Politics & Government

Public Meetings Set for Schools on CPS Chopping Block

Community members will have one more opportunity to speak out against school closings at meetings set for nearby Trumbull and Courtenay elementary schools in Andersonville and Ravenswood.

Parents and teachers will have one more chance to save nearby schools slated for closure.

Chicago Public Schools announced two community meetings and a public hearing for each school officials intend on closing to reduce a $1 billion budget deficit next year. 

District officials announced the plan to close 54 schools on Thursday, pending a May 22 Board of Education vote for final approval. The move will effect more than 30,000 children and 1,000 teachers in 71 schools. 

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While no schools in Lincoln Square or Northcenter were on the list, some will be welcoming students in nearby shuttered buildings. One of those nearby schools is Trumbull Elementary, at 5200 N. Ashland Ave. 

Trumbull’s enrollment has declined 33 percent in the last decade. It has 320 students enrolled, but has the capacity for 720. The also building requires $16.3 million to maintain and update, according to CPS documents.

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Students from the school can go to one of three elementary schools: McPherson at 4728 N. Wolcott Ave., Chappell at 2135 W. Foster Ave., or McCutcheon at 4865 N. Sheridan Rd. Both McPherson and McCutcheon are Level 2 performing schools, meaning they are in good standing with the district. Chappell is a Level 1 school, the highest performance rating. 

The community will be able to speak for Trumbull at two public meetings April 9 and 12. Both meetings start at 5 p.m. and will be held at Amundsen High School, 5110 N. Damen Ave. A public hearing is also scheduled at CPS Central Office, 125 S. Clark St., for 5:30 p.m. April 26.

While Trumbull is scheduled to permanently close, two schools in Ravenswood and Uptown will merge. Courtenay Elementary at 1726 W. Berteau will move to the Stockton Elementary School Building, 4420 N. Beacon St.  

Stockton has 475 students enrolled, with the capacity to serve 1,050. CPS officials say the school has more than enough room to accommodate Courtenay’s 278 students. The school will also receive a $14.6 million reinvestment, according to CPS documents

Courtenay’s community meetings will be April 8 and 11 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Amundsen High School, with a public hearing April 16 at 8 p.m. at CPS Central Office. 

Teachers of the closed schools will be reassigned based on tenure, seniority and certification. Those without tenure will be put into a reassignment pool with full salary and benefits for up to 5 months. Teachers who can’t find other jobs will be paid a $1,000 severance and are eligible for up to 9 months of benefits, according to CPS documents.

With nearly half its schools defined as “underutilized,” CPS officials say the closings are necessary because of a $1 billion budget deficit in the coming fiscal year. 

Rather than make $550 million in repairs to the shuttered buildings, schools that take in more students will receive extra perks, CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett said. Those include air conditioning, additional library books and discretionary funding for principals.

But the Chicago Teachers Union is saying the move will cost nearly $1 billion, rather than save that amount.

“Based on estimates from the CPS budget and the CIP (Capital Improvement Program), it will cost the district approximately $750 million—$15 million per school—to provide 50 schools with computer education, counseling and social work, additional safety and security, and renovations,” a CTU statement read.

Additionally, 19 schools will be given new programs in fine arts, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and International Baccalaureate. Welcoming schools will also receive learning gardens, according to a Tuesday announcement from Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office. About 80 gardens will pop up around the city—50 of those will be in schools welcoming students from closed buildings.

Read more: 

  • VIDEO: Community Feedback to CPS: Zero School Closings
  • 'We Are Closing Too Many Schools' Alderman Says


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