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Tag: chicago public schools

  • As girls flag football continues to grow, Chicago Bears look to middle schoolers

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    Grand Crossing resident Fallan White, 15, is doing what she can now to make a name for herself.

    Not even old enough to drive, the wide receiver for Butler College Prep’s flag football team will graduate in 2028 — the same year flag football will make its Olympic debut at the Summer Games in Los Angeles — and she’s making sure she’s ready.

    “It’s better to start off early than wait,” she said.

    White was one of more than a dozen players from Butler in Lake Forest on Aug. 14 to partake in the festivities that surround Chicago Bears training camp. The event was among a handful this summer that brought five high schools with girls flag football teams to camp, including Simeon, Harvard, Homewood-Flossmoor and Carver Military Academy. The athletes met players, coaches and Bears President/CEO Kevin Warren, who donated cleats to each team.

    The visits occurred right before the flag football season started, reflecting the Bears’ continued commitment to creating pathways for girls in football. Gustavo Silva, Bears manager of youth football and community programs, said roughly 200 schools will have girls flag football this year.He said Illinois is in the top five or six states for girls flag football participation. And to think the sport started with just 22 teams in Chicago Public Schools in 2021.

    “Whether it’s playing for their rec league, park district, a Boys and Girls Club, a youth organization, for them to have a pathway … the goal is to make the game as inclusive and accessible as possible, to create different entry points so that anyone interested in playing the game, boy, girl, different abilities, can all have access to the game,” Silva said.

    Angel Brooks, head coach of Butler’s flag team, has been involved with the sport for years, playing on Sundays for the Absolute Athletics league. Now the physical education teacher at Catherine Cook School is building out the high school team, many of whom are underclassmen playing varsity. In their second season, Brooks hopes to get enough athletes on the Lynx team to generate a JV team. She said the team’s 2024 win in one of the CPS Bowl championship games (the CPS Hardwork Bowl) is helping with recruitment.

    “It’s (flag football) always been intriguing to me,” she said. “Being able to coach, it’s even more fun because it’s pleasing to see when the girls learn and start to understand the sport. It’s a sport that gives them their own lane and their own opportunities, and they enjoy it.”

    Chicago Bears host Butler College Prep’s girls flag football team at Halas Hall on Aug. 14, 2025. (Chicago Bears)

    The Lynx’s season starts Tuesday, and quarterback Nevaeh Beasley, 17, a senior, already has her sights on garnering flag football scholarships to pursue a degree in sports medicine.

    “I’ve loved sports ever since I was little, so it has to be something with sports,” she said. Her advice for those curious about flag football: “Work hard and be dedicated, because this game could take you a long way, since it’s just starting out.”

    Silva said Illinois was the ninth state in the nation to sanction flag football for girls in 2024; Ohio just got sanctioned, making the total 17. Now that Illinois colleges are building programs for girls flag (the Bears will host a college tournament for Illinois schools in March), Silva is looking forward to making more milestones in the field — from growing girls flag football to 300 high schools to strengthening the flag football pipeline, and getting girls flag sanctioned for the middle school population.

    “With the Olympics in 2028, we’d love to see girls from Illinois and Chicago participate,” Silva said. “We have international leagues that we started — three in the UK and two in Spain that are going to start this fall. We want to see representation from our Chicago market.”

    “We are working with middle schools starting a pilot league in Rockford this fall. … We want to use the same model that we did with the high school programs. The middle school level will feed the high school programs, which will feed the collegiate programs, and those collegiate and high school programs will feed the international programming. We’re trying to create a pathway from youth all the way through adulthood.”

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    Darcel Rockett

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  • Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez speaks out after school board shakeup

    Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez speaks out after school board shakeup

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez spoke out for the first time Wednesday after all members of the Chicago Board of Education resigned and Mayor Brandon Johnson made his new appointments.

    Meanwhile, the Chicago City Council met Wednesday ahead of a now-canceled special meeting in the afternoon, where city leaders had planned to address the recent Board of Education shake up.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    Martinez spoke to ABC7 Wednesday, responding to criticism that he has no CPS funding plan and is relying on proposed cuts. He was also asked if he thought the mayor’s picks for a new school board could end up firing him.

    “I don’t know. I really don’t. I’m being sincere,” Martinez said. “I will say what’s great right now is that, you know, it’s very transparent what my contract says.”

    Martinez told ABC7 there has been a plan in place for months that Mayor Johnson was well aware of. The plan included using the city’s TIF surplus dollars to help fund CPS. Martinez said there a formal ask on April 30 for $462 million dollars in TIF funding to pay for pensions and union contracts, including one for the teachers union that included 4% raises.

    “At that time, we didn’t get an answer. We continued to ask. Eventually what we were told over the summer was that instead they wanted us to take out a loan,” Martinez said. “I was making a case to really solidify more TIF funding. I was surprised. So was our board. The response was instead borrow, and of course everything since then.”

    The previous school board was not willing to fire CPS CEO Pedro Martinez or secure a short term, high interest loan to help pay for a new teachers’ contract, which led to their mass resignation last week.

    “I did not expect for this to escalate to the way it did,” Martinez said.

    Using TIF funds is the same idea the Chicago Teachers Union presented in plan Wednesday.

    The Chicago Teachers Union, community leaders and CPS parents gathered near City Hall earlier Wednesday to propose what they are calling the “Revenue Recovery Package.”

    CTU leaders said the plan provides more than $1 billion in immediate revenue for city schools by redirecting TIF funds from developers to CPS.

