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Facts aren’t matching up with Emanuel’s school rhetoric

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* Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel says he wants to add an hour and a half to Chicago’s school day as soon as possible…

“We’re not going to negotiate or discuss whether children get more instruction — we will work together so that gets done. I’m not deviating from that. I was clear about it,” Emanuel said after speaking at a South Side charter school. […]

“Three or four years ago, [the CTU] rejected a pay raise — 6 percent for 45 minutes of additional instruction time,” Emanuel said.

There are several disagreements about Emanuel’s facts. For instance, teachers say they weren’t offered a pay raise for that extra teaching time. The school district says a 2 percent raise was offered for one year, not a 6 percent raise. More…

A fact-sheet issued by the union noted that the school day was extended 15 minutes following contract talks in 2004. The 4 percent pay raises go back seven years, not nine [as Emanuel repeatedly claims].

And while Emanuel said Chicago students get far less instruction than those in Houston, Los Angeles or Boston, Brown said Houston is an “outlier” requiring far more hours of instruction — 1,304 a year — than any major city. Chicago, which requires 946 instructional hours a year, is between Los Angeles, which requires 954 hours, and New York City, which requires 930, Brown said.

* The Sun-Times was concerned enough about the discrepancies to publish an editorial…

The battle to lengthen Chicago’s shamefully short public school day has begun.

In this fight, we stand firmly behind Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel. He said Friday he wants schools to be open each day another hour or an hour and a half.

But if Emanuel hopes to persuade teachers to go along, he would be wise to get his facts exactly right.

* Emanuel repeated some of those apparently erroneous statements on Fox Chicago Sunday. Watch…

The full interview is here.

Stand for Children’s Jonah Edelman and the IFT’s Dan Montgomery were also on the program…

The full interview is here.

* In other news, campaign finance reports were filed on Friday…

Rahm Emanuel raised $14.5 million in his successful bid to become Chicago’s next mayor, spending roughly $800,000 to fight an attempt to knock him off the ballot by challenging his residency.

Emanuel raised $2.58 million during the first three months of the year, spent $9 million and had $1.86 million on hand to start April, according to a report his campaign filed Friday with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Emanuel raised nearly $11.8 million in campaign donations during the last six months of 2010. […]

Emanuel, who flooded the airwaves for much of the campaign, spent more than $5.5 million on television advertisements. He spent another $473,000 online and $300,000 on radio advertisements.

All told, the mayor-elect spent more than $12.5 million on the campaign to get 326,331 votes. That comes out to about $38.33 spent per vote.

Gery Chico spent $3.7 million between January 1 and election day. Carol Moseley Braun has still not filed her report as of this writing, and her campaign treasurer announced her resignation on Friday. Miguel del Valle reported spending just $138K between January 1 and election day. Sheesh.

* Related…

* Warren: In Springfield, a Week of Change in Education

* McQueary: Why bad districts lose good teachers

* Emanuel and Daley oppose CPS tax hike: As Chicago Public Schools officials continue to refine a budget proposal expected this month, Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel and outgoing Mayor Richard Daley said they don’t support raising property taxes to reduce an estimated $720 million budget gap for next school year.

* Old allies Rahm Emanuel and Rod Blagojevich in spotlight again - Blagojevich retrial gets under way as Emanuel prepares to be Chicago’s next mayor

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 3:43 am

Comments

Rahm can bluster for a while, accepting that nothing will get done to approve the CPS system. Then we can all get back to accepting the status quo, and Rahm will not then endanger his future union fundraising capability.

Comment by Cincinnatus Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 9:13 am
Emanuel and Daley oppose CPS tax hike: I think the war on the unions is just starting. Emanuel needs to cut expenses in order to balance the budget. He will NOT raise the property tax to balance the budget.

Comment by Palatine Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 9:15 am
–Rahm will not then endanger his future union fundraising capability. –

Yeah, he really needs union money. Did unions back him in the election? Any facts at all? More Fox talking points.

–Carol Moseley Braun has still not filed her report as of this writing, and her campaign treasurer announced her resignation on Friday.–

That sounds about right.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 9:39 am
“He will NOT raise the property tax to balance the budget.”

Why not? Chicago has some of the lowest property taxes in the country.

We are in this mess because property owners in Chicago haven’t been paying their fair share.

Comment by Leroy Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 9:50 am
Union fundraising capability!!!!
Now that’s really funny.

