NORTHFIELD, Ill. (WBBM) - New Trier Township High School students attended their first day of classes Thursday without any influx of Chicago schoolchildren.

But State Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago), who is planning a Sept. 2 Chicago school boycott and registration protest, spent much of the day on the North Shore.

WBBM’s Bob Roberts has the story. 

Meeks and several supporters met Senate colleague Jeff Schoenberg (D-Wilmette) and north suburban school and police officials at the Northfield police station.  They then took a bus tour of the elementary and high school campuses in New Trier Township which are expected to be the focus of the protest.

Meeks said the intent was to get a better sense of the logistics that would be involved in bringing the students to the North Shore to attempt to register for classes.

He said he saw no point in bringing students to the suburbs before Chicago's opening day of school, Sept. 2, even though most north suburban districts are starting school this week or next.

“If we'd had them here today, no one would have paid attention to it,” Rev. Meeks said, explaining his decision not to try to begin classes on the same timetable as north suburban students. 

Meeks is trying to dramatize the inequities he sees in the existing funding system.  He seeks changes that would direct more funding toward Chicago and other impoverished districts.  

Meeks and his supporters are urging students to boycott the entire first week of classes in Chicago's public school system.  CPS classes resume Tuesday, Sept. 2. He intends to lead protests Sept. 3-5 at the Aon Building, Wrigley Building, Sears Tower, James R. Thompson Center, City Hall, and other downtown landmarks, during which boycotting students will receive four hours of “instruction” each day.

“In fact, the curriculum we've planned is so good they will probably be ahead of the other students when they get back,” Meeks said. 

On Thursday, Meeks produced a letter from Linda Riley Mitchell, the chief financial officer of the Illinois State Board of Education.  In it, Mitchell said boycotting the first day or first week would have no effect on Chicago school funding, because the city can use any three months or September from any of the past three years when calculating attendance figures for purposes of funding.

Last year's opening day attendance in the Chicago system set a record.

Meeks contends that state law allows suburban districts to register Chicago school children and waive fees if an emergency exists, and said the funding crisis constitutes an emergency in his eyes. 

New Trier officials disagree.  District 203 Supt. Linda Yonke Thursday sent a letter to parents in which she said Chicago students who attempt to register will be turned away.

Several elementary districts in New Trier Township, which also are expected to be the target of demonstrations, have sent similar letters in recent weeks.

THIS IS THE E-MAIL SENT TO NEW TRIER PARENTS:

From: Yonke, Linda L
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 3:25 PM
Subject: Opening of School

Dear New Trier students and families,

Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year.  I hope every student has a wonderful, productive year at New Trier.  We look forward to seeing you again – or for the first time!

I want to provide a very brief update about an event you likely have heard about in the news.  State Senator Reverend James Meeks is encouraging Chicago Public Schools families to keep their children out of school on their first day, September 2, as a message about the inequities in public school funding.  To dramatize the issue, Rev. Meeks plans to bring Chicago students to enroll at New Trier that day. 

A couple of facts to remember:

• The event is planned for Chicago’s first day of school on September 2, NOT New Trier’s first day of school. 
• This is a one-day political action; Illinois state law does not allow students to transfer at will to a school in a district where they do not reside. 
• Our administrators have had numerous planning meetings in the past three weeks, and we are working closely with the villages of Northfield and Winnetka to prepare for the day. 

Our primary objective is to ensure that the school day at New Trier on September 2 is not disrupted.  I will send out additional specific information as plans are finalized. 

Have a wonderful beginning to the school year –

Linda Yonke
Superintendent