    First District Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps said it’s the city’s collective responsibility to care for children across Chicago.

    “What’s happening within Chicago Public Schools isn’t the responsibility of the Chicago Teachers Union, or CPS or parents. It’s all of our responsibility,” Stamps said. “How our children get educated in this city because whether you want to believe it or not, they are all our children.”

    The mayor now says Martinez is taking a page from their playbook.

    “Whatever is there that we can surplus, I’ve made a commitment. Those are my values. That’s not something that anybody had to call for me to do,” Johnson said.

    SEE ALSO | Future of ShotSpotter unclear after Mayor Brandon Johnson refuses to veto ordinance to revive system

    Meanwhile, multiple City Council members said Wednesday they have been working with the mayor’s office to have the outgoing and incoming board members appear at a hearing before the education committee to answer questions.

    City Council was supposed to hold special committee hearing Wednesday to hear from the mayor’s six new board picks.

    “We still have questions, process matter, how you do things matter and we need to make sure there is stability,” Ald. Maria Hadden said.

    The special meeting was canceled. It will be held later in the month as an Education Committee Hearing.

    At a future education meeting, City Council members want to question the mayor’s nominees appointed to be on the CPS board.

    “Right now we want to know about their biographies, we want to know about their mindsets, we want to know what they are bringing to the board as individuals and as a collective,” 15th Ward Alderman Ray Lopez said. “We know very little about these individuals and as a collective.”

    So, the agreement was to have the new appointed board members to come to a meeting and also we talk about the budget,” said 15th Ward Ald. Jeanette Taylor, Education Committee Chairman.

    The agreement was made with the mayor’s office, but before adjourning the regular City Council meeting Wednesday, Johnson made no guarantee the new school board members will show up.

    The mayor said the new school members are invited. He has no plans use his executive authority to make sure they attend. Alderpersons say they may subpoena the members, but the city’s law department insists the Education Committee has no subpoena power.

    Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    Christian Piekos

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  • Mayor Johnson announces new interim Chicago Board of Education nominees

    Mayor Johnson announces new interim Chicago Board of Education nominees

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson announced six nominees to serve on the Chicago Board of Education Monday.

    All members of his previous hand-picked board resigned on Friday.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    “My vision is about building a system that works for everyone,” Johnson said. “Imagine our schools down a pathway of new discovery, where you don’t have to senseless cuts and real disruption and chaos. You can actually have a school district that doesn’t embrace mass layoffs, massive school closings, austerity.”

    The announcement was briefly interrupted by a small group of protesters for school choice.

    Protesters interrupt Mayor Brandon Johnson as he announces appointments tot he Chicago Board of Education.

    “I am confident that these individuals and their experience in education, community, faith, business and elsewhere will continue our work to transform Chicago Public Schools into a world class school district for students and families,” Johnson said. “As a CPS parent, I want the same thing for other CPS parents that I want for my own children, which is every class, every activity and every resource that will help build bright futures and bold leaders. I know these individuals will fight for our children to receive the investments they deserve, and will work with my administration and the district to put the needs of our students and families first.”

    The candidates are Olga Bautista, Michilla Blaise, Mary Gardner, Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson, Deborah Pope and Frank Niles Thomas. Pope recently worked for the Chicago Teachers Union and served on the CTU contract negotiating team.

    “I, like my fellow board nominees have a record of community change and sat and steadfast in our commitment to Mayor’s Johnson’s vision to fully fund neighborhood schools,” said nominee Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson.

    “You know, there is a lot of attention on this transition of this board right now, but I have to ask, where is the outrage about what is at stake if we don’t fully fund our schools?” said nominee Olga Bautista.

    Johnson described this as “a transition period to transform the school district.”

    Johnson wants Martinez out partly because he refused to take out a short-term, high interest loan to help pay for a new contract for the CTU.

    The mayor is appointing interim board members before a new board, partly-elected in November, takes office in January.

    Mayor Johnson announced his CPS Board appointments during a heating news conference Monday.

    The mayor over the weekend reiterated he was voted into office because he has a plan to build a better school district. Johnson said he’s honoring that campaign promise.

    “I’m leading; I’m in charge,” Johnson said. “They elected a parent…. We have schools on the West and South sides that don’t have librarians. That’s unconscionable.”

    The mayor would not allow the new nominees to answer any questions about on the loan, Martinez or their connections to the CTU.

    Mayor Brandon Johnson brushed aside concerns that this appeared to be a coup done in consorts with his allies at the Chicago Teachers Union.

    “No, you are not doing that. If you have a question for the mayor of Chicago, then ask me a question,” Johnson said.

    One City Hall ally addressed the Martinez issue.

    “And so I think that Pedro had long enough to fix this. What’s the Pedro plan? That’s all I’m asking. What is Plan B? Pedro doesn’t have that,” said 6th Ward Ald. William Hall.

    In a lengthy and combative press conference, the mayor berated reporters and attacked those who have been critical of allowing the previous board to resign so close to an elected school board election.

    “So you have a Black man who’s a parent, a teacher, and the mayor of Chicago with the authority that the state gave me, and now they have concerns of expressing those authority,” Johnson said. “The moment people begin to take those unnecessary for political shots at my administration, you have to questions the motives.”

    Forty-one members of the Chicago City Council, including many of Johnson’s allies, signed a letter denouncing the board resignations and calling a short-term high-interest pay-say loan not a smart decision.

    Johnson compared the argument to slavery and emancipation.

