Who Says We Can't Get More Parents Involved?

Just put their kids on stage! Here is a picture of a standing-room-only crowd for the Emerson Holiday Show.

Reaction to the Test Score Summit

Last night Berwyn CARES members gathered to hear from our education leaders regarding the recently released standardized test scores.  The evening began with a presentation by Berwyn CARES summarizing the test scores of each district and describing the limits of standardized tests to truly evaluate the effectiveness of a school.  Each district administrator gave a presentation regarding their efforts to improve the scores in the future.  These presentations were followed by a question and answer session and spirited discussion about the state of our schools.

Dr. Kuszniewski, Superintendent of District 201 gave a thorough presentation outlining the many changes he has implemented to address the abysmal achievement scores of Morton students (only 34% of students met or exceeded standards in 2011).  While he spoke of some changes that would directly impact student learning (common assessments,  structuring teacher planning time around professional learning groups, increasing the number of students exposed to AP classes/exams), he also spent a lot of time talking about security and the maintenance needs of old buildings.  Sadly, I felt as if the priorities of the district are safety, building maintenance and education in that order.  This is not a criticism, but I believe the sad reality of a school system that has been so grossly underfunded for so long that basic classes seem like bells and whistles that are out of reach.

Dorothy Wunderlich, Assistant Superintendent of District 98 highlighted District 98's efforts to improve  outcomes for the ELL (English Language Learner) population as well as the Special Education students.  The district brought in outside consultants and new curriculum to give those populations a boost.  Ms. Wunderlich also talked about a program to train parents to educate other parents about the importance of parental involvement and what a difference that might make for students.

Dr. Stan Fields, Superintendent of District 100 gave a presentation centered on the investment the district has made in smart technology for most classrooms.  Many classrooms are now 1:1 classrooms which means each child in a class has either a laptop computer for use throughout the school day, as well as, at home.  Dr. Fields also mentioned the impact that full day kindergarten is having on those students.  The 1st grade curriculum had to be rewritten for this first group as they had mastered about 1/2 year of the typical 1st grade skills.

During the question and answer session, the panel addressed questions about consolidation (all 3 basically dodged the question saying it was too complicated an issue, though an idea that does have some appeal), truancy (state aid is dependent on daily attendance), need for early childhood education (all agreed that increasing the number of students in ECE would exponentially benefit the community) and parental involvement.

Overall, I felt positively about the efforts being made to improve the outcomes (test results), though not that confident that these efforts to improve test scores will improve the quality of the educational experiences.  It seems we have this backward.  Kids who are well educated will test well NOT kids who test well will become well educated.  Here are some comments from Gloria Mitchell, CARES board member.

Well, I'm frustrated. After hearing from the superintendents last night, I'm not at all convinced that they are determined to provide my kids with an excellent education.  

With all the superintendents, there seems to be a lot of fondness for reliance on "the way things work in the real world" as a model for school. I certainly share that fondness, but I think it's important to keep in mind that in the real world, no one gives you a paycheck for correctly answering multiple-choice questions about computer programming; you have to actually code something. No one wins a golf championship because they scored highest on a multiple-choice test about golf; you have to actually play the game. 

In the real world, we value what people produce, and we pay them for sharing in the creation of high-quality products or services. If they turn in work that isn't high in quality, they're usually given feedback and sent back to the drawing board; most workplaces have a process that is both collaborative and iterative (very true of tech and engineering, to take one example). 

So it seems to me that the best preparation for adulthood would be for students to create high-quality work that has value in the world. An essential question for schools should be: How do you evaluate the quality of student work? 

Here we are in the realm of making qualitative judgments, with which our school administrators seem distinctly uncomfortable. But again, in the real world we rely on qualitative judgments all the time. Is this product well-designed? Is this article well-written? Is this manager skilled at eliciting good work from his subordinates? Does he get along well with peers?  

We can create rubrics and metrics, and these can be useful, but they don't change the fact that someone at some point has to make a qualitative evaluation of what good work looks like. In Howard Gardner's definition, good work has three elements: first, the work is good by the standards of its discipline (so you might have, for example, a strong and well-crafted chair, a cogent argument, a beautiful garden, an elegant piece of code); second, it is good for the world, in that it has value to others and serves a worthwhile purpose; and last, it is good for the soul -- that is, it is work that is meaningful and important to its creator. 

I like the way the Expeditionary Learning network evaluates schools using three indicators: academic achievement (as measured by test scores), quality of student work, and evidence of student engagement. 

I continue to be concerned that Berwyn's schools are evaluated only by the first indicator -- and worse, that this drives downward, so that the only goal a student is asked to set for herself is to raise her test scores. This serves the adults' needs, not the child's best interests. 

Next year, I'd like to challenge the districts to bring the community a more complete picture of student work and student learning.  Borrowing from EL, we could ask them to provide evidence that all students are: 
- performing well on standardized tests- producing high-quality work that matters in the real world- engaged in their own learning and the world around them. 

That last element, which touches on civic engagement, is critically important for communities, because in the end, whether a student ends up working as a nurse or a security guard or a lawyer or a plumber, our deepest need is for them to become responsible citizens. 

Sorry for the long rant. I'm just disappointed to feel that our schools aren't being held to genuinely high standards of work and learning.
Gloria

Well said, Gloria.  If any of you readers would care to join us in discussing this and other education topics further, please create an account on the BerwynCARES forum:  

Take the District 98 Superintendent Search Survey

District 98 is using the Illinois Association of School Boards to assist with their search for a new superintendent.  The first step is a survey of the community regarding characteristics of an ideal candidate.  Please take the time to take the survey and spread the word to other Berwyn residents.  Choosing the leader of a school district is the single most important job of a local school board.  Help the District 98 School Board and have your voice heard by filling out this very short survey.

