‘When We Gonna Change?’: Lindblom Students Pen Song About CPS Budget Woes

By Becky Vevea
lindblom singers
Lindblom Math and Science Academy students wrote an original song about the uncertainty around the Chicago Public Schools budget. Clockwise starting in back left: Ebere Forbes-Wilson, Samuel Owusu, Casey Fuess, Zayd Hull, Diamond Arrington, Carson Cooper, Jahmere Tylon, Jeremiah Seahorn, Ifetayo Maloney Becky Vevea / WBEZ
lindblom singers
Lindblom Math and Science Academy students wrote an original song about the uncertainty around the Chicago Public Schools budget. Clockwise starting in back left: Ebere Forbes-Wilson, Samuel Owusu, Casey Fuess, Zayd Hull, Diamond Arrington, Carson Cooper, Jahmere Tylon, Jeremiah Seahorn, Ifetayo Maloney Becky Vevea / WBEZ

‘When We Gonna Change?’: Lindblom Students Pen Song About CPS Budget Woes

By Becky Vevea
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There’s a lot of chaos in Chicago Public Schools. The district’s structural deficit is roughly $1 billion annually and people are protesting in the streets. District officials and the Chicago Teachers Union remain at odds over the terms of a new contract.

People don’t always realize how much students are paying attention.

Ten students in choir classes at Lindblom Math and Science Academy on Chicago’s South Side decided to get together to write a song about how all the uncertainty is affecting them.

WBEZ’s Becky Vevea visited with the students and their director, Casey Fuess, and produced this story. It’s made for your ears so click play above!

Take a listen to the song here:

The student songwriters are: Diamond Arrington, Carson Cooper, Ifetayo Maloney, Samuel Owusu, Jeremiah Seahorn, Ebere Forbes-Wilson, Rian Dunn, and Geori McCoy

Audio and Video Producers are: Jahmere Tylon and Zayd Hull

Becky Vevea is an education reporter for WBEZ. You can follow her @WBEZeducation.