As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.
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Board member Hines: School actions not "done deal"
By: Lindsay Abbassian and Rebecca Harris / January 25, 2012
A number of school turnaround and closure opponents spoke at Wednesday's board meeting. Alderman Robert Fioretti (2nd Ward) asked CPS to save Crane, slated for phase-out, from the chopping block. He suggested a litany of extra programs to help the school: career education, International Baccalaureate, 7th and 8th grade feeder programs, a night school program for credit recovery, and increased special education services.
Fioretti also complained about protesters who received money in exchange for showing up at hearings. “I would ask that if the board reviews those minutes… that they omit each and every person who was a paid protester that day,” Fioretti said.
Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization's Jitu Brown, among those pictured addressing the board, complained that Dyett (slated for phase-out) has long been under-resourced, and that Price (slated for closure) has been weakened by previous school actions in the neighborhood.
Board member Mahalia Hines told the group that “we are looking at your plan.”
“It’s not a done deal, what is happening,” Hines said. “This is not a cookie-cutter board.”
Admirable
Thak you Ald. Fioretti for supporting Crane with common sense solutions and than you, Board member Hines, for stating your independence.
East Side residents cite tainted soil,
This is article about Gallistel.
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Site not fit for a new school, neighbors say
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Bad location and tie to Ed Vrdolyak
By Joel Hood, Chicago Tribune reporter
January 29 2012
Chicago Public Schools' plan to build an elementary school on polluted
property in the shadow of the Chicago Skyway and an expiring
coal-fired power plant near the Indiana border is raising the ire of
parents in the working-class East Side neighborhood.
The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-cps-land-deal0129-20...
School Closing and Turnaround
Some people are not getting it. The budget needs to be cut, there is no money for any start up programs as one would wish. Face up, underutilized school, bad students attendance, poor students performance, earning a bad representation, add up to no parents wants to send their love ones to a low rated school. I might, but would you. Only because I know my child would get straight "A" and be treated special. There are alot of perks for being smart. Lets quit wasting peoples time at all these silly meetings and let the NEW CPS do their jobs and clean up the system once and for all. Remember, the medicine taste bad, but the healing will be good.
Look at the results of the Asian countries. They are out performing us in all areas. Maybe we should contact "China" to loan us some money!
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