State of Our Schools: Town Hall Test Score Summit

Cermak TIF Ends, Schools Benefit

I read with interest this article highlighting the impact of the newly expired Cermak TIF.  It is promising that our schools will be given a bit of help by the additional tax revenue that the expiration will bring.  However, it is worth noting that the city of Berwyn created a new TIF that covers the western part of the old TIF district as well as a portion of Harlem south of Cermak to about 31st street.  The new TIF will freeze tax rates at the present level with all new incremental revenue being invested into those businesses rather than schools and other taxing bodies.  It is also concerning that after 23 years of diverting funds away from schools, there is little in the way of new development and increased tax revenue for which those diverted funds were supposed to create.  The recent development of Harlem and Cermak, including the spruce up of the Cermak plaza  holds promise that the new TIF will invest the funds wisely to ultimately increase tax revenue.  Hopefully, our schools will not have to wait another 23 years for the funds they so desperately need.

Pick a Winner

Our Annual Kids Concert benefits Berwyn schools directly through support of The Berwyn Challenge at Donors Choose. Berwyn teachers ask, we help, students learn! It's that simple. Tickets ONLY $7. Order TODAY!

How Do Berwyn Schools Compare?

Recently, The State Board of Education released school report cards for each public school in the state of Illinois.  In an effort to provide clarity to parents and local residents, each year Berwyn CARES prepares a summary of school report card data for Berwyn's 13 schools along with an analysis of where each school ranks within the State of Illinois.  This information for 2011 will be posted on this blog and our website very soon.

This December CARES will once again host a town-hall style meeting to address the ‘State of the Test Scores’.   This event will take place on December 6, 2011 at 6:30 PM at the Berwyn Public Library.   School district administrations have been invited to provide a short presentation on where each district is headed.  There will be an opportunity for the audience and a CARES panel to ask additional questions and discuss the accomplishments and the challenges our schools face in light of this new data.    

Please plan to attend and spread the word to your friends and neighbors.  This is a great chance to become informed about YOUR schools and to join the discussion.  

Parent University this Wednesday

Parent University is an evening seminar series for parents that takes place at Heritage Middle School.  These events are free and open to the community (including parents whose kids aren't in District 100).

The next one is this coming Wednesday, Nov. 9, 6:30-7:30, and is titled Positive Parenting of Middle School Students. It will be a program on suicide prevention and awareness, which is a grim subject but an important one, especially when you consider that there are more suicides than murders in the U.S.  Click here for more details.

CARES hosts Boogers!

The name of the band is always a headline attention grabber!  Hope you can ALL join us for this rockin' event that is one of our main fundraisers each year featuring The Boogers with Istvan and his Imaginary Band.  Here are the details:

Date:  December 10, 2011
Place:  Fitzgerald's Night Club
Time:  Doors Open at Noon.
What:  A Kid's Rock Concert (really!  I mean it.)
Price:  $7 for a great cause.  All proceeds will go directly back into the school system in the form of Berwyn CARES Teacher Grants

Click here to order your tickets today.

Berwyn CARES Supports Morton West Student Performance

Berwyn CARES proudly partnered with the Berwyn Public Library, the 16th Street Theater and Morton West to support the Berwyn Reads program.  Our community read Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida and CARES sponsored a class at Morton West.  Students read the book and created presentations for the stage!

Please join us for a FREE community performance showcasing Morton High School students and their presentation of Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida by Victor Martinez. Led by 16th Street theater teaching artists Sam Roberson and Ashley Honore, each class focused on bringing one chapter of the book to life. 

Artwork by students of Gallery 16 and Morton High school and inspired by Parrot in the Oven also will be displayed. See below for details.

Sat, Nov 5 at Noon at Fitzgerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road. Doors open 11am.
Event is free but you must call (708) 795-6704 x104 to reserve.  

District 98 Searching for New Superintendent

The Superintendent of District 98, John Belmont, will be retiring after this school year.  The Board of Education will be hiring a new leader.

This agenda indicates that the Board of Education may be considering using the IASB to assist in their search.  From the IASB website:

Recruiting and selecting a superintendent or other key administrators takes time and expertise, which is why the selection procedure and process must be planned carefully. IASB has developed a service to help boards prepare for that decision. The search and selection process includes conducting a needs assessment, collecting candidate information, keeping records and maintaining contact with educational agencies.

This process may include getting input from local residents.  Please contact D98 if you are interested in learning more.

Charter School Debate Comes to Berwyn

At last night's Berwyn CARES Board Meeting, a small group of residents gave a compelling presentation about a possible Charter School at the High School level in District 201.  Citing recent data from the state including a graduation rate of only 74.9% and only 26% of students meeting standards on the PSAE, the group concludes that some students of 201 would benefit from a different approach to teaching and learning, a more progressive and engaging curriculum, and decidedly higher expectations.   Their plan is to start small with about 125 freshman students and add a grade each year to have 400-500 students total enrollment in the 4th year.  All students in 201 would be eligible to attend with no admitting criteria.  If there are more applications than spaces, admission would be by lottery.  Charter schools receive the instructional cost per pupil (about $7500 in D201) which would amount to about 3 million dollars if enrollment reaches 400 students which is about 3% of the 95 million dollar D201 yearly budget.  This group will likely be presenting their request to the D201 board within the next year.  If rejected, there is a commission at the state level that may grant the charter in an appeal process.    

So, what do you think?  Go to the Berwyn CARES forum to join the discussion.  

The 2011 Berwyn Challenge

Berwyn CARES is once again supporting Berwyn teachers and students through our Donors Choose Berwyn Challenge. Click here to learn about some of the exciting proposals submitted by Berwyn teachers! Please consider making a donation, however large or small, to directly support student learning and to show that Berwyn CARES.

District 98 to Present ISAT Results Wednesday

The agenda for tomorrow night's District 98 Board of Education Meeting includes a report on the ISAT test results for 2011 by Dorothy Wunderlich, the Assistant Superintendent. See the full meeting agenda here.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 at Prairie Oak School. Many residents anxiously await the releasing of these test scores in late October each year. Funding for schools and property values are tied to the standardized test results. While there is disagreement among educators and parents regarding the usefulness of ISAT scores in determining whether schools are considered "good" or not, there is no denying the obsession our society has over the results.

Last year, 75.4% of District 98 students met or exceeded standards on the ISAT test. This performance ranks the district in the bottom half of districts in IL, with two of the four schools in the district ranking in the bottom 25%. See CARES analysis of last year's ISAT scores here.

CARES plans to once again host a town hall forum regarding test scores. Superintendents will be invited to respond to the CARES analysis and present their plans for continued improvement in education. Our hope is to have participation from all districts in Berwyn. Details to follow.

Five Morton West Teachers Receive Funds for projects; Hundreds of Students Benefit

All five Morton West teachers who submitted proposals for the Berwyn CARES Morton West Mini Challenge on Donors Choose found their projects fully funded in time for the beginning of the new school year. To read about the projects and the personal letters of thanks click here.

Thanks to all who contributed. You helped give students calculators, books, cameras and more. Together we made a difference!

Teachers, It's That Time of Year Again!

Dear Berwyn Teachers and Administrators:

BerwynCARES (www.berwyncares.org) is happy to present a “2011 Berwyn Challenge” to help fund classroom projects in Berwyn schools through DonorsChoose.org. DonorsChoose uses the internet to connect individuals who want to support education DIRECTLY with classrooms in need. Indeed, the website is frequented by donors with as little as $1 to give AND donors with deep pockets looking for a place to make a difference. The website is easy to use, and accessible by the general public.

How can you use DonorsChoose.org to help promote your classrooms?

Berwyn schools are underfunded compared to the public schools in surrounding communities.

However, BerwynCARES has found that the residents generally support the teachers and would like to contribute. There truly is an enthusiasm and passion for education in our community!

DonorsChoose.org allows individuals, organizations, and businesses to choose which projects to fund and what amount (small or large) to give. The past Berwyn CARES Challenges have brought tens of thousands of dollars to Berwyn classrooms through our own fundraising efforts and promotion of The Berwyn Challenge outside our membership.

2011 Berwyn Challenge

BerwynCARES has created the 2011 Berwyn Challenge including all of the current proposals by Berwyn school teachers. This will help rally our membership to focus on our Berwyn teachers and classrooms and to hopefully direct funds to those projects. But why stop there? You can spread the word to the families of your students and to your PTAs that they can make a difference by donating as little as $10 to their own child's classroom or project!

Next Steps:
(1) Submit a proposal. Go to http://www.DonorsChoose.org
(2) Let us know you've submitted a proposal. Please e-mail info@berwyncares.org alerting us that your proposal has been submitted to donorschoose.org! We will then add it to the Berwyn Blogger Challenge.
(3) Click this link to The 2011 Berwyn Challenge and join us in widely promoting the Berwyn Challenge. Perhaps there are grandparents in other states looking to fund the project in their grandchild’s class. Include the information in PTA newsletters. Suggest that the businesses that support your school consider donating directly to classroom proposals. We can all promote the 2011 Berwyn Challenge to our memberships, the media, and beyond.

We sincerely hope this will help supplement your classroom needs and bring resources to your classrooms and to our Berwyn students.

Best,

Susan Crowe,
BerwynCARES Board Member

CARES Book Club Selection Sparks Arts Initiative

Inspired by The Berwyn CARES first book club selection, "How to Walk to School: A Blueprint for a Neighborhood Rennaissance", a group of Emerson School parents has formed the Emerson Arts Initiative with a goal of infusing the learning environment with art. Here is a look at a time-lapse video of their first mural as it is created by local artist and parent, Miro Ledajaks. Have a look!

Several Emerson parents attended the author talk given by Jacqueline Edelburg last spring at Heritage School. Moved by Jacqueline's determination to improve her neighborhood school by changing the environment, the group set out to make some changes of their own to Emerson. Representatives will give a short presentation at the next District 100 Board Meeting on Wednesday Aug. 24 at Heritage at 7:00 pm.

Second Hearing on $14 Million Dollar Bond

There will be a second hearing on the proposed $14 million dollar bond for District 100 on August 24th at 7 p.m. at Heritage Middle School, 6850 31st St. The District 100 School Board will vote on the proposal on Sept. 28th. If approved the money will be used to build a preschool facility that will allow universal preschool for all 3 and 4 year olds in District 100.

Some residents express concern that after the initial money runs out, the district would not be able to afford to continue the operation of the program forcing the district to ask the tax payers for a tax increase and risking a rejection by tax payers after the fact. The situation begs the question, "Why not ask now?" Why would the district spend millions building a facility and program that may not be sustainable in years to come without additional yearly revenue? The cost to renovate The LaVergne Education Center is estimated to run about $8M, with preschool operating expenses at about $2M per year. Stan Fields, District 100 Superintendent, estimates they have the resources to run the preschool program for 4 to 5 years without referendum. Other residents are supportive given research that points to the long term benefits of preschool including higher test scores in later school years, especially for poor and minority students. This is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children, and hoping that the community embraces the program enough to continue it through a later tax referendum is a chance some are willing to take.

Please plan to attend the hearing to learn more about this important issue facing our community. Questions can be submitted ahead of time to Superintendent Stan Fields at sfields@bsd100.org.

News from Morton West

The following was sent from a Morton West parent. Please take note:

A few updates as the 2011-2012 school year starts very soon.

Did you know the phone numbers for Morton changed?
The new general number is 708-780-4100
Principal Joe Gunty x3010
Absence report line in English x3905
Absence report line in Spanish x3906

THE PTO worked with the administration to produce the fantastic fridge magnet in your registration packets. The new phone numbers are on there along with a place for you to write in your student's ID and your Skyward access numbers.
YOU CAN JOIN PTO either by completing the form and paying the cashier at registration or stopping by our table. We will also be selling bottled water at registration for a buck.

Registration is NEXT WEEK Wednesday - Friday and again on Monday, 8/15.
If you did not receive a registration packet call the new phone number 708-480-4100 and the Principal's extension x3010 ON MONDAY to ask if you can pick one up before Wednesday.

Speaking of Skyward, if you have your login numbers from last year they are still valid and you can check your student's schedule online with Skyward. Go to www.morton201.org and then click on the link to take you to Skyward then click on schedule.

