for a long time and I just been doing this for a long
time. Yeah has been doing this for a long time.
The thing is is that and we've seen my Generations come
through right? Uh,
from the same communities from the same the only time he
needs
Right, so we're seeing so but what it what would it happen?
If 45 50 years ago. We actually made the investment then.
Right to move those those 2 that are coming to us from how
we need to the middle class.
What would those communities be like if we actually made
that investment?
What would be having this kind of problem? We're having now
and the neighborhood absolutely not the population that
that you have to invest in.
If you want to see change in the community.
chairman talifero
You have to speak to the 1.
It's it's the mic. It's it's the mic. It's
yeah.
Yeah, I just don't understand that word. Okay, you didn't
hear me we heard I heard you. Okay. Okay Sharon talifero.
Thank you. Uh, thank you madam chair and I I'll just be
very brief because I I really, um, just want to come in all
of you for the work that you do. Uh, I I I was so proud, um
a little earlier when I was in here during public comment.
Um, and then when our our Witnesses spoke as well of the
success stories, um, and those success stories would not
have been possible Without Love.
and and I think love um serves as the foundation, um of the
reason why we've had so many, uh, young adults, um that are
are current students and those that are alum
Uh that spoke here today. And so I think you for your time
your commitment your efforts your sacrifice. I have to make
sure that young folks in this city, um have opportunities
and and have a a thriving or chance to thrive. Um, Jack so
I I really just hit 1 question because um,
most folks that know me know I'm I'm from Virginia. Um, and
so I I'm I was not familiar with um, the alternative school
networks, um for quite a while even after I moved here, um,
so if I could how long have the has the network of schools
been in existence? Um,
I always we just had our 50th Anniversary. Okay, and I
joked and I said I'm only 58 so I started when I was 8
years old, you know, we we've worked at it since 1973 and
helped get resources sharing and and partnering and
learning from each other and then working uh on policy and
legislation. So the right stuff happens and supports the
kids. And so and I I just want you to know that um, you
have an ally with me and and um anything you need. Um,
please let me know because I I think you know having a a a
strong education or education, um helps to build that
strong Foundation that you later going to have to look on
and stand on. Yeah, um in your future so um, if I could
just say 1 Thing very quickly as far as um, the alternative
school network, nothing negative because I think you guys
are doing a great job.
Um when I when I was a young and and I briefly tell the
story before I get to the point and it'll be very brief. Uh
when I was young, um, 1817. Um, I always had heard that
um
The Marines only accepted those that were being sent there
by the judge and and you had to be uneducated to join the
Marine Corps.
Um that was common in fact judges did send you to the
Marine Corps if you got in trouble.
um
But once I joined and I scored very high on ASVAB test and
and but I wanted to join the Marines. Um, but once I
joined, uh, I could tell you I'm 58 years old today and I'm
very proud to have served 10 years in the Marines. Um and
every Marine I know um, a proud of their service in the
Marine Corps, no matter what the reputation was. Um, I
often talk about Virginia and I'm just giving a couple
examples. Um, and I brag about our motto is the only model
that's cool. Virginia is for Lovers. That's our motto.
I say those couple things because when I became Alderman, I
knew the economic development had to stand at the Forefront
of a thriving community.
But would never transitioned in my mind until a little
later is that Community Development is just equally
important.
And Community Development is is essentially um a person
becoming very proud of where they live. You hear a lot of
negative things about Austin about Inglewood and some of
our communities that that that have um, um challenges at
times.
But my goal was to not only to help produce award that um
could be economically development. But where 1 could be
developed in the community as well where we change folks
mind about being proud to be in Austin tonight, uh to
change their mind about how proud they are to live and the
same thing about alternative schools. Uh, and that's why I
gave those 3 examples because when I first learned of an
auto what an alternative school was it was a negative thing
that was said about it.
Um, and and so we we're having students come into an
environment to say. Hey, what school are you from? Well,
I'm from an alternative school. You're from an alternative
school.
Um, and if there's 1 thing I could change I would love to
change.
Is to take that word away.
And let's call it something to where they could be proud of
where they go to school because they are already faced with
challenges. They're already um dealing with peer pressure
to say you go to an alternative school or you go to this
kind of school you go to that kind of school.
Let's build them up from the very beginning to help them
have the education of where they could Thrive while being
there and somewhere where they could say, you know, what
I'm proud to go to this school. I'm proud to go to that
school. So if I could change 1 thing and and it wouldn't be
the hardening of all the folks here.
It would be the let's start giving these students that are
thriving and that are doing well. I don't want to take that
away from them. But let's give them a better Foundation to
build on and say we're proud to be.
Where we are and we're going to make the best of where we
are. And I think you'll start having a lot more success
stories. Yeah. Thank you madam chair. You're welcome.
Can I ask the principal and students to stand up so that we
can acknowledge you also there are students in 3008. I want
you to kind of wave at them because they are looking at the
meeting in another room.
Thank you. Thank you all so much for coming today. Um, oh
did you I'm sorry. Oh, I'm gonna be in trouble, uh
chairwoman Coleman.
