Over the past few years, our Administration has been working tirelessly to improve our school facility. This year, they have set their sights on the part of our school where our children gather to showcase their artistic abilities, hone their athletic skills and show their Coonley Cougar spirit. Please take part in this inportant effort.
For more information please go to www.friendsofcoonley.org
CPS Class Size and Kindergarten Funding
At a press conference on Monday, June 28, Chicago Schools CEO Ron Huberman made announcements related to class size and the restoration of discretionary funds for full-day kindergarten for the 2010-2011 school year. The Coonley School Administration is awaiting confirmation of the exact number of positions that are being restored, and until that information is known we will not act upon the funds that were donated to the Kindergarten Campaign.
We want to thank our parents and community for being so supportive and patient during this time. If funds are restored, all donated funds will be returned . The administration is cautiously optimistic that some positions will be restored, and they will keep us informed as information is communicated to the school.
For more information, please see the following links:
Official CPS Press Release, June 28, 2010
Chicago Sun-Times article 1
Chicago Sun-Times article 2
Chicago Tribune article
ABC News coverage
Catalyst Chicago article
Progress Illinois article
We are extremely excited and moved to let you all know that at the LSC meeting on June 15th, Mrs. Kartheiser announced that full-day Kindergarten will be maintained at Coonley School!
We have reached our goal of $125,000 as a result of everyone’s hard work and creative efforts.
A huge thank you to all that have donated both time and money to this very important effort! We are truly overwhelmed by the rapid response and creative undertakings on the part of so many Coonley families, community members and friends that worked so hard to make this happen. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
We thank you for your continued support of the school and belief in its academic excellence!
The Coonley LSC
Raise Your Hand is a growing coalition of Chicago Public Schools that is collaborating to influence the State of Illinois to provide appropriate and sustained state funding for public education. The coalition will reach out to any schools and organizations supporting education throughout Illinois and seek to influence any public official, state or local, who can further the coalition’s mission.
The Coalition‘s next meeting will be:
Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 7 pm
John C. Coonley Elementary School
4046 N. Leavitt Avenue
Parent leaders (LSC, PTA, Friend/fundraising) from any CPS school are invited, so please pass this on!
Dear Parents,
In the coming year, your children face the possibility of a life-changing crisis.
Across Chicago and Illinois, students face a disastrous reduction in the quality of their educations — with class sizes reaching an unacceptable 37 students in Chicago, the elimination of Pre-School for All and full-day kindergarten, teacher and assistant principal firings, and more.
There is no question that your child’s lives will be forever impacted by what you — and your elected officials — choose to do in the coming months.
If you’re shaking your head — or fist — at the thought of your child’s future being jeopardized, it’s time for you to spend 60 seconds to protect that future. Without hearing from you, state leadership will NOT do what’s best for your children’s school.
If you take one minute to visit www.noto37.org you’ll find an incredibly simple way to cast your vote for your child’s entire generation. Don’t worry about finding your rep’s address or your district. Just select your school, type in your name and address, and edit the provided text as you feel necessary.
Noto37.org takes care of the rest. It truly takes but sixty seconds.
Don’t sit idly by while your children’s education and quality of life are stripped away — let our leadership know that you are concerned. With elections coming up, you can also remind them that you’re watching to see who protects our kids and who doesn’t.
The Current CPS Budget Crisis
As many of you know CPS is faced with a $700 million deficit for FY2011. The current Illinois state budget crisis is the cause of this proposed “doomsday” budget. Here are some of the proposed measures that would impact students at John C. Coonley Elementary School.
To read the entire CPS FY2011 Budget Briefing on March 15, 2010 we have attached the following link.
http://www.cps.edu/About_CPS/Financial_information/Documents/FY2011BudgetBriefing.pdf
The LSC, in collaboration with the PTO and the Friends of Coonley are mobilizing a school-wide effort that will send a strong message to our Legislators in Springfield that the proposed educational funding cuts are simply NOT acceptable. We expect to have more detailed information in the red folders right after Spring Break.
We are also coordinating with other CPS schools in the area to keep informed about their efforts and as well as participating in a larger, organized effort of many other CPS schools to contest the devastating proposal. Please look for an email in the next week to join that effort.
What you can do now:
Write letters and make telephone calls to your leaders in Springfield!
A Sample Letter is in the “Sample Letter to Your Legislators” tab on this website. This can be sent to all of the current key legislative leaders below.
Thank you for your efforts and we will keep you posted on any developments!
