50 plus 20 reasons to protest March 27
CPS is apparently going to close 50 schools and turnaround or consolidate another 20 despite the near-unanimous opposition from parents, teachers, students and the community and clear research that school closures:
We fight back.
On Wednesday, March 27, at 4 pm a massive protest will take place beginning at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington, in the Chicago Loop.
What do we want instead of school closings and more failed turnarounds and sell-outs to charter schools?
We want community-based school improvement as envisioned by the original local school council Reform Act, which CPS has tried for 20 years to disappear.
Here’s an example of what the communities want and what the children of Chicago need and deserve. Called the North Lawndale Alternative Plan, it’s a collaboratively-drafted proposal from the Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools. From their press release presented at a press conference earlier this morning:
Tsunami of closings begins
Details of the disaster are unfolding slowly. CPS has been contacting individual schools and elected officials. These stories are dribbling out one by one. Here’s one list (see also below).
The name of one school on the list caught my eye.
They are apparently closing Dodge – oh, let’s be sure to refer to it by the grandiose name CPS gave to it,Dodge Renaissance Academy – the first of Mayor Daley’s Renaissance 2010 schools. President Obamaannounced Arne’s appointment at Dodge, which had played a large role in Arne Duncan’s self-promotion for the position of Secretary of Education. The PURE fact sheet, “Duncan Dodges the Truth,” explains how Dodge was “turned around” by the Academy of Urban School Leaders by getting rid of nearly all of the original students. Now this “academy” is on the chopping block.
So, I guess the Renaissance is officially over. Time for the Dark Ages to set in.
- Have a negative impact on children’s academic performance.
- Have not resulted in the savings predicted by school officials.
- Exacerbate racial inequalities.
- Contribute to increased violence.
We fight back.
On Wednesday, March 27, at 4 pm a massive protest will take place beginning at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington, in the Chicago Loop.
What do we want instead of school closings and more failed turnarounds and sell-outs to charter schools?
We want community-based school improvement as envisioned by the original local school council Reform Act, which CPS has tried for 20 years to disappear.
Here’s an example of what the communities want and what the children of Chicago need and deserve. Called the North Lawndale Alternative Plan, it’s a collaboratively-drafted proposal from the Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools. From their press release presented at a press conference earlier this morning:
The committee is concerned about the potential negative impacts of massive school closings, including interruptions in student achievement; increased student mobility and dropout rates; exacerbated blight conditions; reduced property values; increased vandalism and violence.It’s time to fight for our children. If not now, when? If not us, who?
The Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools will create a community schools collaborative to work with schools and the North Lawndale Community Advisory Council to strengthen local schools’ ability to deliver favorable academic outcomes while serving as bona fide community centers focusing on the needs of the family, students and community members. The collaborative will 1) develop programming that will reduce truancy and delinquency and cut the pipeline from school to prison; 2) enhance health, fitness and nutrition for students and their families, eradicate the food desert and expand opportunities for healthy eating and positive lifestyle changes; 3) augment the school curricula with workforce development training that will provide students with exposure to career choices in manufacturing, technology, health and the trades, beginning at the elementary school level; 4) provide basic skills and workforce training and development opportunities for parents 5) provide outlets for sports and recreation, arts and culture. The plan includes a proposed structure, implementation schedule and budget. The estimated startup cost for the initiative is $322,000, not including in-kind contributions from collaborative partners. The collaborative will be looking to create win-win alternatives that will ease the financial burden of school operations while creating greater synergies between the City, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Public Libraries, City Colleges, the Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department, elected officials, community based organizations, local residents, parents and students. We welcome community based organizations, small businesses (as appropriate),clinics, etc. to rent space in school buildings, subject to approval of principals, LSC’s and the schools’ plans for improvement.
Tsunami of closings begins
Details of the disaster are unfolding slowly. CPS has been contacting individual schools and elected officials. These stories are dribbling out one by one. Here’s one list (see also below).The name of one school on the list caught my eye.
They are apparently closing Dodge – oh, let’s be sure to refer to it by the grandiose name CPS gave to it,Dodge Renaissance Academy – the first of Mayor Daley’s Renaissance 2010 schools. President Obamaannounced Arne’s appointment at Dodge, which had played a large role in Arne Duncan’s self-promotion for the position of Secretary of Education. The PURE fact sheet, “Duncan Dodges the Truth,” explains how Dodge was “turned around” by the Academy of Urban School Leaders by getting rid of nearly all of the original students. Now this “academy” is on the chopping block.
So, I guess the Renaissance is officially over. Time for the Dark Ages to set in.
Trumbull Elementary
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Bethune Elementary
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Courtenay Elementary
will combine with Stockton
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Fermi Elementary
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Near North Elementary
moves to Montefiore Source: Sun Times
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Canter Middle School
Source: Michael McNicholas
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Lafayette Elementary
merge with Chopin source: Raise Your Hand
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Peabody Elemntary
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mahalia jackson elementary
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Dett Elementary
will combine with Herbert source: Catalyst
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Goldblatt Elementary
combining with Heffernan source: Raise Your Hand
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Ellington Elementary
Emmet and Key move in Source: Raise Your Hand
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May Elementary
Leland moves in source: Raise Your Hand
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Ryerson Elementary
source: Raise Your Hand
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von Humboldt and Depry
moves to de Diego source: @TradefinalotFin
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Marconi Elementary
source: Raise Your Hand
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Garrett Morgan Elementary
source: DNA Info
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Armstrong Elementary
source: Catalyst Chicago
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Calhoun Elementary
moving to Cather source: Sun Times
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Dodge Elementary
moving to Morton
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Herbert
Dett moves in Source: Sun Times
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Jensen Elementary
King moves in Source: Sun Times
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King Elementary
moves to Jensen Source: Sun Times
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Montefirore
Buckingham and Near North move in Source: Sun Times
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Pershing West
moves to Pershing East Source: Sun Times
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Pershing East
Pershing West moves in Source: Sun Times
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Bon Temps
Source: Michael McNicholas
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Mason
Source: Michael McNicholas
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Ward
Source: Michael McNicholas
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Dewey
marked for turnaround Source: Casey Cora
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Earle
moves to Goodlow Source: Lauren FitzPatrick
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Goodlow
Earle moves in source: Lauren FitzPatrick
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Montessori School of Englewood
moves to O’Toole Source: Lauren FitzPatrick
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O’Toole Elementary
Montessori School of Englewood moves in Source: Lauren FitzPatrick
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Delano Elementary
Source: Sun Times
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Ericson
Source: Sun Times
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Tilton
Source: Sun Times
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Cather
Calhoun moves in Source: Sun Times
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Stockton
Courtenay moves in Source: Sun Times
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Chopin
Lafayette moves in Source: Sun Times
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Mayo Elementary
Source: DNAInfo Chicago
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Disney II Magnet
Proposal for Marshall Middle School to share building Source: Catalyst
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Marshall Middle School
Proposal to move to Disney II Magnet Source: Catalyst
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