    “They said it would be fiscally irresponsible for this country to liberate Black people. Now, you have detractors making the argument of the confederacy when it comes to public education in this system,” Johnson said.

    Among the letter signees is Alderwoman Nicole Lee, who spoke outside City Hall on Monday afternoon.

    “We deserve more responsible leadership. I want to say also that I’m absolutely opposed to the $300 million payday loan scheme that’s been suggested. I think it’s irresponsible on the part of CPS to take on that type of that type of loan in,” Lee said.

    Other alderpersons also weighed in.

    “When we have an election in less than 30 days to decide who’s going to be the new participants of this board just reeks of this banana republic mentality that you know you can manipulate the Democratic process however you wish, so long as you get the desired result,” said 15th Ward Ald. Ray Lopez.

    “I think the bottom line for taxpayers, too, is they want to see the leadership, but they also want to see somebody be fiscally responsible ethically responsible and morally responsible, and we’re not saying that with Mayor Johnson,” said 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack.

    One of the legislative champions of the elected school board law expressing concerns about everything that’s played out since Friday.

    “What decisions were being made that led us to the place that we’re in now where we’re scrambling to put together a whole new board just two months before the first elected school board, that’s concerning,” said Illinois State Rep. Ann Williams.

    Parents, flanked by multiple members of City Council, also denounced the way all of this has come about.

    “The fact that all this politicking is happening and it’s effect on our kids, ultimately, and we are not having a seat at the table, or being a part of any discussion. It kind of makes me angry,” said Tierra Pearson, a single mother of three.

    Johnson brushed aside concerns that this appeared to be a coup done in consorts with his allies at CTU.

    “So every single mayor in the history of Chicago has had the authority to appoint board members to multiple boards. Guess who still has that authority? This mayor does,” Johnson said.

    The mayor also repeated demands that state lawmakers come up with more money for CPS, something seen as unlikely given previous statements from the governor and others.

    Some City Council members have called for a special meeting on Wednesday, right after the regular meeting to address the turmoil at CPS.

    The CTU released a statement Monday, saying:

    “In response to Mayor Brandon Johnson exercising his authority to appoint six new members of the Chicago Board of Education, President Stacy Davis Gates, issued the following statement:

    “‘Chicago elected a mayor who promised to transform our school district, to break with the failed cuts, closings and furloughs of the past. The Chicago Teachers Union looks forward to collaborating with the new board members to enact the transformation of our public schools that our students and educators need and deserve.’

    “Additionally, the CTU urges the public and our elected officials to ask and investigate these questions of the CPS CEO:

    “1. What is Pedro Martinez’s solution for overcrowded classrooms with 37 or more students?
    “2. What is his plan to provide libraries and librarians to the 80 % of CPS schools that don’t have them?
    “3. How will he get CPS into compliance with federal law and address the critical shortages of special education teachers, clinicians, social workers and nurses in school buildings?
    “4. What is his revenue plan to complete the CPS budget for this school year and next?

    “Mayor Johnson’s first school board accomplished important firsts and centered equity throughout its tenure, beginning the transformation the mayor envisioned. The task of the new CPS Board members is to collaborate with Chicago’s educators, parents and students to make that vision a reality.”

    Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    Stephanie Wade

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  • Entire Chicago Board of Education to resign, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office says

    Entire Chicago Board of Education to resign, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office says

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — The entire Chicago Board of Education will resign, the office of Mayor Brandon Johnson said Friday.

    The Chicago Public Schools shakeup with the mass resignation of all seven members of Johnson’s hand-picked board paves the way for the mayor the reappoint a board who will be willing to act on Johnson’s wish to oust CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    Messages left by ABC7 for the school board president and multiple board members have not been returned, so ABC7 hasn’t heard directly whether the board members resigned in protest or were forced out.

    The mayor is moving quickly to name new board members. That will happen Monday morning. However, the action is still unsettling to many in the district.

    “It’s shocking,” CPS parent Sarah Strasser said. “We’re all, I guess, going to have to find out what comes out in the wash. I would love to know what was said behind closed doors.”

    Ald. Brian Hopkins of the 2nd Ward said school board members owe CPS families an explanation of why they are resigning, as there was no mention of it in a joint statement with the mayor. At the last monthly meeting, the board refused to act on Martinez’s contract after the Mayor asked the CEO to resign.

    “For years, we’ve heard the far left of Chicago scream about elected school board, elected school board now they’re getting an elected school board, and yet they want to take it over in a last minute coup and appoint people,” Ald. Hopkins said. “That’s wrong.”

    If it potentially has ramifications down all the way down to the student level, it would be great to know exactly what happened behind the scenes.

    Scott Benken, parent of CPS student

    Johnson’s office released a statement, saying: “Mayor Brandon Johnson and members of the Chicago Board of Education are enacting a transition plan which includes all current members transitioning from service on the Board later this month. With the shift to a hybrid elected and appointed Board forthcoming, current Board members and Mayor Johnson understand that laying a strong foundation for the shift is necessary to serve the best interests of students and families in Chicago Public Schools.

    Together, Mayor Johnson and the Board fulfilled many objectives of the Johnson Administration’s vision for Chicago’s public schools, including shifting away from inequitable student-based budgeting, completing the change to a school safety model that does not rely on school resource officers and focusing on Black Student Success. Their partnership also improved special education services, increased charter school accountability in the renewal process and embarked on a new five-year strategic plan that emphasizes continued progress, investing in neighborhood schools and expanding the Sustainable Community School model in lieu of school closures.

