http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/ News and Blogs from Catalyst-Chicago Copyright 2010 Catalyst-Chicago - Catalyst Notebook en-us Catalyst-chicago-CatalystNotebookRssFeedhttp://feedburner.google.com http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/542/In_the_News%3A_Tuesday%2C_Feb._9 http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/542/In_the_News%3A_Tuesday%2C_Feb._9 CTA cutbacks create safety concerns for some students. (WBEZ) At Chicago's Roberto Clemente Community Academy, at the corner of Western and Division, assistant principal Antonio Perez , says the number of students waiting to travel westbound is already a safety concern. Now he's worried about the reduction in bus service. * Matt Farmer with the Huffington Post offers a view from the cot: notes on a Lincoln Park student forced to live in a homeless shelter. * Elgin U46 has asked the General Assembly to override state education officials and allow enlarged English... Tue, 9 Feb 2010 07:08:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/541/Parents%2C_community%2C_students_still_fighting_school_closings http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/541/Parents%2C_community%2C_students_still_fighting_school_closings Parents of two relatively high-performing neighborhood schools find themselves in an unusual position: They are fighting to keep their schools open. ... Mon, 8 Feb 2010 16:14:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/540/In_the_News%3A_Monday%2C_Feb._8 http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/540/In_the_News%3A_Monday%2C_Feb._8 CPS lunchrooms are piling up waste. (Tribune) Environmentalists inside and outside of the district say the practices in Chicago lunchrooms aren't just bad for the planet but undermine the messages children hear in class about environmental stewardship. And they seem out of place in a city often touted by its mayor as one of the greenest in the nation. Related: CPS lunchrooms force kids to toss uneaten food. (Tribune) * CTA doomsday cuts hit today and could impact schools. (Sun-Times) * Ald. Latasha Thomas tells Substance that the district's criteria for closing schools are... Mon, 8 Feb 2010 07:19:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/539/Huberman_to_Chicago_principals%3A_Do_performance_management%2C_school_improvement_will_follow http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/539/Huberman_to_Chicago_principals%3A_Do_performance_management%2C_school_improvement_will_follow In his address today to CPS principals, CEO Ron Huberman released a "School Performance Management Toolkit," a booklet with details about how administrators should implement the process at their own schools. He also reassured them that central office will not demand that they produce specific test-score gains.... Fri, 5 Feb 2010 15:10:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/538/In_the_News%3A_Friday%2C_Feb._5 http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/538/In_the_News%3A_Friday%2C_Feb._5 District officials slow plans for a split South Loop Elementary. (Tribune) John Jacoby, who has a daughter in South Loop School's seventh-grade gifted program, said it's time to think about expanding the South Loop brand to include a high school. As vice president of the local school council, he was involved in the National Teachers Academy conversations, which, he said, also included talks about adding a ninth grade and starting a high school, but that wasn't part of the CPS proposal in December. * CPS will release another $10 million for mentoring... Fri, 5 Feb 2010 06:51:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/537/Chicago_schools_look_to_community_groups_to_help_with_violent_teens http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/537/Chicago_schools_look_to_community_groups_to_help_with_violent_teens After being criticized for choosing an out-of-state group to provide mentors for students who are most at-risk of being involved in violence, the district is officially reaching out to local organizations. ... Thu, 4 Feb 2010 18:33:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/536/Three_communities_begin_to_shape_a_vision_for_Promise_Neighborhoods http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/536/Three_communities_begin_to_shape_a_vision_for_Promise_Neighborhoods Three Chicago neighborhoods – Woodlawn, Logan Square, and Chicago Lawn – are competing for a slice of one President Barack Obama's more ambitious education-related initiatives: Replication of the Harlem Children's Zone in 20 spots around the country. The Obama Administration is proposing $210 million in new Promise Neighborhoods funding for fiscal year 2011. This year, $10 million for one-year planning grants has already been appropriated, and a draft request-for-proposals is expected soon.... Thu, 4 Feb 2010 14:23:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/535/Huberman_to_issue_performance_management_booklet http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/535/Huberman_to_issue_performance_management_booklet Ron Huberman opened the 53rd Annual Principals and Administrators Association Conference Thursday with a preview of his upcoming Friday address, saying that he plans to outline how to implement performance management.... Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:35:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/534/In_the_News%3A_Thursday%2C_Feb._4 http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/534/In_the_News%3A_Thursday%2C_Feb._4 The Philadelphia Public Schools Notebook examines Chicago's impact on federal education policy. * Alexander Russo points out the smaller list of Chicago priority schools that could undergo turnarounds. (D299) * Guggenheim community voices opposition to Board's school closure plan. (Substance) * Chicago parents react to news over discredited autism study. (Medill)... Thu, 4 Feb 2010 07:05:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/533/Helping_principals%2C_teachers_the_next_wave_of_performance_management http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/533/Helping_principals%2C_teachers_the_next_wave_of_performance_management This Friday, CEO Ron Huberman will address school leaders at the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association's annual conference. His topic: performance management, one of the hallmarks of his year-long tenure as head of Chicago Public Schools.... Wed, 3 Feb 2010 13:32:00 CST