Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Chicago Public School officials have a tough challenge ahead. CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports that they are trying to convince students to return to school on the first day of classes, but other community leaders want them to boycott as a protest for more funding.

From marchers to ministers, from politicians to parents, from athletes to educators and students, they all joined forces Wednesday for an important message.

V103 Radio's Romonski Luv said, "September 2nd, Tuesday, I need each parent to tell their child that they need to be in school."

The annual back-to-school rally took on added importance this year, because well-known ministers have been asking students to boycott the first days of classes to protest school funding. CPS administrators have repeatedly said they support the funding fight, but the students need to be in class.

Minnie Watson, principal of Oscar DePriest Elementary School, said, "A lot of teachers pass out their syllabus, meet new children, new teachers. You just miss out on a lot."

To counter the boycott, CPS administrators have been knocking on more doors this year. They've doubled the number of staff that will visit neighborhoods and, for the first time, they've used a rolling van to help spread the word.

Administrators also have reminded parents that the schools' policy concerning absences has changed. If a student misses more than nine days of school, they're forced to attend summer school.

CPS Chief Executive Officer Arne Duncan says he agrees city schools are underfunded and action needs to be taken. But on an interview Thursday on the CBS 2 Morning News, Duncan said missing school is never the answer.

"Obviously, we're all terribly frustrated with the huge disparity in funding, and so it's the right message. Obviously the strategy, though, we can't agree to, and it's so critically important that we have all of the students in school on time ready to learn Tuesday, September 2."

Duncan pointed out that graduation rates and test scores have risen consistently among CPS students over the past six years.

"Part of the reason that's happening is over the past six or seven years, our first day attendance is up 17 percent, and for us because it's such a large district, that equates to 68,000 additional children who went to school that first day," Duncan said. "That first day is the day of teaching that sets the tone for the entire year, and our goal is 100 percent attendance for that first day."

He also pointed out funding is directly tied to attendance.

"Funding is absolutely tied to attendance, and for every 1 percent attendance goes up or down for us, that equates to $18 million" over the course of a year.

Most parents and students got the message.

"Whatever I gotta do on the first day of school, that's what I'm going to do," said student Kyle Frazier.

But some, like Gail Carr, listened but weren't fully committed to sending their kids to school on the first day.

"I don't think they should be out, but if it's for funding ... keep them out," Carr said.

The message from CPS to send them back will be repeated everyday between now and Sept. 2, when school starts.

CPS officials said it's especially important for elementary school students not to miss school; too many absences can hurt their chances of getting into elite magnet schools.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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