    None of the members leaving the current Board planned to continue onto the hybrid Board, and none are running for election. With the unprecedented increase in Board membership, transitioning new members now will allow them time to orient and gain critical experience prior to welcoming additional elected and appointed members in 2025.”

    The mayor turned on Martinez in part because he and the school board refused to take out a short-term high-interest loan to pay for a new teachers contract and pension payments that CPS shifted to the city.

    “Right now we have an administration that is hell bent on making sure that they’re satisfying their number one campaign contributor,” 36th Ward Ald. Gilbert Villegas said.

    ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington explained how the impending Chicago Board of Education mass resignation could impact Chicago Public Schools.

    “If the board was forced out because they were unwilling to fire a CEO who was being fiscally responsible, that is extremely troubling,” 34th Ward Ald. Bill Conway said. “That’s really sad for our city.”

    City Council Budget Committee Chairman Ald. Jason Ervin does not believe the board resigning will throw the district into chaos.

    “CPS has to make choices regarding its finances, and if that means they have to borrow resources to make that happen, or make adjustments and expenses to make that happen, that’s their decision,” Ervin said. “But not paying their pension bill is not an option… They are the board, those people still have to function and operate. I think it won’t have any impact on what’s going on in the classroom, and that’s where we are most concerned about.”

    “If it potentially has ramifications down all the way down to the student level, it would be great to know exactly what happened behind the scenes,” CPS parent Scott Benken said.

    On the Near West Side, CPS families reacted to the news Friday with surprise and confusion.

    “They’re resigning, maybe that’s a message they’re sending to say, ‘hey look, we’re not going to come under the thumb of whosoever. If we can’t do the job right, then we might as well resign,’” CPS grandparent Glendale James said.

    In the meantime, Martinez, who is under contract, has no plans to step down. He said a new board must find “cause” to fire him.

    A CPS spokesperson issued a statement, saying, “CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, on behalf of his leadership team, staff and students, extends his sincere gratitude to the members of the Chicago Board of Education for their service. School Board members are dedicated, civic-minded public servants who are not paid for their work. They each have spent countless hours volunteering their time, lending their considerable expertise and experience to support our system and our more than 325,000 students. School Board members review thousands of documents each year and spend additional time researching, asking questions, and offering input before voting on major decisions, including the District’s annual budget, and just last month, the District’s five-year strategic plan, ‘Success 2029: Together We Rise.’ These Board members in particular advocated for equity, emphasizing our collective responsibility to better serve all students but especially students with disabilities and those in neighborhoods that have been historically under-resourced and who remain furthest from opportunity. We extend special thanks to Board President Jianan Shi and Vice President Elizabeth Todd-Breland for their leadership. Vice President Todd-Breland is the only remaining Board member who has served through the COVID-19 pandemic and in the aftermath as the District worked to restore services and successfully lead academic recovery efforts. We understand news that the seven-member Chicago Board of Education plans to resign later this month may concern our families and staff. CEO Martinez and his leadership team, principals and staff, remain focused on teaching and learning, continuing the great momentum we’ve seen in students’ academic gains and performance over the past two years.”

    The mass resignation of the school board comes as, for the first time, people can vote for members of Chicago’s first-elected school board.

    Earlier this week, Johnson said he did not ask anyone to do anything, but when asked to clarify that statement Wednesday, the mayor was tight-lipped.

    “I don’t ever discuss personnel issues,” he said. “I find it to be highly offensive, irresponsible and raggedy, and I don’t do raggedy.”

    However, Johnson made it clear that all of his leaders must share his progressive agenda to transform public education.

    “I was elected to fight for the people of the city and whoever is in the way, get out of it,” he said.

    Martinez issued the following statement Friday to CPS staff, families and supporters:

    “Earlier today, all seven members of the Chicago Board of Education announced that they plan to resign their positions in the very near future. I want to take this opportunity to thank all seven of these individuals for their vision and their leadership – Board President Jianan Shi, Vice President Elizabeth Todd-Breland, Mariela Estrada, Mary Fahey Hughes, Rudy Lozano, Jr., Michelle Morales, and Tanya D. Woods. I am sincerely grateful to each one of these dedicated, civic-minded public servants who have volunteered their time, their expertise, their experience, and their energy to supporting our system and serving more than 324,000 students. School board members – who are not paid for their work – review thousands of policies and proposals each year and spend additional time researching, asking questions, and offering input before voting on major decisions, including the District’s annual budget, and more recently, the District’s five-year strategic plan, ‘Success 2029: Together We Rise,’ which this board approved just 19 days ago. I want to salute these Board members in particular for their steadfast dedication to ensuring greater equity in our system, emphasizing our collective responsibility to improve the quality of education for those who are furthest from opportunity. I want to extend my special thanks to Board Vice President Todd-Breland, who has been a board member since 2019, for her leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic and in the aftermath. She worked to restore services and lead academic recovery efforts that have yielded some of the biggest gains among large urban districts. I know that families and staff may have concerns about what this means for the future of our District. Please know that regardless of the makeup of the Board of Education, my team and I remain focused on the work: robust teaching and learning, building on the great momentum we’ve seen in students’ academic gains, and continuing to realize our vision of a District where every student has a rigorous, high-quality, and joyful learning experience.

    Late Friday, some community leaders and elected officials called on Governor JB Pritzker to intervene in what they call a CPS crisis. The governor’s office said he does not have the legal authority to do so.

    Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    Sarah Schulte

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  • ABC7’s Samantha Chatman returns to Kenwood Academy for Chicago Public Schools’ 1st day

    ABC7’s Samantha Chatman returns to Kenwood Academy for Chicago Public Schools’ 1st day

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — As thousands of Chicago Public Schools students head back to school, ABC7 Chicago is celebrating our own CPS alum.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    Samantha Chatman attended CPS schools from kindergarten to high school.

    “Kenwood academy has a special place in my heart. I’m a proud Bronco,” Samantha said. “I was a part of Kenwood’s Academic Center, where 7th and 8th grade students attend the high school and take advanced classes.

    Nestled in Chicago’s Historic Hyde Park neighborhood, Kenwood is one of the most renowned high schools on the city’s South Side.

    Principal Karen Calloway worked at Kenwood when Chatman attended the school. She’s is proud of how far they’ve come and the incredible heights they’ve reached under her administration.

    “The majority of my professional career has been at Kenwood,” Calloway said. “It definitely has a special place in my heart.”

    The school has seen exponential growth in enrollment. It is now the 5th largest high school in the city.

    One of the big changes since Chatman attended Kenwood Academy is the Academic Center. It is now housed in a completely separate building next door.

    READ ALSO | Chicago Public Schools students heading back to class amid heat wave

    “We’re probably twice the size than when you were a student,” Principal Calloway said. “Our current Academic Center has 300 students. Our 7th and 8th grade programs are busting at the seams.”

    Calloway said Kenwood’s secret sauce is all about excelling in what she calls the “Four A’s.”

    Activities, academics, athletics and the arts: we do equally well in all of them.

    Kenwood Academic Center Principal Karen Calloway

    There was one place in the school that Chatman just had to revisit: the choir room.

    One of her fondest memories was being a part of the award-winning Kenwood Academy Concert Choir.

    Believe it or not, there are still quite a few teachers from when Chatman was a student who are still there.

    That includes former social studies teacher, Mr. Ivan Sarudi, who now teaches English.

    “I remember you Samantha,” Mr. Sarudi said. “You were such a great kid. You were into music. Very vocal and you had your opinions. Great debates.”

    One thing that was always consistent on Chatman’s report card: “talks too much.”

    With a vast course load and emphasis on higher education, Principal Calloway believes in her heart that Kenwood Academy is one of the best high schools in the city.

    “If you want your student to go to college for free, this is where you should send them,” Calloway said. “Last year’s graduating class had $97 million in college scholarships.”

    Students consider Kenwood a mini HBCU. While the population is about 86% Black, Calloway said the students are all so different, with their own interests and passions.

    Principal Calloway shared her excitement about Kenwood’s thriving boys’ and girls’ sports teams.

    Caloway said they work hard and play hard. She believes that’s why they’re seeing record enrollment. Students all over the city are vying to become Broncos.

    Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    Samantha Chatman

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  • Nonprofit suggests TIF funds, raising property taxes to cover deficit as CPS budget talks continue

    Nonprofit suggests TIF funds, raising property taxes to cover deficit as CPS budget talks continue

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — As Chicago Public Schools faces a huge financial cliff, more suggestions are being offered to help the fourth-largest public school district in the country survive.

    Tuesday’s CPS back-to-school bash on the Southwest Side included popcorn, popsicles and backpacks. Students return to classes in less than a month.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    “We’ve made significant investments, especially in staffing for teachers, and even when our enrollment has declined. I want to protect that,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said.

    But, protecting that will come with a huge cost, especially since COVID funds will no longer be available. Federal funds paid more than 9,000 new positions since 2019, even as enrollment dropped by nearly 40,000 students.

    “About 70% of the deficit is going to be carried over to next fiscal year; that does not even include the CTU contract or the principals’ contract,” said Hal Woods, with Kids First Chicago.

    The nonprofit Kids First Chicago released a report Tuesday, offering different long-term solutions, including using expired Tax Increment Financing funds, having the state pick teacher pension costs and raising property taxes to the legal limit.

    SEE ALSO: Chicago Public Schools reveals plan for hub bus stop system amid driver shortage

    “There is a mechanism through a public referendum where you can actually lift that limit, and CPS could raise property taxes to address its entire deficit,” Woods said.

    In the short term, CPS must figure out a way to pay for a new teachers contract, as negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and CPS continue.

    “I think that what we could see in the short term, unfortunately, is probably more school-based cuts or other spending cuts, potentially at the central office level,” Woods said.

    COVID money helped pay a 60% increase of central office staff. Martinez said he has already cut enough to balance this year’s budget

    “In order for me to cut further, I got to cut out actual services. Because, whether it’s our networks or central office, the services we provide, so that it saves money at the school level. Because otherwise, they have to buy it themselves,” Martinez said.

    Mayor Brandon Johnson said Tuesday he would not support any budget or teachers contract that includes cuts in the classroom.

    Tuesday evening, another open negotiating session between CPS and CTU is scheduled.

    Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    Sarah Schulte

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  • Impact of CPS bus shortage felt citywide

    Impact of CPS bus shortage felt citywide

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    CHICAGO — More than halfway through the school year, many Chicago Public Schools students still face daily transportation challenges.

    It’s a sticky issue for thousands of families who attend magnet or selective enrollment schools.

    Last August, CPS cut bus service for 30% of its students, leaving many to rely on a hodgepodge of public transportation, to get to and from their schools.

    WGN Investigates spoke with families who said their children’s daily commute takes hours, and often begins before dawn.

    And the district appears to have no solution to the challenge.  