The Morton PTO is the strongest I have ever seen it!! Please join PTO and send the message loud and clear to your kids, our community and the District 201 administration that you are an involved parent. The Parent Teacher Organization is here to help all students and bring our community together to support all of our kids. Membership is still only $5.00 for the year. Even if you can't make it to meetings...third Wed. of the month at 7pm at school...we will need help in other areas...making phone calls, emailing to get the word out on important events and issues, instilling pride in our MUSTANGS! Please join us.

$14 MILLION BUCKS!

South Berwyn School District 100 will be holding a public hearing on Wednesday, July 27 at 7 PM on a proposed bond of $14 million dollars. The hearing will be at Heritage Middle School, 6850 W. 31st street. District officials have said the bond will be used to provide universal preschool for 3 and 4 year olds in the district. It is assumed that within a few years, taxpayers will be asked for a tax increase to make such a program sustainable. Research supports Early Childhood Education as an effective way to boost achievement and close the stubborn achievement gap which exists between low income, minority children and their middle class peers. However, the price tag of $14 million dollars will increase the D100 debt by 50%.

What's Better than Baseball and Ice Cream??

Summer learning, that's what!

Baseball players from the Berwyn Recreation Department gathered at Over the Rainbow Ice Cream Parlor (6836 Windsor, Berwyn) on Saturday, July 23 to celebrate the CARES Summer Writing program. Berwyn CARES distributed hundreds of blank books at the beginning of baseball season and asked players to write about baseball! With the help of some amazing parents and coaches, the kids came up with such creative ideas! (Aliens playing baseball? What??) Young authors showed CARES members their completed summer baseball writing program books and got a *free* single ice cream cone!

Books were entered in the “Best of Baseball” writing contest. CARES members will judge entries and award a savings bond to one winner from each division.
Thanks to all players who participated this year, and thanks to all the parents and coaches who encouraged our ball players to be authors and illustrators this summer. We know that kids are at risk of losing skills over the summer if they don’t read and write every day. The CARES Summer writing program allowed Berwyn families to prevent summer learning loss while having fun. You hit it out of the park!

And the 2011 Winner is...

Guided by our interest in promoting stronger involvement in our schools and investment in our children, each year BerwynC.A.R.E.S. awards scholarships to Morton West High School students headed to college. Due to generous contributions from our community and membership, we were able to award one special student a scholarship this year. We are honored to announce 2011 recipient Sandra Bilo and her achievements below. She demonstrated true passion for personal and academic development.

Congratulations Sandra Bilo!
Sandra Bilo is ranked 84th in her class. She scored a 32 on the ACT and has a GPA of 3.561. Her school activities include Math Team, and Advanced Vocal Ensemble and has volunteered her time at the library as well as the local church food pantry. She plans on attending the University of Illinois at Chicago and will work towards a major in either Accounting or Social Work. Sandra attended most district 201 school board meetings and stood up for student rights. She helped receive additional seating for students that were forced to eat their lunches on the floor, and fought for not suspending students over the number of buttons on their shirts (“To take someone’s education away for a day for such an insignificant thing is unthinkable”).

The following is a quote from her essay: “It is my hope to one day change the school environment, as education should be the primary focus, no matter what the financial problems are. By speaking out in my community, I know that I can make a big difference, big or small, because even small changes can help the quality of education.”

Congratulations to Sandra, her mother, Dorothy and her Father, Michael!

A Wish List for Morton West

Berwyn CARES had a small, but spirited, group meet on Thursday at the Library to discuss the book "How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood Renaissance". Our discussion kept coming back to Morton West. I've posted the following question on the CARES forum and was hoping you all would comment there. While not everyone can attend meetings in person, most readers of this blog have something to say on this subject. Let your voice be heard!

* When Nettlehorst school principal Susan Kurland asked parent Jacqueline Edelburg and her friend what it would take for them to enroll their children at the school, the women came back the next day "armed with an extensive wish list" (pp. 25-27). What would be on your wish list for a school for your children? Which items, if any, would be nonnegotiable?

Reply here: http://www.berwyncares.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39

NBPD Names Best of Berwyn, Seeks Volunteers to Build Park.

Congratulations to the North Berwyn Park District on the 10th anniversary of the Best of Berwyn program, celebrated at an awards dinner last week. Few events make you feel better about local education than the Best of Berwyn. The caliber of all the kids in the competition this year was inspiring and a video should soon be available on their Web site.

The #1 Best of Berwyn for 2011 is a young man named Weisner Perez whose brother was a #2 BoB last year. All three middle schools were pretty evenly represented (7-8 kids each from Freedom, Lincoln, Heritage) and 2 from St. Leonard’s. Many were like Weisner in that they had siblings that preceded them in the BoB, reinforcing what we already know: that family support makes a big difference.

You can read more about the program and the candidate’s here: http://www.nbpd4fun.org/uploads/Download/BOB2011Candidates.pdf.

North Berwyn Park District has plans to build a park at 19th and Cuyler in ONE day (June 4, 2011) with support from KaBOOM! and Disney. They are seeking 150 volunteers (no skills/tools needed). Please email info@berwyncares.org if you want to join a CARES team or contact the NBPD at (708) 749-4900.

How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood School Renaissance Author Jacqueline Edelberg to Speak at Heritage Middle School

On May 19, 2011, Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. and the Heritage PTSA will host Jacqueline Edelberg, coauthor of How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood School Renaissance, who will share her experiences as a successful organizer of grassroots, community-led school reform.

When Edelberg and a friend ventured inside Nettelhorst, their Chicago neighborhood’s underutilized and struggling public elementary school, the new principal asked what it would take for them to enroll their children. Stunned by her candor, they returned the next day armed with an extensive wish list. The principal read their list and said, “Well, let’s get started, girls! It’s going to be a busy year...”

How to Walk to School is the story of eight park moms who galvanized neighborhood parents and then organized an entire community to take a leap of faith, transforming a challenged urban school into one of the city’s best, virtually overnight. It provides an honest and accessible blueprint for parents and administrators who are ready to step forward and take back their schools.

Please join us for this vital discussion of how to reclaim the public schools our children deserve.

Heritage Middle School
6850 31st Street
Thursday, May 19
7:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Onsite child supervision will be provided.

