Business leaders urge parents to take children to school on first day

Representatives of several local businesses joined Chicago Board of Education president Michael Scott Wednesday to emphasize the importance of the community effort to get children back to school.

Scott said the focus was for businesses to do their part by giving employees time off to get their kids registered.

"Parents need to be involved with their children's education, from taking them to school on the first day to going to report card days to getting involved with other school related activities," he said. "Tomorrow's work force will come from those young people, so it's worth our effort to get them educated."

Quaker Oats, Gatorade and Deloitte representatives reaffirmed their corporations' commitment by joining with Chicago Public Schools in multiple educational programs and mentoring.

Larry Huggins, president of Riteway/Huggins Construction Services, is committed by way of money.

Huggins, an Inglewood High School graduate, has set up a scholarship fund for students from single-parent families. He started out with two scholarships for $1,000 annually. At Wednesday's news conference, Huggins announced that he would now provide 10 scholarships a year for the next 10 years. He said he started the program to give back to his community and to honor his mother.

"She raised four boys by herself, and it was important that we went to college," said Huggins. "So, with the success that I've received as a businessman, and as a person who really loves my community, it's important to me to help young people who were in the position I was in."

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce provided suggestions on how businesses can help boost school attendance on the first day of the 2004-2005 school year.

"Registration happens during the workday, so it's critical that employers give their workers the flexibility to take a couple of hours off to register their children," said CCC president Jerry Roper. "They really even need the time to meet the teachers and principals." He said this is time well invested in the future of Chicago and the future of our country.

In support of the CPS back-to-school effort, Office Depot will provide 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to Cameron Elementary 1234 N. Monticello Ave., on Sept. 7. CVS will distribute school supplies to Al Raby School, 3545 W. Fulton Blvd. on the first day as well.

Early registration for new and transferring students will take place today at all Chicago Public Schools from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., and on Friday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.

Photograph (Larry Huggins)