The Coonley LSC
Key Legislative Leaders and Contact Information:
State Senator John Cullerton (Senate President, 6th)
John@senatorcullerton.com
1051 West Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657-3327
(773) 883-0770
Representative John Fritchey (State Representative, 11th )
mystaterep@aol.com
2539 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 871-4000
(773) 871-4012 (fax)
Representative Mike Madigan (Speaker of the House)
mmadigan@hds.ilga.gov
6500 South Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL 60629
(773) 581-8000
(773) 581-9414 (fax)
State Senator Christine Radogno (Republican Senate Leader)
csradogno@sbcglobal.net
410 Main Street
Lemont, IL 60439
(630) 243-0800
(630) 243-0808 (fax)
Representative Tom Cross (Republican House Leader)
tom@tomcross.com
530 W. Lockport St., Suite 204
Plainfield, IL 60544
(815) 254-0000
(815) 609-3994 (fax)
Governor Pat Quinn
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-0244
TTY: 888-261-3336
What are the LSC Committees?
Coonley school LSC has created committees to bring together working groups of parents and staff in order to support and improve our school. Every LSC establishes committees as part of its organizational process. The LSC has created seven standing committees for this school year. The names and descriptions are below. Committees have the power to make recommendations to the LSC, although they do not make final binding decisions for the school. Joining an LSC committee is a way to share ideas, concerns, and expertise, and finally as a way to participate, support, and improve Coonley school. Please email us at coonleylsc@gmail.com and we will put you in contact with the committee chairs!
How often will the committees meet?
Each committee chair and its members decide on an ongoing basis when and where meetings will occur, and must make this information known to the community. Notice will be given through kid-mail and/or email, and posted on the LSC website. People who are interested in a committee but are unable to attend meetings are still encouraged to sign up, receive updates about committee activities, and get information on ways they can participate.
Coonley LSC Committees 2009-2010
Grants Committee:
The Grants committee will have overall responsibility for coordinating PTO, FOC, and LSC grant writing efforts. The core responsibilities of the committee will be to 1) identify grant opportunities that are consistent with the goals, mission and vision of Coonley School and 2) to coordinate and oversee the completion of those applications that are consistent with the above. In addition, the committee will be charged with tracking, organizing and archiving completed grant applications.
Facilities and Grounds Committee:
The Facilities and Grounds committee will review safety policies in addition to evaluating exterior/interior beautification, maintenance, and cleanup projects that arise. The committee will coordinate with the administration and LSC to identify areas of focus and assess funding and staffing needs when applicable.
After School Committee:
Parents, teachers, staff and community members serve as an advisory to the administration for the after school programming and after school care programs that are offered at Coonley.
SIPPAAA Committee:
The SIPAAA committee will create the document that is the blue print for the improvement of the school, and the education of its students. It is an accountability tool for the LSC, the school, and the Illinois State Board of Education. The LSC reviews and improves or asks for amendments to the SIPAAA and reports progress and problems with respect to its implementation at least twice a year at two well-publicized meetings with the entire school community. The LSC evaluates the allocation of both teaching and non-teaching staff resources, to determine if such allocation is consistent with instructional objectives and school programs as reflected in the SIPAAA. The SIPAA serves as an internal review of progress towards the school’s priority goals and is monitored by the LSC.
Parent Advisory Council:
The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) serves as an advisory group by providing input on amendments and future No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Title I programs. The PAC exists to provide parents, legal guardians, teachers, staff, and concerned community individuals with the opportunity to work with the principal in the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of the NCLB Title I program.
Bilingual Advisory Committee:
Schools with State Mandated Transitional Bilingual programs are required to establish a Bilingual Advisory Committee (BAC) which functions as the standing committee on the LSAC and advises on matters related to the school’s bilingual program.
Professional Personnel Leadership Committee:
The Professional Personnel Leadership Committee (PPLC) is comprised of teachers that serve as grade level team leaders and the two teacher representatives on the LSC. The LSC teacher representatives act as the co-chairs of this committee. The PPLC’s purpose is to develop and present recommendations to the principal and LSC regarding; curriculum methods and content, school improvement planning and implementation, and local expenditures and budgeting to achieve these goals. The PPLC also plays an integral role in curriculum planning, school improvement, and allocations of funds for these purposes.
The first meeting of the new school year will be held on Tuesday, September 15th at 6pm in the school library. We welcome everyone to attend and participate. At this meeting we will organize, discuss, and have sign-up for the new committees to assist the school. Please join us!
