CHICAGO - Hundreds of students from the Chicago public school system skipped the first day of classes yesterday and attempted to enroll at two schools 30 miles north in a symbolic move to protest the financial divide in Illinois public education.
Shortly after 11 a.m., buses from Chicago began pulling in to New Trier Township High School's Northfield campus as teachers, administrators and community members were waiting to welcome the 30 buses.
Protesters, wearing bright-orange T-shirts that read "Save Our Schools NOW," were greeted by New Trier school officials and parents holding welcome signs.
Megan Davy, a New Trier parent, talked to children as they waited to cross the street and walk into New Trier's Northfield campus. When the protest's organizer, state Sen. James Meeks, stepped off the bus, surrounded by ministers who supported his cause, Davy stepped forward to welcome him.
"This is civil disobedience at its finest," Davy said. "I may disagree with some of the methods, but it's so important to open dialogue."
Northfield resident Ken Bley shook most of the students' hands, saying the scene reminded him of the Little Rock, Ark., school segregation situation 50 years ago.
"They need to be here. It needs to change immediately," Bley said of Illinois' school funding situation, which relies on local property taxes.
Meeks estimated that 1,000 children and 1,000 adults turned out to enroll the children in New Trier Township High School and Sunset Ridge School, both distinguished by their affluence and academics. State law, though, requires residency to register in a public school. Suburban school officials have said there will be no exceptions.
Chicago's public schools spent $11,300 per student last year. New Trier High School spent $17,500 per student, near the top in the state.
Elementary school students and their parents went to the high school gym to attempt to register. Administrators distributed forms asking for the standard information school districts request at registration: proof of residency, a copy of a lease or mortgage papers and birth certificates.
After attempting to register students, Meeks called on Gov. Rod Blagojevich to call an emergency session of the General Assembly to fix the state's school funding formula.
The turnout fell short of the thousands organizers expected and was a tiny fraction of the more than 400,000 students who attend Chicago public schools, but protesters and their parents said they're willing to keep the boycott going as long as it takes to persuade state officials to give their district more money.
Meeks said that protesters plan to go to 18 buildings in Chicago today, where students will be taught by 40 volunteer teachers.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
