Aug 21, 2008 6:34 pm US/Central
Meeks, Winnetka Police Meet To Discuss Protest
State Senator Plans CPS Boycott And Attempt To Enroll Students At New Trier High School
WINNETKA, Ill (CBS) ―
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New Trier High School in north suburban Winnetka, Ill.
CBS
The man who's heading up the big Chicago public school boycott did some prep work Thursday. Sen. Rev. James Meeks traveled to the North Shore to plan logistics ahead of the Sept. 2 protest.
CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports the visitor list to Northfield and Winnetka is expected to be in the ballpark of 3,000 students, according to Meeks.
He's unhappy about what he calls unequal, under-funded education in the city and other parts of the state, and so he's asking Chicago public school students to go with him to New Trier High School and to Sunset Ridge Elementary, where spending per student is greater and where they will try to register.
One reason Meeks, his 9th District counterpart and police chiefs took a bus trip was, "to ensure that day's activities go as smoothly as possible so there's no disruption of education opportunities throughout the day..." said Illinois Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, (D- 9th Dist.)
"I think it'll be a disruptive day at school and it might prove a point -- but I don't think it'll change things," said Cheryl Fraelick, whose children go to New Trier.
Wednesday night, New Trier High School Supt. Linda Yonke sent an e-mail to parents, assuring them that plans will be in place to ensure the school day will not be disrupted. New Trier students started class Thursday Aug. 21.
"This is a one-day political action; Illinois state law does not allow students to transfer at will to a school in a district where they do not reside,'' Yonke wrote.
"Our administrators have had numerous planning meetings in the past three weeks, and we are working closely with the villages of Northfield and Winnetka to prepare for the day.''
Supt. Yonke told parents that additional updates will be provided once details are finalized.
Meeks said the law also says a district can accept students who don't reside in the area if they want to.
The long-term protest goal is to convince lawmakers to equalize school funding.
"I think it'll prove a big point...a lot of people here have started talking about how it's unfair, others say it is fair 'cause they're not paying for higher schools," said New Trier junior Danielle Fraelick.
That's part of the debate.
CBS 2 asked Meeks if it's OK for kids to miss school to boycott. He said the question should be is it acceptable to have a two-tiered education system in Illinois.
Chicago spends about $10,000 per student; New Trier and its feeder elementary schools combined spend about $14,000 per child.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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