July 23, 2014The Chicago Board of Education

125 S. Clark Street

Chicago, IL

RE: For the Public Record: Testimony by Dianne Daleiden, West Andersonville

Neighbors Together, Opposed to Proposed Expansion of AHS-Passages Charter My name is Dianne Daleiden and I represent W.A.N.T, West Andersonville Neighbors Together where Passages, an elementary charter school, wants to expand. We are firmly opposed. Passages hasnt been a good neighbor continuous traffic problems, lying about holding community meetings never held -- and last year, when they tried to add a high school, they didnt come to the community. They came to you. Our community banded together, pressured our elected officials and blocked that high school. Now they want to add 50 more students?

American Quality Schools -- a for-profit corporate management company -- runs Passages. Its CEO, Michael Bakalis, claims they are losing money because they arent getting funding for 22 students. Why? Because Mr. Bakalis PURPOSEFULLY and KNOWINGLY exceeded their enrollment cap of 410 students by 22 students. Thats right their MAXIMUM was 410 but they enrolled 432. And now they want 460 students which will cost us an additional $250,000? They broke their contract with you. You shouldnt give them more money. You should slap them with a hefty fine for breaking their contract. But theres a bigger question today will this Board fund private charter schools at the expense of OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS again?Look whats happening in my ward, the 40th our neighborhood schools lost 2.5 million. Amundsen 1.5. Chappell -- $94,000. Trumbull closed, a school community ripped apart because of its real estate value.

My neighbors and I truly care about our city, our schools, our ward but we are ignored. Youre not accountable to us and that has to change. We need an elected representative school board and, as a candidate for Alderman of the 40th Ward, that is one of my top priorities. Because like most Chicagoans, I still believe in democracy. Please, do NOT let Passages expand. Fine them instead. Thank you.Dianne Daleiden5550 N. Paulina

Chicago, IL 60640