    “CPS is saying that they’ve left no stone unturned – that it’s a national bus shortage,” said Erin Schubert, of Parents for Buses. “But there are a lot of things that they can be doing.”

    CPS no longer offers families stipends, something the district did back in 2021, due to an impending budget deficit.

    Parents have proposed solutions, including having children ride on buses that transport students with disabilities. That service has not been cut.

    WGN Investigates recently witnessed one of those buses, dropping off children at a North Side School. It was practically empty.

    But CPS shot down that proposal.

    “All we are saying is let our students get on at hubs before those students,” Schubert said. “You don’t increase their travel time.”

    Meanwhile, bus vendors contacted by WGN Investigates said they have available drivers but were turned down by CPS because of the cost.

    “I would say that this [issue] is going to continue …and it’s going to continue through next year,” said Molly McGee, of the National Association for Pupil Transportation.

    The association is monitoring the issue in Chicago and nationwide, in hopes of finding an affordable and comprehensive solution.

    “We are thinking that if we can create a license that is for school bus drivers only, that it might be a way to help people to embrace the profession and make sure the training is there and be ready for it,” McGee said. 

    CPS is legally mandated to provide transportation for special education students, but not for anyone attending magnet or selective enrollment programs. 

    However, many of those students receive free VENTRA cards to cover their public transportation costs.

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    Lourdes Duarte

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  • Vigil held for CPS students shot near Senn High School in Edgewater

    Vigil held for CPS students shot near Senn High School in Edgewater

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    A quiet crowd held a vigil Thursday evening along the narrow street at the spot where Senn High School student Daveon Gibson was shot and killed the day before. Gibson, 16, was walking with two other Senn students, who were shot and wounded.

    Bouquets of white, pink and yellow flowers lay on a pink heart drawn on the sidewalk with chalk. “You Matter to Us” was chalked next to the heart.

    More than 50 people gathered to remember Gibson of Humboldt Park, starting the night with a prayer. Edgewater neighbors and friends joined to tell stories and advocate for safer streets for students walking to and from the high school in the Edgewater neighborhood on the North Side.

    Peg Dublin did not witness the shooting Wednesday, but she told the crowd how her daughter-in-law, who lives nearby, held Daveon in her arms after he was shot, as he was dying. Her daughter-in-law was “not doing well” and was still shaken by the tragedy, Dublin said.

    “She held him in her arms until he died, and she will never be the same again, as will the family never be the same again,” Dublin said.

    The three victims were walking in the 1200 block of West Thorndale Avenue, just east of Senn High School, when gunmen inside a vehicle got out and opened fire on the teens around 4 p.m. Wednesday. The shooting has been ruled a homicide, according to the Chicago Police Department. But by Thursday evening, there were no suspects in custody as detectives were still investigating.

    During the vigil, Dublin called on the community to help protect students walking in the neighborhood, particularly the stretch of Thorndale Avenue between Senn High School and the Thorndale CTA “L” stop, which many students take after school.

    “I feel like if we can create a safe passage, we can show these kids that we care,” Dublin said.

    In the hours leading up to the 30-minute vigil, there was a strong police presence along that stretch of Thorndale Avenue, with several Chicago police cars and uniformed officers standing on the sidewalk.

    Matt Sweetman, pastor of Trinity Church and a father of two boys,14 and 16, called on fathers to step up to protect young boys from gun violence on the streets of the city.

    “Men need to take a strong interest in the lives of young boys and young boys that come from broken situations,” he said. “That is one thing that maybe some of us can do.”

    The shooting occurred in front of the doorsteps of Trinity Church, and Sweetman’s two sons were five minutes down the block when they heard shots. His 16-year-old son played basketball with Daveon but did not know the student closely, he said.

    Sweetman encouraged the crowd of Edgewater residents to come forward with details to the police.

    He then led them in singing “Amazing Grace” as they held candles.

    Several participants said they went to Senn High School and described a school community filled with good kids.

    “The light will never go out in this community,” said Andrea Raila, who lives in the area and attended summer school at Senn.

    After the service wrapped up, people milled around, hugging each other and stopping to sign a cardboard stand with “Daveon” before walking home.

    The shooting came nearly a week after two teens were fatally shot after leaving high school in the Loop. There was no evidence the shootings were related, according to CPD

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    Alysa Guffey

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  • CPS suggests starting school after Democratic National Convention for city’s ‘logistical needs’

    CPS suggests starting school after Democratic National Convention for city’s ‘logistical needs’

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    Chicago Public Schools is proposing changes to its 2024-25 academic year calendar to accommodate the city’s logistical and public safety needs during the Democratic National Convention in August, the district said Thursday.

    CPS suggested starting classes on Monday, Aug. 26 – one week later than usual – after the Aug. 19-22 convention wraps up.

    Chicago will host the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on the West Side, with more than 75,000 visitors expected to descend upon Chicago during the week.

    Police and public safety officials expect to be busy as the convention brings the national spotlight to the city as it continues grappling with gun violence, protests over the Israel-Hamas war and the ongoing migrant crisis.

    In the past week, Chicago schools have faced three students shot and killed by gunfire after leaving school for the day.

    On Friday, two teens were fatally shot in an “ambush” attack after leaving their high school in the Loop. Less than a week later, three Senn High School students between 15 and 16 were walking just east of the school when gunmen inside a vehicle got out and opened fire toward the teens, killing one of them. Police do not believe the two incidents to be related.

    The change would extend the fall semester one week after winter break into January and extend spring classes one week into June 2025.

