District 97 discusses Early Childhood effort

parent from oak park  

Posted: January 30th, 2013 11:19 PM

All educational programs, including early childhood, should have clearly identified outcome goals. Even if the problem is real, just throwing money at it will not help. D97 and D200 have a long history of spending money on programs that have no measurable goals or results.

Jenna Brown Russell from Oak Park, Illinois  

Posted: January 16th, 2013 4:30 PM

The 1-8-13 board packet included a presentation from the Collaboration. https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=33278478 It is a bit thin on science (40 years of research with no studies referenced). Ample studies of head start show otherwise. Thinner on real budget and role. To support 800 "at-risk" youth, they propose screening, parent outreach, and training preschool and daycare staff (including loans/scholarships for college credits). Only $248k for D97 downstroke, but $1.5MM total to launch...not sure, but a bit nervous, about ongoing support. It will be interesting to hear the discussion of what the public school districts will add that ISBE does not already address in places like the OPRF Day Nursery, or is offered by social outreach such as Parenthesis. Why wouldn't the district partner with programs in place. I fear it may be a lot of money for a day care directory, some "symposiums" and activities by well intentioned folks accomplishing about as much as all the other well intentioned folks already working the issues. With more money collected from a tax exhausted base. At some point, so much will be assessed on the base to be allocated to 'at-risk' (read ED) students, they will no longer be able to afford the rent here. I guess then we'll claim 100% kindergarten readiness, no gap closure, and then protests for more housing subsidies.

Concerned from Oak Park  

Posted: January 5th, 2013 7:25 AM

I wonder how many children are we considering this for? Where do these children reside? I think there is a problem with using funds from D97 &/or D200 for a project that is not exclusively for those students. Why not have the Park District chip in some. I think we should go to this meeting to see how our taxes might be spent.

Bottom Line  

Posted: January 4th, 2013 7:51 PM

I see no mention of a budget for this Collaboration in any recent stories. How much financing are they seeking from District 97 and District 200?

Mary Rodrigo from Oak Park  

Posted: January 4th, 2013 6:26 PM

The meeting on Jan 8th, is at 7 PM at the district offices 970 Madison St.

Mary Rodrigo from Oak Park  

Posted: January 4th, 2013 3:53 PM

The time and location of the meeting would be appreciated.