Copies of How to Walk to School will be offered for sale, courtesy of Magic Tree Bookstore.

The Nettelhorst story has been featured on Oprah & Friends, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Redbook, NPR, CNN, 60 Minutes, Education Weekly, and in the Chicago media. See below for highlights from the media coverage of How to Walk to School.

Video produced by Pearson Education:

NPR's Chicago Matters:

Chicago magazine:

The Chicago Reader:

Morton West Teacher Thanks CARES; Students Head to State Science Fair

Mrs. Stokes, a science teacher at Morton West was able to guide 5 students to the state level science competition thanks in part to CARES members generous donations at The Morton West Mini Challenge at Donors Choose. Here is a note of thanks from Mrs. Stokes to CARES members:

Dear Berwyn CARES:

Thank you all for giving to this project and for supporting the scientific process.
My students gain so many benefits from participation in the science fair that I can't image not providing them this opportunity. Your donations have made this a little easier.

We have 5 students that moved on to the state level of competition this year and we hope to increase that for next year. I can't wait to share my students' thank you notes with you next fall so you can hear about their ideas for their projects.
Science education isn't just about learning facts but about using information to solve problems and make our world a better place. It's also about using data to make well informed decisions. These are skills that everyone needs not just scientists. The science fair project helps my students hone these skills.

Thank you again, I'm so glad I found donorschoose.org. It's a heartwarming experience to find a community of wonderful, giving people like yourselves.
With gratitude,
Ms. S.

Berwyn CARES also helped fund a classroom set of high interest books for students to use during Silent Sustained Reading. Teachers give students time to read in class for pleasure, but many did not have a good book in which to get lost! Now they do, thanks to you.

There are still 3 unfunded project in the Morton West Mini-Challenge. Please consider making a small donation today!

There are classrooms in need of digital cameras, printers, calculators and other supplies that will make the learning environment rich and the lessons much more engaging for these deserving students! Together, we can make a difference!

Berwyn CARES Asks School Board to Demand Resignation of President

BERWYN CARES CALLS ON DISTRICT 201 TO DEMAND RESIGNATION OF JEFF PESEK FOR TIES TO ORGANIZED CRIME, ASKS BERWYN POLITICIANS TO EXPLAIN RECENT ENDORSEMENT

April 11, 2011 (Berwyn, IL) The education advocacy organization Berwyn CARES today urged the J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 Board to demand the immediate resignation of President Jeffry Pesek for ties to drug dealers, organized crime figures and other illegal business practices exposed in published testimony from the federal criminal trial of his childhood friend and employee.

According to an article published in the Chicago Sun Times, among other dubious business relationships, Mr. Pesek partnered with a convicted cocaine, marijuana and heroin dealer in opening businesses that include a nightclub and liquor store and was recorded by the FBI discussing the 2007 mob-ordered bombing of a Berwyn business.

“The overall quality of our schools, both now and in the future, rests with decisions made by the board of education. Due to his involvement with convicted drug dealers and organized crime, and the fact that his businesses have failed to report wages, violated liquor laws and failed to disclose investors in his nightclub business, we find him unfit to lead. We call on the District 201 board to join us in demanding that Mr. Pesek resign immediately," said Robert Pauly, President of Berwyn CARES.

Cited by the Chicago Sun Times as a ‘key player in Cicero politics’, Mr. Pesek through his family and companies has contributed or loaned about $100,000 to elect Cicero Town President Larry Dominick. With Mr. Pesek’s re-election to a new term last week, CARES is also joining residents in questioning the rationale used by elected officials in Berwyn, including Mayor Robert Lovero to send out mailings endorsing Mr. Pesek, referring to him among ‘candidates which share the same interest in moving Berwyn forward.’

“With graduation rates and test scores that significantly lag the state average and a potential state takeover looming, the District 201 Board already faces a strained relationship with this community. We want the best and brightest in charge. Mr. Pesek’s federal testimony demonstrates he lacks the qualities and qualifications that students need. Now is the time for a jury of Mr. Pesek’s peers on the District 201 Board to take immediate action to remove him and for Berwyn’s elected officials to explain their endorsements,” said Mr. Pauly.

Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. (Citizens Aligned to Renew Education for Students) is a community-based organization created to improve the local education system by encouraging more family and community involvement. Since 2006, C.A.R.E.S. has established itself as the leading resource for up-to-date, reputable information on Berwyn's District 98, 100, & 201 schools. More information is available online at www.berwyncares.org.

CARES Discusses Challenges, Opportunities with 201 Superintendent

Thanks to Dr. Kuzniewski, District 201 Superintendent and Joe Keating, District 201 Board member for their attendance at last month’s CARES board meeting. Their presence allowed for a great exchange of ideas and spirited discussion of many topics related to the education of students in Berwyn. Readers may recall at the CARES Town Hall meeting held in December, community members had the opportunity to hear Berwyn districts 100 and 201 respond to a CARES presentation about the 2010 standardized test scores. At the end of the 201 presentation, (which unfortunately was cut short due to time constraints) Dr. Kuzniewski was asked what the community could do to support their efforts to improve education. His response was to “send me your kids!” This, of course, called for some follow up conversation. My question to Dr. K and the team at 201 is “Why should I?”

CARES Board President, Bob Pauly and I had lunch with Dr. Kuzniewski to continue our conversation about the challenges and opportunities at District 201. While we kept coming back to the myriad of excuses for poor performance including a disengaged population, lack of adequate funding and students coming in as freshman without the skills they need to succeed, eventually we got around to some of the rays of hope that may be the key to turning around Morton West High School where only about 30% of students meet or exceed standards on the Prairie State Achievement Examination their junior year. Here are a few of the topics we discussed.

1) New leadership. Since Dr. Kuzniewski took over as Superintendent, there is a new administrative team in place working hard to align curriculum with state standards and make consistent the formative assessments across disciplines and across the district. For example, a test in Algebra at Morton East is the same as a test in Algebra at Morton West. District 201 was without a Curriculum Director for several years. During that time, there was little accountability for aligning the curriculum with the state standards, thus resulting in poor results on tests of those standards. The current assistant Superintendent for Educational Programs, Michael Perrot, oversees all academic programs with his staff of Directors of Instruction for content areas. These Directors of Instruction cover multiple disciplines due to budget limits. Visit the district website for a complete list of course offerings.

