Sep 1, 2008 10:09 pm US/Central
New Trier Prepared For Influx Of CPS Students
Organizers Finalize Plans On Eve Of Chicago School Boycott
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Organizers and participants hope the planned Chicago schools boycott will raise awareness about inequity in school funding in Illinois.
CBS
With no compromise in sight, a proposed boycott of Chicago Public Schools is on. About 100 buses will line up to pick up Chicago students Tuesday for the first day of school. But those kids won't be headed to their home schools – they'll be headed to the northern suburbs instead, participating in a boycott spearheaded by state Sen. Rev. James Meeks.
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports New Trier school officials say they are prepared. School employees weren't taking it easy this Labor Day. Some were out in front of the Northfield campus hanging signs and getting ready for the arrival of hundreds of Chicago Public School students Tuesday.
They're expected to arrive by the busloads as part of a CPS boycott and protest over the way education is funded in the state of Illinois.
"I have absolutely no objections to that at all. I think that would be terrific. Give them a chance to be in the environment that others have had here," said Northfield resident Eleanor Domash.
One of Meeks' objectives in the protest is to give students from Chicago's rundown, under-funded schools a glimpse of one of the best schools in the country. But Meeks says his ultimate goal is to get lawmakers to change the way public education is funded here by taking the emphasis off local property taxes and relying more on state dollars.
"We don't think a child should be penalized on the basis of where they live," Meeks said.
Meeks also wants Chicago students to register at New Trier, which school officials will allow while pointing out they must follow current registration law. One New Trier alumna applauds the principal behind the protest.
"I would like the community up here to welcome these kids, because they deserve to have our respect," alumna Judy Linklater said.
But she believes there's more to the issue than money.
"I also think there's a question of culture," Linklater added. "There needs to be a culture of wanting to learn, wanting to be in school and wanting to do the best you can with what you got."
And as CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports, a Chicago pastor is speaking out against the plan while boycott supporters are making last-minute preps.
Students gathered Monday to pick up free school supplies and help support an effort by the Rev. Gregory Daniels pushing for Chicago public school students to show up for the first day of school despite the planned boycott.
"We certainly don't need the agitation and the aggravation of a day out of school being ushered in by clergy," said Rev. Daniels, of United Voters for Truth and Change.
Meeks has said all along some Chicago schools are so bad that it won't hurt students if they miss the first day or two or three of class.
He says they'll receive instruction in the field Tuesday, and in the lobbies of various downtown buildings the rest of the week.
"It's not a free day," said boycott volunteer Mogda Walker. "They're coming in, they're having the academics."
Some 85 pastors in favor of the boycott are reminding parents they need to help take the issue of unequal school funding to the doorsteps of those who can help fight for change.
"I think that people have good will in Winnetka," Meeks said. "And if I knew that the children in Chicago did not have the same chance as my child had, I would at least fight for children everywhere in the state to have the same chance. Now, I might not want them in my school sitting next to my child, but I do think the people of Winnetka want each child in the state to have an equal chance."
Even with the boxes of school materials ready to be loaded Meeks says he still has not received a call from the governor to try to end the boycott.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich has repeatedly said he thinks the boycott is wrong.
New Trier Superintendent Linda Yonke says no one will have to stand outside in the heat Tuesday. The school will provide seating, fans and drinks in the gym and auditorium.
Yonke added she hopes citizens and lawmakers will ultimately work together to find a beneficial school funding solution.
Meeks is expected to give an update on the planned boycott Tuesday morning, and CBS 2 will be live at the New Trier campus in Northfield from 5-7 a.m.
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov and Pamela Jones contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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