    The proposal will only affect the 2024-25 academic year, with the 2025-26 year to return to a similar calendar format as the 2023-24 year, according to an emailed statement from the school district.

    Parents are encouraged to submit feedback to CPS on the proposed changes before Feb. 7.

    Activists call on Chicago to reverse permit denial for march before Democratic National Convention

     

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    Alysa Guffey

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  • Instituto del Progreso Latino Charter Teachers Announce February Strike Date

    Instituto del Progreso Latino Charter Teachers Announce February Strike Date

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    (WTTW News)

    Chicago Teachers Union-backed educators at a pair of Instituto del Progreso Latino charter schools could go on strike early next month after more than two years of bargaining.

    Teachers at the two schools announced a Feb. 6 walkout date over issues including what they say is a “mismanagement” of school funds and a lack of bilingual and special education supports for students.

    Instituto runs a pair of Little Village-area high schools: the Justice and Leadership Academy and the Health Sciences Career Academy.

    According to the CTU, voting members unanimously authorized a strike in December after school leaders refused to meet minimum special education staffing levels, increase pay or add sanctuary protections for immigrant students and employees.

    “We have been in negotiations for two years trying to improve our schools and get a fair contract,” Jen Conant, who leads the CTU’s charter division, said during a news conference Thursday. “Instituto has not been interested in landing an agreement.”

    The Chicago Board of Education on Thursday approved a one-year charter renewal for Instituto’s Justice and Leadership Academy High School, but district officials said the school was not meeting operational performance standards and needed to improve its overall academic performance.

    During that meeting, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates noted that the high school received the shortest possible charter extension and has failed to improve its special education and bilingual services.

    “We’re bargaining over it and heading toward a strike because they ain’t put it in there yet,” she told the board.

    In a statement, Instituto officials accused the CTU of spreading “countless misstatements and lies.” Officials took issue with the claim that they’ve refused to meet minimum special education staffing needs and instead blamed a nationwide teacher shortage and a wave of voluntary resignations just before the start of the academic year for putting Instituto schools “in a bind.”

    The charter officials also said they take “immense pride in providing a safe environment for all of our students, including our immigrant students.”

    “To be clear, CTU’s disagreements with Instituto on sanctuary status is not about students, parents or the community. It is purely economic,” an Instituto spokesperson said in a statement.

    The charter also said it made a fair offer for teacher pay and “firmly believe in equal pay for all of our members,” but added that without “CPS-level funding and without CPS-level working hours, we do not believe salary above CPS teachers is a good faith demand.”

    “To say that negotiations have stalled is simply inaccurate and certainly not because of our bargaining team’s lack of willingness and participation,” an Instituto spokesperson said.

    According to Instituto, the sides have reached tentative agreements on 25 proposals thus far. Negotiations continued Thursday, and additional bargaining meetings are scheduled next week.

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    Matt Masterson

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  • Chicago police officer charged with shoving 8th grader outside South Side elementary school

    Chicago police officer charged with shoving 8th grader outside South Side elementary school

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    Chicago Police officer charged with shoving eighth-grade student


    Chicago Police officer charged with shoving eighth-grade student

    02:45

    CHICAGO (CBS) — A Chicago Police officer was charged this week with shoving an eighth-grade student while off duty outside a South Side elementary school in May.

    He has also been relieved of his police powers.

    As CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported Thursday, Officer Craig Lancaster has been indicted on one count of aggravated battery. He was caught on video on May 18 shoving 14-year-old JaQuwaun Williams near his throat and collarbone outside Gresham Elementary School at 85th and Green streets.

    The video was taken six months ago, which is why the boy’s family and attorney are asking why charges were not brought against Lancaster sooner. They also want to know why the 30-year CPD veteran was not relieved of his police powers until Thursday afternoon.

    “It’s situations like this that really disrupt the relationship between officers and the communities that are sworn to serve,” said attorney Jordan Marsh, representing JaQuwaun and his family.

    Marsh said he and his clients were made aware of this surveillance video shortly after the incident.

    Lancaster could be seen talking to a Gresham Elementary teacher outside the school before JaQuwaun approached, and after Lancaster shoved the teen, sending him sprawling backwards, the teacher could be seen standing between the two, and directing JaQuwaun over to a group of students standing along the wall of the school.

    Lancaster then could be seen walking away as JaQuwaun and other students walked into the school.


    Chicago police officer caught on video shoving 8th grader

    01:29

    According to a lawsuit filed by JaQuwaun’s mother, he had been playing basketball outside the school around 8:45 a.m. when he started walking to the door to go into school.

    The lawsuit claims Lancaster was talking with his “personal companion” – the teacher at the school – when Lancaster “violently rammed his hand” into JaQuwaun’s throat, and the teacher ushered him to a nearby wall, while Lancaster told him “he was going to ‘beat the f*** out of him.’”

    Afterward, the video shows the teen stumbling backwards. Moments later, the off-duty officer appears to confront JaQuwaun again.

    “When Jaquan tells us the officer tells him he’s going to beat the F out of him,” Marsh said. and then he goes to a security guard shows him his police badge and his holster, gets into his car, and drives away.”

    The lawsuit claims JaQuwaun asked to call his mother so he could go home, but was denied, and his mother was not contacted about the incident until more than six hours later. Afterward, other students mocked JaQuwaun in person and on social media.

    “He remains traumatized by the incident,” the lawsuit states.