Comment by Bill Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 9:51 am
- Rahm will not then endanger his future union fundraising capability. -

You really need to switch the tv off Fox once in a while, might have noticed that Rahm and the unions don’t exactly love one another. Maybe try Google searching for “Rahm and UAW”.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 10:20 am
From what I gather Rahm looks like the buck is going to Stop with him.
He sure seems to be a guy looking for a battle. I wish him well. And he makes a good point the teachers were given raises and the union gave nothing back. With jobs at a premium,and taxpayers fed up he may have a shot to pull it off.

Comment by mokenavince Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 10:47 am
–We are in this mess because property owners in Chicago haven’t been paying their fair share.–

I hope by “this mess,” you’re not referring to the State’s fiscal woes… If so, a refresher course in layers of government and revenue is in order.

Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 10:48 am
I hope by “this mess,” you’re not referring to the State’s fiscal woes… If so, a refresher course in layers of government and revenue is in order.

And a refresher course is in order for you as well, about the pretty massive fiscal problems that the City of Chicago is facing.

Comment by dave Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 11:07 am
wordslinger,

Of course your reliable HuffPost talking points trump anything anyone may hear/read/see anywhere else. And your constant downplaying of anyone having a thought different than yours that may be their own and not the result of brainwashing is more than off putting and far below the normal quality of your inputs.

Rahm is now laying the groundwork for his rehabilitation with the unions as he rightly should since he was able to take advantage od the large field to dilute the opposition to his candidacy. We will see where the unions place their support come Rahm’s re-election. I am sure that they will give full-throated support (both in bodies and money) to his challengers. Rahm is now laying the groundwork for his rehabilitation with the unions.

Comment by Cincinnatus Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 11:11 am
So many people have been repeating the “Chicago has the shortest school day in the country” line for so long that I’m not sure its worth the CTU’s time to try to change it.

The fact is, whether its the shortest or somewhere in the middle, most folks believe the school day and school year are too short.

I’d focus on this:

1. The lowest-paid principal in Chicago makes over $100K a year.

2. The HIGHEST paid teacher in Chicago makes $96K a year - only after earning a Master’s degree and putting in 15 years.

We’ve got a top-heavy bureaucracy in Chicago, with principals that are being mightily compensated for managing failing schools.

My Principal Principle is that higher standards and performance-based pay should apply to EVERYONE at CPS, not just the teachers.

Maybe start with a base salary of ZERO for the next superintendent and a bonus of $1 for every student that graduates on-time?

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 11:12 am
Cincy, you have absolutely no basis for your theories.

Emanuel raised exponentially more money than his opponents without union cash. He won the election in a walk with active union opposition. His rhetoric has been consistent saber-rattling against public employee unions.

But somehow, in your crystal ball, you blithely see him knuckling under because he needs the unions for money? Based on what?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 11:18 am
===I am sure that they will give full-throated support (both in bodies and money) to his challengers. ===

Yeah, the unions will want to flush their resources down the toilet going after an incumbent, Democratic, former White House CoS. Especially against a guy with the kind of long memory and table-stabbing views on loyalty.

===Rahm is now laying the groundwork for his rehabilitation with the unions.===

Now you are just putting random words into sentences.

Comment by Obamarama Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 11:19 am
YDD,

You are correct that the CPS does not have the shortest time of instruction in the state, the lunch period is shorter in the CPS than many jurisdictions which brings the instruction time closer to par.

Comment by Cincinnatus Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 11:22 am
I would like to see the school schedule redone. We should have school run year round (three semesters with a month in between), start classes at 8:00 and go to 5:00, with an hr lunch and a mid morning break and a mid afternoon break.
Include the last hr of time for doing homework at the end of the day with teachers available to assist.

The knowledge and ability of our students in the US continues to drop, while this is not a fix, less down time between semesters, more classroom time during the day and assited homework time would be a strong step up.

Comment by Ghost Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 11:30 am
- Rahm is now laying the groundwork for his rehabilitation with the unions. -

By supporting removing teachers’ right to strike? Or by telling the city employees they’re going to have to live in the city? I mean, maybe I’m a novice to political strategy, but what exactly is in it for the unions here?

Comment by Small Town Liberal Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 11:34 am
This stuff about teachers not giving anything is a joke. More than 5000 teahcers have lost their jobs, many of them illegally, over the last several years due to the policies of Rahm’s buddy Arne Duncan and Mr. CTA, Ron Huberman.
Getting laid off is the ultimate giveback.

