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<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>LOCAL RESIDENT AND ENBATTLED CHICAGO TEACHER'S
UNION MEMBER TO SPEAK AT A PUBLIC FORUM IN URBANA</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>SATURDAY AUGUST 25TH </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>FROM 2pm - 4pm</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>CHANNING MURRAY FOUNDATION</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>1209 W. OREGON</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>URBANA ILLINOIS</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Former Champaign resident Xian ( Sean )
Barrett, who is currently a Chicago Teacher and member of the Illinois
Federation of Teachers ( I.F.T. ) affilliated Chicago Teachers Union, will be
speaking this Saturday August 25th at Channing Murray Foundation, 1209 W. Oregon
in Urbana.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>In the weeks leading up to the start of the Fall
2012 semester for Chicago Public Schools, preperations continue for a possible
strike of 30,000 Chicago Teachers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Members of the Chicago Teachers Union, like former
Champaign resident Xian Barrett, are traveling across the State of Illinois
to inform Illinois residents about the realities of what is happening in
Chicago, that is adversely effecting ; Teachers, Students,
and Parents, and that most people who live in Illinois outside of
Chicago are unaware of. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Many Educators and other citizens in the state
of Illinois are concerned that the events and circumstances that currently
exist in Chicago could spread to the rest of the State. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>In Chicago, Teachers, Parents, Education Support
Staff Workers, Students and many members of the Community are angry at the
non-elected Chicago School Board that is appointed by Mayor Rahm
Emanuelle.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>They are angry at the appointed Chicago
Board of Education for it's policies and actions of the last several years that
has involved the closing of Public Schools, the understaffing by
means of massive lay-offs of existing Public School employees, the refusal
to repair and upgrade the physical infrastructure of current public schools
that are in some instances are literally falling apart, the diversion
of public tax dollars from public schools to private schools owned by
profit making corporations, and most recently attempts to destroy
the Chicago Teachers Union.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Many Chicago residents feel that the
non-elected Mayoral appointed Chicago Board of Education is out of touch with
the concerns of the majority of Chicago residents, in particular those who work
at and attend Chicago Public Schools.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Many of these same Chicago residents state that
the appointed Chicago Board of Education consists almost entirly of wealthy
individuals and representatives of corporate special interest groups, most of
whom do not live in the city of Chicago and have little or no
experience in the field of education.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>In addition to this, recent accusations have
emerged that the appointed Chicago Board of Education has allowed the vast
majority of public tax dollars to be diverted to non-educational private
hotel and real estate development, while simaltaneously stating publicly
that the City of Chicago Public Schools are broke !</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Allegations have also been made that some of these
private development projects have personally benefited certain members
of the Mayoral appointed Chicago School Board.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>For more information contact ;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>David Johnson</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><A
href="mailto:dlj725@hughes.net">dlj725@hughes.net</A> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>217-721-0583</FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>