A new report determined that Chicago Public Schools can safely close or overhaul as many as 80 schools this year.
The findings came from a panel of eight commissioners hand-picked by schools chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett.
The report does not name specific schools that should be closed or consolidated. It is only a recommendation, not a binding report. But just the thought of 80 schools having some sort of action taken against them has one education activist concerned.
“Parents should be terrified,” says community organizer Jitu Brown.
Brown reacts to the final report from an advisory committee that finds CPS has the capacity to consolidate approximately 80 schools, and that it should be done in one year or split over two years.
“The district has never demonstrated the capacity to close or transform one school respectfully and effectively,” Brown told WGN. “So what would make us believe that they can do it for an entire system?”
Committee chair Frank Clark says after four months of contentious meetings with parents and community members, his 8-member panel determined schools should only be closed if students can transfer to a better performing school.
CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett says the report confirms what she has been saying for months — that the district has a utilization problem, meaning CPS has hundreds of under-utilized schools. In a statement, she says CPS is “making smart and critical investments in our children’s future along with the difficult and necessary decisions.”
But Jitu Brown says CPS is simply following a national trend of trying to privatize schools.
“Schools should not be closed because the district created a policy that drove parents out,” Brown says. “The district threw a grenade in neighborhood schools and then parents grabbed their babies in an effort to survive and took their children wherever they could.”
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis called the report outrageous. Lewis is organizing a march and rally calling for a full moratorium on all school closings. Lewis wants to hold the rally on March 27, four days before CPS is required by law to release its list of schools that it plans to close.
CPS has issued a preliminary list of 129 schools that could be closed.
Karen Lewis said there’s no way CPS could shut down 13-percent of the district without mass chaos.
15 Comments to “Report: 80 Chicago Public Schools could shut down”
March 7, 2013 at 10:06 AM
All because of the greedy CTU!
March 12, 2013 at 2:01 PM
hey buddy
As a teacher at proviso Township in illinois and I can tell you that it is foolish and silly peoples like you ruining education. How much would babysitter cost for 25 kids maybe 50 per hour
My kids may be misbehaved, slow, and spolied but I love hem all . And as a gay teacher this is something we need to address. When were you a teacher/
Our students deserve the best. If you can teach fine. Not smart enough stop whining and pay up in taxes.
March 7, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Isn’t that like 16% raises for teachers, and now 13% cutback on school buildings…..how long will it take Karen and the teachers to do the math of their new contract!
March 18, 2013 at 9:32 PM
Teachers didn't get a 16% raise. It only will be a 10% over 3 years: 4-3-3. The 16% is a composite from previous contracts increases. $10- $15 more per pay-check. That was the infamous raise teachers got.
March 7, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Lower our property taxes and make the parents pay for school!!! Don't make everyone pay for illegal's children!!! I see who eats up my tax money! I am fed up with this.
March 7, 2013 at 1:31 PM
They are literally eating your taxes through free meals all through out the day. Yet, they don't bring contributions such as notepads, pencils, crayons, and other school supplies for everybody's use.
Illinois legislators have no morals, they are political animals who act on political instincts!
March 7, 2013 at 11:21 AM
Whatever the mayor wants – the mayor will get – He appointed the school board – he owns them!
March 7, 2013 at 1:33 PM
The school boards reacts to what they have to begin with. Blame the CTU!
March 8, 2013 at 10:14 AM
The CTU (Lewis) could have insisted on a stop to school closings before ending the Strike. Lewis had the power at that time. She did nothing! She got the Teachers to go back to work without a contract. The real s*$# will hit the fan AFTER the CTU election in May. Rahm is very quiet about all of this since he wants Lewis to win!
March 7, 2013 at 11:51 AM
let them kids get jobs and not push buttons all day sweat by the eye of your brow
March 7, 2013 at 12:14 PM
what schools are closing does anybody know?
March 7, 2013 at 12:44 PM
You know, if the city would cut out all the artsy-fartsy stuff (Movies-in-the-park, festivals, useless $#it we all did without) – there would BE enough money to have great schools. Also, hire more quality teachers, get rid of Karen and the union and maybe, just maybe – see the CPS students' IQs rise above that of the final score of a girls' basketball game.
March 7, 2013 at 5:32 PM
Buy Lewis a case of pork chops & she will be alright .
March 7, 2013 at 6:16 PM
She's the greedy porker that needs to be chopped!
March 8, 2013 at 10:01 AM
Lewis and Rahm made a deal. The kids and their parents will just have to live with it.