Thank you. Madam. Chairman Taylor, um to director Vincent
I've noticed um
Olive Harvey Middle College Truman Middle College. Have you
ever considered a Kennedy King Middle College? They used to
be they used to be in school in Kenya King. It was called,
uh, Benjamin, uh image only uhuh. And uh, yeah, and I they
want to uh, they close sometime in like 2000 to 2003
somewhere around there. Um, but the middle college concept
is a good concept. It's an excellent concept and I it you
know,
The thing about being around for so long is that you have
like institutional memory.
and I
do so
people City College just doesn't need don't the new.
Don't have that history, right?
I'm not even sure they understand what the middle college
is. But there was a Miller College there and it was a good
meal of college too, right? Uh,
You should push for 1 you should push for a middle college
in.
Push for it. Well, I see Jamal Chambers is back there.
Hopefully sending an email. Um, because Englewood stem is
our only neighborhood School, uh in Englewood, we have
Johnson prep.
um, what's the other 1, you know 1 of the good things about
the middle college is are is this
At Truman and Olive Harvey those kids can take uh, the
college classes and if they're doing those certification
programs, like they have like at all of Harvey a lot of
kids are enrolled in there as part of the instructional
day, so it's not after.
The instructional day it's doing instructional day. So it
you know, so it's a part of their education and we moved to
a competency based education system so that we're focused
on skills. So that makes that possible where the students
can learn skills. But at the same time they can do learn
vocational things. So career things or or other kinds of
topics, uh that they may want to do so that allows for the
uh, you know, flexibility and also that you know, we only
have kids for like 18 months so we have to do a lot
absolutely and that 18 months so we have to make that time
count and so that's 1 of our like Innovations. Um,
so
you should ask them. We would love to support that. I'm
going to publicly asked both of you and share women Taylor
if we can engage and see if we can uh have this same
opportunity for the Englewood greater Englewood Community.
I just wanted to acknowledge also, uh the principle of
progressive Leadership Academy, which is principal Dion
kirsy. He's out he's out see she's out 6, but she did send
students or the students. Yes.
and they have been so consistent and was at the last hearing
and uh, she's a member of the first finest and best
organization Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Incorporated, but
the work that she has uh done in the parkway Garden oblak
opportunity block is just remarkable. So I wanted to
publicly acknowledge her and because director, uh, Vincent
and also Dr. Samson, I know you all not only just know the
have the institutional knowledge, but you know, it takes
all of us together. So I want to take a technology Pastor
Marvin Hunter who's the only representative from the
faith-based community who's here?
from the mighty mighty west side
Uh because we understand that it takes it takes our
faith-based community. It takes our elected officials. It
takes government and it takes each and every 1 of you um
and education and also Mr. John Scott. So God bless you our
Minister Banks. Oh, I'm sorry and Minister Banks.
Is that Charlie?
I'm not at midnight Johnny Banks. Oh my goodness. I my
first internship was at a knock at midnight on 69th street,
so I did not recognize you Pastor Bates. Good to see you.
Thank you. Thank you madam. Chair see this while she go last
last. So our first and foremost want to thank everybody in
the room for coming to have this conversation. It's long
overdue and we don't change our circumstances for our young
people. We as adults don't work together. So I want to
thank every last 1 of you I will say I was the person who
used to cut CPS out on a consistent basis, even when it
came to city council before I got here, um, vice mayor
Bernett. Um, I told her I was gonna put him in the trunk of
the car.
Because he would help out on some stuff we doing I said it I
I don't back down from it. But young people I had my first
baby when I was 14 and I was counted out. I'm all the woman
tailor and you couldn't have told me back then that that's
what I was going to be and so
Don't let this system ever count you out. I Got 5 kids. My
oldest is 33. My baby is 19 everybody then graduated out of
high school. I did everything that they said I was going to
do but you know what I did, I utilized the people that I
have in my space so all of these doctors and principles and
mentors that you have utilized them. You cannot make it in
this world by yourself.
My chief of staff is 23 years old. She's the youngest Chief
of Staff in the city of Chicago History.
And she got there because she listened and she utilized the
people now when I first met her I was like Lord have mercy
this child is something else but I didn't give up on her
she kept in my ear and young people hold us accountable.
Y'all got to talk to us y'all got to tell us I don't got
Snapchat because I don't know how to use it. And I'm on Tik
Tok only for Laughs you all have to teach us what you need
and how we support you and what you're doing. You got
somebody from Chicago public schools in office. You got
somebody from the mayor's office. The mayor's office has
been going around to high schools to ask the question about
what type of support to do you need. How do we support you
and what are your goals? He'll be to the alternative school
network.
And make sure you tell them do not miss the opportunity when
when you are in the room with folks who got money and who
got power to make sure that they uplift you and help you
get where you need.
With no further business upon the committee. Um, can I get
a motion to adjourn?
I did the order for rule 45 already this this Miss 23 years
old who always telling me what to do.
Okay, um, I get a motion so move. Can I get a second?
No objections the meeting for the committee on education
and development is now adjourned you all. Have a good day.
Thank you.