Fight must continue to be fought -- school funding rally June 17

32nd Ward Scott Waguespack infront of crowds at previous rally

Everyone concerned about education is encouraged to join hundreds of parents, students and community members representing schools from across Chicago Thurs., June 17 at the Thompson Center from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. The school funding fight must continue to be fought.

With less than one day until summer break, it has become clear that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will not be getting any breaks in the coming school year. The Raise Your Hand Coalition is, therefore, gathering in an effort to influence city officials, including Mayor Daley.  Drastic cuts in education funding need to be stopped without laying off teachers, increasing class size or otherwise jeopardizing the education of Chicago children. Protesters will advocate alternative actions including:

• Ceasing the diversion of more than $275 million annually in CPS property taxes away from education to TIF districts
• Cutting other areas of CPS budget that do not directly impact classroom size, teachers and education programs

To date CPS has proposed to close the $400+ million budget gap including:

• Slashing of 2,700 teacher positions
• Increasing class size to 35 students per class
• Significant cuts to special education
• Eliminating of full-day kindergarten
• Cutting bi-lingual education
• Eliminating/cutting after school programs, music, art, and more

During the rally the speakers will include: Jonathan Goldman and Wendy Katten, Raise Your Hand Coalition; Olga Pribyl, Managing Attorney/Special Education Clinic, Equip for Equality; Danny Sobor, Student, Northside College Prep.: John Fritchey, 10th District State Representative; and Forrest Claypool, Cook County Commissioner. A march to City Hall will follow the presentations.

For more info: Request to give back from TIFS; Response to State Budget; Birth of Raise Your Hand; Proposed Funding Report 2;State of Illinois gets 'F'