2) MAP testing. Morton is in its first full year of using a tool called MAP testing. MAP tests are computerized, individualized assessments given 3 times per year that allow teachers to know immediately what learning needs the students have and adjust instruction and classroom activities accordingly. Prior to this tool, teachers had little data about their students and were limited in their ability to differentiate for different learners. MAP testing will give excellent data to help teachers be more effective instructors and to help measure the progress of each individual student frequently rather than waiting for one test their junior year (The PSAE). The results of the PSAE are not readily available until the following October, when it is essentially too late to make a difference for those students. MAP assessments provide actionable data for every student, delivered quickly and correlated to their curriculum and standards.

3) Technology investments. Morton has received some federal funds for purchasing new technology. Dr. Kuzniewski explained that often the computers and other hardware he has been able to purchase with those funds are not fully utilized because of the limited infrastructure in the district. The community will need to make a large investment in the near future to update the old buildings with the infrastructure needed for 21st century learners. For now, while the rest of the country is purchasing smart boards, computers and other technology, our teachers are limited to overhead projectors that need frequent bulb replacement! It is unclear how much this infrastructure might cost, but in a district that has been forced to cut classes/teachers, reduce credit hour requirements and make due with a bare bones system, it will be a while before funds would be available for such an investment. The district has been able to greatly improve the website to offer better information to visitors and to update the phone service in order to save some money. But, the real changes that would directly impact learning are currently out of reach financially. This administration continues to look for creative ways to fund the improvements necessary to really educate our students in a way that is relevant in 2011.

So while the challenges are great, there is hope for improvement in District 201. Time will tell if these changes will impact learning. Currently the only measure used is student performance on the Prairie State Achievement Examination given each spring. Morton juniors take the PSAE on April 27th and 28th.

Correction

In this blog article, we incorrectly described April Wozniak as working in a finance department. Rather, Ms. Wozniak wrote us to explain:

"Just one correction – I currently work in Financial Development (which is the fundraising department) at the Y. Despite the confusing name, it is very different than working in a finance department. My specific skill set is in building donor relations with corporations and foundations, in order to retain multi-million dollar donors and encourage increased philanthropic giving to support key national programs at the Y."

April Wozniak is running for one of the 4 year seats up for election in District 100 on April 5th. We apologize for any confusion.

Morton Board to Meet on Monday

There is a notice on the Morton website posting a special board meeting for Monday April 4 at East at 5pm in the Auditorium. There is no agenda posted, rather just a statement saying "action will be taken". This may hint at more lay-offs for teachers and staff as regulations require tenured teachers be notified by April 9th and non-tenured to be notified by the end of April.

Surrounding districts including Oak Park District 97 and Riverside-Brookfield High School are facing similar cuts, but those districts have referendums on the April 5th ballot, which if passed could save those districts from the painful cuts proposed. No such referendum is presented to the voters of District 201 at this time. Recall 3 failed referendums a few years ago may have led to the current situation at Morton.

In this article in the Chicago Tribune, Oak Park district 97 lay-offs of 91 faculty and staff as well as demotions and pay reductions are described. From the article:

"All three (District 97) district unions, as well as the administration, agreed to pay concessions to both send a message to the voters and to lessen the impact of cuts if the referendum fails."

Morton District 201 is currently negotiating the teacher's union and other contracts and with as much as 80% of the budget dedicated to human resources, those contract negotiations will shed some light on the future financial picture of our high school district, which historically has a yearly deficit in the millions.

School Administrators, Residents Discuss Project Based Learning

On Friday, March 18, the Education Committee of Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. hosted a discussion of project-based learning at a private home. We were fortunate to be joined by Daniel Ryan, founder and director of The Children’s School, and Marilyn McManus, principal of Hiawatha School and Pershing School, who offered their insights into the process of learning through purposeful activity.

Mr. Ryan gave us some background on progressive education, a philosophy of education connected with the work of John Dewey (founder of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools) and Francis Parker (founder of the Francis W. Parker School). In this philosophy, learning involves a process of inquiry, activity, and reflection. Instead of asking children to passively absorb information, as was typical of schools in the 19th century, progressive education challenged them to be actively engaged in their learning experiences, and gave them opportunities to put new skills and concepts to immediate use in the context of meaningful work. It emphasized learning by doing, intrinsic motivation, and active citizenship. Mr. Ryan explained that progressive education had some great successes through the 1920s and 1930s, but fell out of favor in part because of the demand to prepare students for factory work, which made up a large share of the job market in the 1950s.

In the economic and educational climate of the 21st century, progressive education is beginning to attract renewed interest among teachers, parents, and civic leaders. Mr. Ryan mentioned the revival of the Progressive Educators Network, a national organization which will host its annual conference in Chicago in November.

Mrs. McManus confirmed for us that a philosophy of learning by doing is by no means confined to private schools. With the new technological tools available in District 100 schools, students have been able to immerse themselves in active and collaborative learning experiences like Challenge Based Learning, a model of project-based learning developed by Apple. Teachers have been receiving professional development in Challenge Based Learning and have been implementing it in their classrooms. Mrs. McManus reported that these projects have strengthened student engagement and helped students make connections between their school learning and their daily lives outside of school.

When asked what parents could do to support Challenge Based Learning and other project-based learning in Berwyn’s schools, Mrs. McManus suggested that teachers respond to some degree to parents’ expectations, and that parent and community enthusiasm for these kinds of learning experiences could help prompt more teachers to implement them. Shelley Titzer suggested that the Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. Education Committee tackle the task of investigating and documenting Challenge Based Learning and other classroom projects centered around inquiry, investigation, and real-world problems.

One question that came up was whether students whose teachers ventured beyond textbooks and standardized lesson plans to incorporate project-based learning would be adequately prepared for state testing and able to master basic skills in reading and math. Mrs. McManus shared that some of her most creative teachers had the best results when ISAT exams were compared by classroom. Mr. Ryan affirmed that there is research on project-based learning which shows it to be correlated with an increase in students’ standardized test scores, not a decrease.

