Chicago Math and Science Academy Security Issues

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CHICAGO (STMW) – Two teens were injured in a drive-by shooting Wednesday afternoon in the Rogers Park neighborhood.

The shooting happened about 4 p.m. in the 7400 block of North Rogers Avenue, police said. A 17-year-old Hispanic boy was shot in the shoulder and a 16-year-old Hispanic boy was shot in his side.

Both were taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in “stable” condition, police said.

They told police a vehicle drove by, firing shots at them.

No one was in custody Wednesday night. Belmont Area detectives are investigating.

© Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2010.

Recently some parents of students at the Chicago Math and Science Academy contacted us about an incident involving two of their students being shot after school; and the school administration's reaction (or inaction) as a result of the shooting.

Apparently, the two students were the victims of a drive-by shooting not far from the school. As a consequence, many parents were understandably concerned about the safety and welfare of their children and attended a school board meeting to express their concerns about school security.

According to one of the parents, " The principal had held a parent council meeting the Monday after the shooting and told the parents that he would bring the parents concerns before the board. I do not believe the board cares about the students safety so myself and other parents told the students to come and make sure that the board actually heard directly from their parents. The parents were allowed to make comments for 2 minutes a piece. The principal put a big timer up on a screen and would attempt to take the microphone out of the speakers hand after the buzzer went off. They are spending THOUSANDS of tax dollars to fight the union when they could be hiring an extra security guard. They may actually do something to improve security but the point was so that the parents would see that these men feel above questioning and did not even want to make time to hear their concerns. The principal did include the shooting in his report but still...they refused to answer the parents questions."

We agree with the parents, and suggest to the Chicago Math and Science Academy administrators to take some of the money that they are throwing at lawyers to fight the teachers' unionization efforts (or the Tuzuk money for that matter), and hire a few more security guards to ensure student safety.

And better yet, try answering the questions of concerned parents (after all -- they are paying your salaries via their tax money), and stop trying to intimidate them simply because you can. Squelch your oversized egos for a change and actually do what you are being paid to do, which is to make certain that the students are learning in a safe and protected environment and that their parents are afforded the luxary of knowing that when they ask questions regarding the welfare of the children that they are responded to in a respectful and timely manner.

Hey, it may require that you cut the baklava budget, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do -- because it is the right course of action.