Comment by Bill Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 12:01 pm
===We will see where the unions place their support come Rahm’s re-election. I am sure that they will give full-throated support (both in bodies and money) to his challengers. Rahm is now laying the groundwork for his rehabilitation with the unions.===

What exactly is he doing to achieve that? Hiring Brizard as head of CPS? Proposing higher contributions and cuts to pensions to reduce the deficit?

Some unions may support him because they feel they don’t have another realistic option (and because he’s not Scott Walker), but I would not be surprised if some who sat out or waited a long time to endorse another candidate in the last election are more actively campaigning against him next time around.

Comment by SR Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 12:29 pm
My daughter attended Walter Payton and their day was from 8-3, maybe that is why they are one of the best schools in the state. And Rahm didn’t need union financial support because he was able to still collect unlimited funds prior to Jan. 1, 2011; dollars might be a little harder to come by next time.

Comment by Jim Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 1:52 pm
Cincinnatus, your repeated insistence that he’s setting the stage for some sort of rapproachment with the unions was seriously undermined by Emanuel’s announcement that Rochester, NY schools Supt. Jean-Claude Brizard would lead the city’s schools.

Brizard is not a hero of the teachers unions. Far from it.

So, enough with that line, already.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 1:56 pm
Thank you RM. Cincinnatus is getting tiring on many posts.

Comment by Palatine Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 2:20 pm
Jean-Claude Brizard was an interesting pick.

Lots of fanfare, lots of controversy, but after only three years on the job in Rochester, they haven’t seen much in the way of results yet.

Brizard has held up Atlanta as a model for school reform in the past, after their high school graduation rate jumped from around 40% to over 70%.

Turns out, Atlanta reached that remarkable level of achievement in two years by cooking the books and “losing” 16,000 students.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 3:08 pm
–Jean-Claude Brizard was an interesting pick.–

And an awesome name. Like someone from Wide World of Sports or a Godard flick.

Here’s hoping he enjoys the thrill of victory and leaves us all….. breathless.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 3:30 pm
As an Illinoisian who has spent much of the past four years in Rochester (and was around when Brizard got the job) I can say that Mr. Brizard’s tenure as head of the Rochester school district looks to me to have been a disaster. You can read a good summary of his missteps with Rochester’s school district at this link: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/blog/2011/04/A-school-district-in-crisis-with-children-on-board/

Comment by Ben Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 4:41 pm
–And a refresher course is in order for you as well, about the pretty massive fiscal problems that the City of Chicago is facing. –

Well aware of the fiscal problems Dave, not the point of my post… try again. I was simply addressing Leroy’s misplaced notion that Chicago’s low property tax rate is the reason the state is in “this mess.”

In fact, I agree with Leroy that a property tax increase may be the only remedy, and shouldn’t be dismissed by Rahm or those in this comment section.

Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 5:27 pm
@Ben -

I hope the first question that reporters ask our new Soop when he gets to Chicago is “What do you consider your biggest success and your biggest mistake in Rochester?”

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 6:15 pm
Braun filed her quarterly report via fax Friday. It shows her raising around $328k since January 1, spending $315k, but having $8k remaining. Is it me, or do the numbers not match? And if you check out the report, they didn’t itemize the expenditures. It’s literally a one line, $315k to “Multiple Vendors”. What a disaster.

Comment by Former Downstater Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 7:57 pm
===Brizard is not a hero of the teachers unions. Far from it.===

Judging from some of these comments, the teachers unions’ friends are proving your point Rich. Geez, the guy just got announced and the oppo research is flying fast around here.

It’s day one and the knives are out. Is that a new record?

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 8:12 pm
47, some don’t understand that there’s a new day coming. Not a guarantee, but a chance.

I admire and celebrate the 59% of CPS students that graduate high school under very difficult circumstances. They’re smarter and tougher than the average bears that you’ll meet. They have to be.

But I want to reach and out smack the heads of the 50% of the dummies who don’t. Life’s hard. Cry me a river. But no one has a right to not finish high school.

For those who haven’t taken the many avenues available to finish high school, get busy. You’ll get no sympathy from this Progressive Liberal if you don’t. And I’m the best shot you have.

Dont’t be a schmuck. Finish high school

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 18, 11 @ 11:36 pm