Another question was whether the terms project-based learning, inquiry-based learning and problem-based learning were interchangeable. We did not go into this question in depth at the meeting, but both Mrs. McManus and Mr. Ryan have noted that educators often use them interchangeably. The terms progressive education and constructivist education come from educational philosophy and theory; project-based learning is a teaching practice that is often, though not exclusively, associated with these theories.

One more question was whether school leaders in Berwyn would have an interest in possibly joining one of the national networks of schools that research and support models of project-based learning (examples mentioned were Expeditionary Learning and New Tech Network). Mrs. McManus thought that they would.

In terms of school connections and networks, Mr. Ryan mentioned that he is eager to establish relationships between the teachers at his private school (located in North Berwyn) and those at surrounding public schools, in the hopes that they can learn from one another. He would be glad to welcome Berwyn teachers and administrators as visitors to his school.

Throughout the evening, committee members voiced their hopes for schools that would support skills like critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and effective collaboration and communication, as well as dispositions like curiosity, independence, and self-motivation.

Our next steps will be to seek out research on classroom practices that support these skills and dispositions, and to look for examples of those practices which are currently under way in Berwyn’s schools. We would welcome the involvement of C.A.R.E.S. members and other interested community members. To join the C.A.R.E.S. Education Committee or to learn more about our work, please email Shelley Titzer or Gloria Mitchell.

Further reading on Project-Based Learning:

Edutopia
www.edutopia.org The Web site of the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization which advocates for “innovative, replicable strategies that prepare students to thrive in their future education, careers and adult lives.” Project-Based Learning is one of six Core Strategies supported by the foundation’s research, and Edutopia contains a wealth of information on the implementation of PBL in diverse classrooms across the country.

The Buck Institute for Education
www.buckinstitute.org
BIE is also a nonprofit organization. Its mission is to improve 21st century teaching and learning throughout the world by creating and disseminating products, practices and knowledge for effective Project-Based Learning.

Project-Based Learning: Inspiring Middle School Students to Engage in Deep and Active Learning
http://schools.nyc.gov/documents/teachandlearn/project_basedFinal.pdf

A publication of the NYC Department of Education. One passage of special note: “English Language Learners, in particular, thrive in a project-based learning environment because projects give them the opportunity to learn with others through peer-to-peer exchange, to develop their academic vocabularies through conversation, to use their own strengths and cultural backgrounds, and to accelerate their language acquisition at the same time that they are learning about topics of interest. Project-based learning requires the production of authentic (oral and written) language from ELLs.”

What Berwyn Can Learn From Helsinki

I read with great interest this article about the Finnish Education Model. Since Students from Finland consistently rank on top of all the world, officials from other countries look to duplicate some of their successful practices:

1) Invest in teachers. Finland provides an additional teacher in classrooms to assist struggling students while they remain in the classroom. The practice of co-teaching with a focus on the struggling students is becoming more common here in the United States and, indeed, in Berwyn. However, the Finnish Education Minister, Henna Virkkunen is now turning her attention to those students who are gifted. The District 100 DACEE Gifted and Accelerated Committee is recommending a "Gifted Coach" in each building and a curriculum and approach for all children that supports differentiation for the gifted. This benefits the whole class through inclusion/co-teaching rather than separate instruction.

2) Fewer transitions. Finnish students remain in the same school through elementary and secondary years and their teachers follow them for several years. The frequent tranisition in our American system can be very disruptive to the learning process. Berwyn CARES researched the possibility of a unit district, which though it would not be a totally consistent building, students would benefit from better articulation between their elementary schools and high schools. It is also possible to share a charter between districts in IL. What would a charter school for grades 6-12 shared between D98, D100 and Morton West high school look like?

3. Late start? Finnish students do NOT begin formal schooling until age 7. While I do not think this model would be effective in the United States or Berwyn because of other factors that differ between the cultures, I do think this Finnish model supports play based learning in early years over academic rigor. Should kindergarteners be sitting in their desks, struggling to write their alphabet and sound out words or should they be communicating, creating and playing to build a foundation of language that will make the eventual leap to literacy much easier at age 7 or 8? Might we in the states analyze this practice in Finland and modify it to fit our very different needs?

4. Culture of Educational Excellence. Here's the biggie! In Finland, teachers are highly valued and the career is a prestigious one. Parents are involved and regularly communicate with teachers. Consider this quote from the article:

"Finnish parents obviously claim some credit for the impressive school results. There is a culture of reading with the kids at home and families have regular contact with their children's teachers."

The parental involvement is not the rigid, militant approach of the Chinese parent (who read about the Tiger Mother?), but a relaxed and natural acceptance of education as a PART of their culture. How can we duplicate that? Berwyn school officials all identify parental involvement as one of their #1 priorities. School board candidates mention it as a part of their campaign platforms. District 98 lists a presentation on their school board meeting agenda THIS WEDNESDAY titled "District Parent Partnership Program".

Citizens! We should be paying attention to some of the solutions to the parental involvement problem our schools and candidates are proposing. Be a part of those solutions (if you are reading this blog, it is assumed you value education!). How can we promote a culture of educational excellence in ALL of Berwyn?

School Board Candidates Greet Residents, Ask for Votes.

The All Berwyn Committee (ABC) hosted a candidates' forum last week, giving residents an opportunity to greet and question those who would seek to control over 50% of local property taxes. Here is a summary of what CARES members who attended heard:

North Berwyn District 98:

Most of the D98 incumbents were not there because of a conflicting meeting the same evening.

Joseph Festa is a 35 year resident of Berwyn and a former employee of District 98 in the maintenance department. He said he was running for the school board because he thought there were some redundancies in administrative staff that could be eliminated, saving the district money that could be spent on educational programs.

South Berwyn District 100:

Eight candidates for D100 were present; six are running for four open 4-year terms and two (Jim Swicionis and Mark Weiner) are running for one 2-year term.

