As a Representative to Disney Magnet Elementary Local School Council, I was pained to read the Chicago Tribune article and report(http://graphics.chicagotribune.com/chicago-public-schools-sexual-abuse/) citing more than 400 incidents of sexual abuse had occurred within CPS buildings over the last 7 years.  

This is tragic.

This can not continue.

This can not happen again.

In a detailed report, excellently summarized by Illinois Raise Your Hand, https://www.ilraiseyourhand.org/sex_abuse_report_released_statement, it was found that on behalf of CPS, there were no centralized guidelines or standards for how to handle reports of sexual abuse, including that some principals reported not knowing that there were mandatory sexual education curricula.

Soon after the report’s publication, CPS announced it was launching a new office, The Office of Student Protections.

Now a month after announcing the office, I urge CPS to continue to develop this strategy, but with the input, guidance, and oversight of the Local School Councils of the City of Chicago.  We are the elected representatives of the schools that CPS administers.

I am speaking on my own, but If you would like to add your name with me, let me know.  dan@dankleinman.org

Neighbors:

We won an election yesterday!

I am looking forward to serving to represent you on the Local School Council at Disney Magnet as a Community Representative.

I need to thank you for providing the opportunity for me to earn the most votes in my constituency category (Communtiy Representative).  Just like every time, every vote counted.

Thank you.

And looking forward,

Daniel

An incredibly useful post of Election Day “How-To’s” from Raise Your Hand Action!

In part, RYHA points out:

Any parent or resident of the school attendance area or voting district can vote. Find the voting district tool here.

You do not have to be a citizen or registered voter to vote in a CPS LSC election.

Voters need to bring 2 forms of ID. (1 form of ID if you are listed as a parent of a child at the school.) You can find accepted forms of ID in the 2018 LSC Election Guide p. 17.

We are also reminded to vote by marking an “X” or two intersecting lines next to the ballot choice.

https://www.raiseyourhandaction.org/2018_lsc_elections

I believe in organized labor. Let me tell you why:

Our nation owes so much of its modern progressive values to those who organized, not just for themselves, but for the benefit of everyone.  These efforts have been deeply imbedded in our society now, like the notion of having a weekend, or a safe work environment, or fairer wages, and it is hard to forget that many organizers lost their lives fighting these social battle.

I agree that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

If we truly believe in economic empowerment and equity, then we must acknowledge the necessity of organized labor.

The contemporary labor movement is not anti-democracy.  It is Democracy.  It is the only enfranchising effort that the employed have to represent them to the Employer.

Labor organization should be encouraged, not disparaged.

And so I print all of my materials at a print shop that can rightly include their union bug.

It is not that I agree with every decision or act that a Union makes or takes.

It is that I insist that the right to make those decisions or acts can not be abridged.

This is not a statement of argument.

This is a statement of my values.

Dear Neighbors:

Disney Magnet is not one of our neighborhood schools, but Disney Magnet is one of our neighbors.

By working together, we can build partnerships that will keep our community area safe and vibrant, and help ensure students have the whole city at their fingertips.

That is what it means to me to run for Local School Council.  I am proud to be among candidates across the city running for one of 6,000 seats within their neighborhoods.

Possibly one of the largest elections in the country, few people know about the election, and even fewer people participate with a vote.

I know we cannot change or transform participation overnight, but I know everything begins with a first step.

My name is Dan Kleinman, and I am asking for your vote for Community Representative on the Local School Council of Walt Disney Magnet on April 18th.

Thank you.

Proud to officially be listed as a candidate for Community Representative at Disney Elementary School!

Thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the community of Disney Elementary.

Disney Elementary is a magnet school.   It is not our neighborhood school.

But we our Disney’s neighborhood, and this school is our neighbor.

We can form community partnerships that can better serve our communities and in turn make our school an even better institution of learning.

You can look up every candidate at each school here:

cps.edu/ScriptLibrary/Map-LSCElections2018/index.html

In the event that the chief executive officer [of CPS] determines that a local school council is not carrying out its financial duties effectively, the chief executive officer is authorized to appoint a representative of the business community with experience in finance and management to serve as an advisor…

— From Illinois State Law (105 ILCS 5/34-2.1):

To me, this is worthy of debate.  While I originally take umbrage with the appointed School Board undermining an elected Local School Council,  I argue that at the least, the above statutory language should read,

the chief executive officer is authorized to appoint a representative of the education community with experience in teaching and administration at an attendance center within the school district to serve as an advisor….

To me, this just makes sense, but I look forward to the discussion.

It is a national debate.

And it can be a local discussion.

If I were elected to Local School Council, I would advocate for a public resolution stating that our teachers should not be armed.

No politics.

Just principle.

Download the flyers!

1.Dan Kleinman for Disney Magnet Candidate Statement Form 4-18.pages.pdf

A lot!   Regardless of what we do, we should all prticipate in making our schools even better places of learning and anchors in our neighborhoods!

— Dan

Dear Neighbors:

I will be attending an upcoming Local School Council meeting at Walt Disney Magnet next Tuesday at 5:30 PM.

I was incredibly impressed by Disney’s LSC ever since I first reached out and was invited to attend a meeting.  I had the pleasure of being in the public audience to learn of the school’s progress report.

It would be great to see you there next week!  Send me a message and we can coordinate: dan@dankleinman.org

And if you cannot join me, check out the upcoming LSC meeting at your nearby school or where your students attend, too!

Thanks, and Looking Forward,

Dan

A Local School Council (LSC) is the governing body of a public school in the City of Chicago. By law, every CPS school has one.

Local School councils consist of the school’s principal, six parents of students who attend the school, two community members who reside within the attendance area of the school, two teachers, one non-teacher staff member, and, in the case of high schools, one student.

Dear Neighbors of Uptown, Buena Park, Sheridan Park, Lakeview, Edgewater and all my supportive friends and family:

I have appreciated your well wishes and kind thoughts encouraging me to seek an elected seat on one of our neighborhoods’ Chicago Public Schools’ Local School Councils.

The election is in April, and as of today: I am considering it.

Yours,
and Looking Forward,

— Dan