Chicago is My Home

14
Apr

St. Xavier, Other Chicago Schools Close on Monday; Malcolm X Evacuated

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Education

CHICAGO – St. Xavier University, which has campuses in Chicago and Orland Park, Ill., cancelled classes on Monday due to vandalism incidents on April 5 and 10. Law enforcement officials suggested that the school close both campuses due to a message found that read: “Be prepared to die on 4/14.”

“During this process, we have relied heavily on the advice and direction of our dedicated law enforcement agencies to ensure that actions and communications regarding this matter protect the safety of all involved,” said Judith Dwyer, president at St. Xavier, in a statement on the school’s Web site.

Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, Brother Rice High School, Queen of Martyrs School and Evergreen Park Southwest Elementary School also closed on Monday due to the St. Xavier threat. Malcolm X College on Monday was also evacuated after a threat was found on a bathroom wall.

By Stephanie Huls

30
Oct

Chicago Public Schools Spends $7 Million on Social Networking

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Education

CHICAGO – FirstClass software from Lincolnshire, Ill.-based Open Text will go live on Oct. 31 across the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system. The software is designed to link teachers and students via e-mail, social networking and online tools.

Open Text will oversee the implementation of the software on the CPS database. The school board budget reported the cost for the technology at $7 million.

FirstClass is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that’s designed to ease the burden of technology professionals within schools. Chicago students will receive access to the service on a “rolling basis” throughout the school year.

The program has been used in certain CPS schools for nine months. A technology coordinator and computer teacher at Agustin Lara School in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood has some concerns with its rollout.

“I am waiting to see all the bumps and cracks,” said Lauren Villwock, 23, in an interview with MidwestBusiness.com. The software will go live to approximately 600 schools in the district.

Read the rest of this entry »