    JaQuwaun’s attorneys said Lancaster filed a false report about the incident, which was contradicted by the surveillance video. Lancaster has been accused of off-duty excessive force seven times, and twice has been suspended for 30 days for off-duty misconduct, according to the lawsuit. He also has been the subject of more misconduct complaints than 88% of his fellow officers, and has submitted more use of force reports than 93% of his colleagues.

    “The City of Chicago has been on notice for years of Lancaster’s penchant for off-duty violence and misconduct,” the lawsuit states.

    Lancaster’s attorney claimed the JaQuwaun was a threat to others at the school.

    “Officer Lancaster is a decorated Chicago Police Officer who was legally at the school when the minor child became a danger to the students and the staff.  He acted in a manner to protect the children and staff from a student who clearly was a threat to all present,” attorney Timothy Grace said in an email. “He was acting within the scope of his duties as a law enforcement officer and acted in a manner that is consistent with the rules of the Chicago Police Department and laws of the State of Illinois. We look forward to defending this case in court.”

    Lancaster’s attorney declined a request for an interview with the CBS 2 Investigators.

    Charging documents show that on Nov. 8, Officer Lancaster was charged with one count of aggravated battery in a public place. He will be arraigned on Nov 16.

    Just Thursday afternoon, Chicago Police said Lancaster was relieved of his police powers, and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability confirmed to me that they’re investigating.

    Hickey asked Marsh why information about charges was just emerging Thursday when it has been almost six months since the incident happened.

    “I wish I had an answer for you,” Marsh said.

    The Chicago Police Department declined to comment on the incident, saying only that it is under investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

    Lancaster is due to make his first court appearance on Nov. 16.

    Todd Feurer


    Todd Feurer

    Todd Feurer is a web producer at CBS News Chicago. He has previously written for WBBM Newsradio, WUIS-FM, and the New City News Service.

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  • 2 killed, 2 wounded in shooting near Chicago high school; no arrests made

    2 killed, 2 wounded in shooting near Chicago high school; no arrests made

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    4 teens shot, 1 fatally, outside Benito Juarez High School


    4 teens shot, 1 fatally, outside Benito Juarez High School

    01:47

    A shooting near a high school on Chicago’s Lower West Side left two people dead and two others injured Friday afternoon, police said. 

    In a news conference, Chicago police Superintendent David Brown said that a suspect has not yet been identified for the shooting outside Benito Juarez High School in the Pilsen neighborhood. However, Brown disclosed that investigators believe the shooting was “a potential gang conflict.” He said an “aggressive” investigation is underway. 

    The two injured victims were in serious condition, Brown said. He declined to provide any further information about the victims, including age or gender, or whether they were students at the school. However, a Chicago Fire Department spokesperson told CBS Chicago that all four victims were teenagers. 

    Benito Juarez High School shooting
    At the scene of where several teens were shot outside Benito Juarez High School in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Dec. 16, 2022.  

    CBS Chicago


    A volunteer crossing guard told CBS Chicago that students had just been dismissed when he heard six to eight gunshots at around 2:30 p.m. local time. The crossing guard said that the school’s principal yelled for students to go back inside. 

    The high school was placed on lockdown for about an hour, with students sent home at around 3:30 p.m.

    “Any crime anywhere in the city is obviously a concern to us, but especially, when they’re near or around schools. Many of our officers are parents, are uncles, are aunts, of young people,” Brown said. “We are always as police officers extremely concerned of the impact that violence might have on school-aged students.” 

    Brown said that the investigation will involve speaking to survivors of the shooting, along with examining surveillance footage which may have captured the shooting. Pedro Martinez, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, said in the news conference that the school is cooperating fully with the investigation, and providing support to students. 

    “All of us are trying to find answers,” Martinez said. “I’m very concerned that this happened on our grounds.” 


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  • Jones College Prep students hold sit-in after antisemitic Halloween costume contest incident

    Jones College Prep students hold sit-in after antisemitic Halloween costume contest incident

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — Students at Jones College Prep held a sit-in protest Monday after a student dressed in what many perceived as a Nazi uniform for a Halloween costume contest.

    The students involved in the sit-in said they were protesting the costume incident as well as the administration, which they say has long ignored reports of misconduct.

    READ MORE: Jones College Prep principal ‘removed from duties’ after student wears antisemitic costume

    A week ago a student dressed up in what the school called a “German military uniform” and many students perceived as a Nazi uniform, and goose-stepped across the stage during a costume contest. The incident was caught on video.

    Last week Chicago Public Schools removed Principal Joseph Powers pending an investigation into his handling of the incident, but students at the sit-in said there needs to be broader accountability.

    “I feel like the administration completely mishandled this event, and also the fact that they allowed a student to come into school dressed as a Nazi is just absolutely disgusting to me,” said Max Korte, student.

    In an email to parents last week, Power said it did not appear that the student intended his costume to be an expression of hate, but as outrage grew he sent a second email acknowledging the school should have handled the incident with “greater care.”

    “We’re calling on CPS because this issue goes deeper than just some costume. It goes deeper than the misconduct here at Jones, but the misconduct of the district,” said student Jaheim Johnson.

    RELATED: Some call for Jones College Prep principal to resign over alleged misconduct, Title IX violations

    CPS said they have launched a full investigation into the incident.

    Last spring the local school council at Jones College Prep requested CPS begin the formal process of firing Powers, alleging that for years he ignored complaints of misconduct among students and staff.

    Messages left for Joseph Powers and CPS were not returned, but last week CPS said what happened on Halloween is inconsistent with the district’s values.

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