Current members Anne Marie Suter (appointed to fill a vacancy) and Joanne Zaworski and Jim Swicionis (up for reelection) detailed the new programs and school improvements the board has been able to accomplish over the past several years, without additional tax revenue: full-day kindergarten and upgraded technology in the classrooms were the ones most mentioned. Jim Swicionis also pointed to increased teacher retention and better morale.

New candidates Andres Avila, Debbie Suchy, Gil Pena, Mark Weiner, and April Wozniak offered praise for the work of the current board and of DACEE (District Advisory Committee for Educational Excellence) as well as some new ideas they would like to bring to the district.

Ann Marie Suter - 16 year resident; 4 kids with 3 currently attending D100; dental hygenist; Appointed to fill vacancy in November, 2010. Advocate of PTAs and community involvement. Wants to bridge gap between schools and home.

Andres Avila - He is a high school counselor in Chicago Public School system at Namaste Charter School; bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin; M. Ed. degree from Harvard University. He is working on a second Master's degree and has two sons currently attending Piper and a daughter who will be attending Piper in a few years. He is Piper PTA president and believes his experience in the Chicago Public School system will help on the board. He loves the way technology is being used in D100 (his son has a laptop) and wanted to get more parental involvement in the school systems, especially those who normally don't get involved. He has devoted his professional life to helping kids from working-class backgrounds like his succeed in school and go on to college. He is knowledgeable about new and best practices in education. He talked about improved parent involvement and outreach, and particularly the need to connect with and engage families that don't typically come to PTA or other school meetings.

Joanne Zaworski - She is a 20 year resident of Berwyn. Her daughter is attending Hiawatha. She is a Northeastern University graduate and works as a real estate agent. She was first elected to the board in 2007; she is proud of the hiring of Stan Fields, the district's vision statement, the use of technology in the classroom, full day kindergarten and the hiring of reading teachers. She thinks the district needs to do a better job of communicating with its residents and wants to increase enrollment in the gifted programs.

Debi Suchy - 35 year resident She has had 2 sons go through District 100; one son is now in college while the other son is a sophomore at Morton West. She works as an accountant and was Berwyn City Collector from 2005 to 2009. She serves on the South Berwyn Education Foundation board, the YMCA board and the Berwyn Development Corporation board. She is excited about the District 100 vision. She talked about the fact that there are two types of families sending their kids to schools in Berwyn - the haves and the have-nots and the achievement gap between the haves and the have-nots. She believes the kids of the haves will have the resources to do well but the have-nots will struggle. She believes that the school board must serve every child in the community.

Gilbert Pena - He is a 17 year resident of Berwyn with 3 kids attending District 100 schools. Gil works as an engineer and architect. He is involved in Youth Crossroads and is a member of the Berwyn Community Relations Commission. He says the current board has done a tremendous job of using technology. He wants to see more partnering with businesses and corporations and wants to retain good teachers and increase the use of technology. Gil also talked about increased parent involvement and volunteer opportunities, and out-of-the-box funding that could be pursued through business partnerships or other avenues besides the district's tax revenues.

Mark Weiner - Running for the 2 year seat. Mark works as a lawyer and served on Berwyn City Council for 4 years. He believes education is the backbone of a strong community and supports District 100 goal of being in the top 25% of schools in the state as evidenced by standardized test scores, but wants to shoot higher. He believes the district needs to engage the community on education. He stated that he was impressed by all the people running for the board this year.

James Swicionis - Current board member running for the 2 year seat. Jim is a 34 year Berwyn resident and has 4 kids who are attending District 100 schools. He works as a lawyer. He is proud of the achievements of board in his 8 years on the board and of hiring Stan Fields He listed the use of technology by the district, full day kindergarten and the increase in ISAT scores as major indicators of the current board's effectiveness. His main goal in the next term would be to improve the "marketing" of District 100 to the communiy and expand pre-school and gifted services.

April Wozniak - Has a 6 year old attending Irving. April has a bachelor's degree in child development and works in finance for nonprofits and currently works for the national organization of YMCAs. She also mentioned the achievement gap and three specific areas through which the district could better address it: improved parent engagement, access to early learning opportunities, and summer programs to address summer learning loss. She believes the biggest issues that need to be addressed are loss of learning over the summer and early learning experiences, especially for those who are the "have-nots"; She has also worked with something called "Friendly Math", a program which makes math less intimidating for youngsters.

Morton High School District 201:

Only one candidate for District 201 participated in the forum.

Rita Maniotis - She is running as a write-in candidate in District 201. She believes that people want quality education in District 201. She wants to accomplish 3 things:

1. Cut ties between Cicero political machine and District 201 - She talked about the fact that the board now allows only one comment in public session on action items and said it was increasingly hard to find out what is going on. A question in the audience asked whether it was true the board was ending meetings early and not starting at 7 PM, she responded that when she went to board meetings in November and December, the meetings were ending as she walked in the door.

2. Restore graduation requirements - She talked about the fact that her son will not be able to get into the University of Illinois with the current limit on credit hours in District 201. She stated that she will have to pay tuition to send him to summer school in order for him to take the additional courses he will need when he graduates in order to get into the University of Illinois.

3. TIF districts - She said she wanted to look at the impact of TIF districts on school budgets. She stated an IASB study showed that the Chicago Public School system would get an additional $150 million if there were no TIF districts. She also pointed to Oak Park, which is giving TIF money back to the originating districts.

When asked a question about the fact that there were no black teachers at Morton, she said there needed to be more minority teachers.

When asked if she had a magic wand, what would she change, she responded that she would put solor panels on the field house to save energy. She ended by saying that she thought Morton High School had simply become a machine to send kids to Morton College and that the district is sending a message to its kids that a 4 year college is out of their realm.

Many of the candidates brought a clear passion for education and for their community to the forum. In many cases, they echoed one another's sentiments about fiscal responsibility (said no to the question about a referendum) and putting the needs of children before any other considerations, including pursuing consolidation of Berwyn school districts.

Berwyn CARES has sent all candidates surveys about their positions on various educational issues. We will be publishing their unedited responses on our website in the coming weeks, giving YOU the opportunity to do a side-by-side comparison. Please follow this election carefully and be sure you are informed before you vote on April 5th.