1400 protest against inequitable school funding

Illinois State Sen. James Meeks urged parents to keep their children out of Chicago Public Schools the first day of class and instead board buses to the New Trier school district. Given notice, the New Trier folks organized a nice reception.

This from the Chicago Sun-Times:

..."We've seen the results of three decades of underfunding schools," Meeks told reporters Tuesday. "We under-educated their grandparents, we under-educated
their parents . . . enough is enough."

Hundreds of parents toting children began filing into Meeks' church at 7 a.m. to prepare for the bus trip to try to register CPS students at New Trier.

Dozens of school buses lined the church drive, as local and national media filled the parking lot. Inside the church, a sea of volunteers in orange T-shirts reading "Save Our Schools Now" registered families and assigned them to buses.

"I had to be a part of this," said Joshua Laurence, 52, who was there with his wife, Emily, and three sons. "It's time that parents in Chicago stood up and took a stand. Today we are saying no more mis-educating our children. We do not want to be second-class citizens anymore."

As students and parents began arriving at New Trier, they were greeted by a huge sign pasted on the school's windows. It read: "Welcome to New Trier, CPS students."
About 100 staff and volunteers stood ready inside the Northfield campus building to
process students -- a largely symbolic event because the CPS students would need
to have proof of residency in the district to attend classes there. New Trier officials said an estimated 950 CPS students tried to register.

Almost without exception, CPS students said they were treated warmly by their
hosts.

In fact, Kathy Miller, a New Trier parent, said she and other North Shore residents had formed a group to explore the issue of school funding inequities.

Ill Senator launches protest against inequitable school funding

This from the Chicago Sun Times:

New Trier vs. CPS: Meeks plans protest

State Sen. James Meeks is urging parents to keep their children out of Chicago Public Schools the first day of class and instead board buses to the New Trier school district.

The plan is an attempt to bring attention to the "ever growing school funding inequalities between rich, white and poor, minority school districts in the state," said Meeks, pastor of Salem Baptist Church, on Sunday.

Meeks, joined by a coalition of minority clergy, will also attempt to enroll the children Sept. 2 into the "wealthy, white New Trier suburban school district."

"He's tried everything," said Tasha Harris, a church spokeswoman. "But when does change occur? Change occurs when we fight for it, especially for our children."

Harris said Meeks received a letter last week from an Illinois State Board of Education official assuring that "schools will not be penalized" financially because of the planned absences.

New Trier High School Interim Principal Tim Dohrer said: "Whatever plan he has, he has to make sure that the individuals live in the district."

Hat tip to Alexander Russo: