Chicago Sun-Times

Safe Passage routes rife with sex offenders

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 02:33:35 -0500

A Sun-Times analysis found that 48 of 53 Safe Passage routes at schools that took in children from closed schools have sex offenders registered along them or within 1/8 mile — a full city block.

Taming Chicago’s $1.7 billion TIF monster

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 15:20:28 -0500

Tax increment financing is an off-putting name for an explosive political topic. After coming to Chicago three decades ago as an obscure funding tool for North Loop development, TIF districts have multiplied across the city, raising enough cash to become a stealth government.

Child-sex felon worked for City Hall, Chicago school system

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 10:56:00 -0500

A Chicago man who was sentenced this week to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a minor and videotaping the attacks had worked since 2008 as a City Hall aide and previously worked for former Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan, records show.

Board of Education OKs master plan for school buildings

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 02:19:17 -0500

Months after voting to close a record number of schools, Chicago’s Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to approve its first “blueprint for facilities investments over the next decade.” Going into the vote, several board members still had substantive questions.

Paul Vallas school ouster case is heard by Connecticut Supreme Court

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 09:00:01 -0500

Did Paul Vallas, the former Chicago schools chief who’s now schools superintendent in Bridgeport, Conn., properly receive a waiver to state certification requirements for his current job? That question went before the Connecticut Supreme Court on Monday as it considers whether Vallas should be ousted as schools chief of the northeastern city. There was no immediate ruling.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel unleashes rapid-fire construction plans for CPS

Sun, 22 Sep 2013 14:43:21 -0500

During a four-day stretch, Mayor Rahm Emanuel doled out more than $90 million in big capital spending for CPS. The announcements had much of the city wondering where in the world the money came from, and how, in a district with such need, were these projects chosen?

Students injured by pepper spray at South Side elementary school

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 18:11:03 -0500

A student brought pepper spray to school and it discharged, police said. Of those injured, three were in fair-to-serious condition and 16 were in good condition, Fire Media said.

Payton College Prep to get $17 million annex, room for up to 400 more students

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 02:26:33 -0500

As many Chicago Public Schools struggle with deep budget cuts, one of the city’s — and the nation’s — highest-performing selective enrollment high schools will receive a $17 million expansion of up to 400 seats that might ease the heated competition among would-be attendees just a bit. In the wake of a record round of school closings, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday that Walter Payton College Prep is getting a new annex and additional classrooms bankrolled by tax increment financing that will allow one of the nation’s top 100 high schools to increase capacity.

Emanuel defends school additions, improvements after CPS closures

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 02:22:39 -0500

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday defended his decision to build new schools and school additions, even after closing nearly 50 schools and laying off 3,000 school employees to close a $1 billion deficit triggered by skyrocketing pension obligations.

After questions about new SE Side school, mayor’s office fills in blanks

Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:34:50 -0500

On the day after Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s amorphous announcement to build a new Southeast Side school on a polluted parcel of land — once owned by the relative of a disgraced former alderman, City Hall scrambled to fill in the blanks.

Emanuel visits Dulles, makes no mention of nearby violence

Sat, 14 Sep 2013 02:11:00 -0500

The principal of Dulles School of Excellence on the South Side drew mostly praise Friday from parents and others for a recent memo sent to staff, urging them to hustle students and staff out of school at day’s end — to help keep them safe from neighborhood gun violence.

2 Rogers Park educators removed from classroom during investigation

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 17:39:19 -0500

Two educators at Jordan Elementary Community School in Rogers Park have been removed from the classroom pending the outcome of an investigation into alleged misconduct, Chicago Public Schools confirmed Thursday.

U of I president awarded $90,000 performance bonus by trustees

Fri, 13 Sep 2013 02:22:57 -0500

That brings university President Robert Easter’s annual salary to $552,375, and marks the first time the University of Illinois has awarded its president a bonus on top of a base salary.

‘His legacy is us’: Daniel M. Horyn, Niles North teacher, coach, mentor, dead at 34

Fri, 13 Sep 2013 02:24:56 -0500

After 13 years on the job, some teachers burn out. Dan Horyn seemed to be just warming up. The popular English teacher and track and cross-country coach at Niles North High School in Skokie died Monday of esophageal cancer. He was 34 and left behind a wife, Andrea, their dog Gina and a legacy of changing lives, his students and fellow teachers said.