Fate of Trumbull Elementary Will Be Decided in Today's Board Vote

A nearby elementary school will either be saved or closed with a Chicago Board of Education vote Wednesday.

Trumbull Elementary, in Andersonville, was one of 54 schools on a list slated for closure in the 2013-2014 school year.

The proposal, created by Chicago Public Schools officials and a committee, is meant to consolidate under-enrolled schools to combat the district’s budget deficit. 

But parents and teachers say Trumbull shouldn't be on the closure list. Accounting for the school’s 30 percent special education population, classrooms aren’t underutilized. In three public meetings, advocates pleaded with CPS officials to keep the school open.

“The fact that these children need you the most… and you’re going to close this school makes absolutely no sense,” said James Morgan, a member of Trumbull’s local school council.  

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Ward 40 Ald. Patrick O’Connor also spoke against the school’s closure. In a letter sent home to parents, CPS officials said the building would require a $16.3 million investment to maintain and bring up to code.

That number was largely exaggerated, O’Connor argued, and earlier in May, CPS knocked down the figure to $10.9 million.

Wednesday’s vote could spare Trumbull, as some reports say not every school on the list will closed.

Parents, teachers and members of the Chicago Teachers Union spent Saturday through Monday marching against the closures. The protest ended downtown with acts of civil disobedience and chants of, “Save Our Schools!”

If the board votes to close the school, students have the option to attend McPherson or Chappell in Lincoln Square, and McCutcheon Elementary School in Uptown. 

Read more: 

• CPS Overestimates Cost to Keep Trumbull Open
• 'We Are Closing Too Many Schools' Alderman Says