Still not Learnng a Lesson:

J. Coyden Palmer

Despite the objections of community residents and many other concerned citizens, Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman announced on Tuesday that more schools will be consolidated and closed under a controversial revamping program to decrease the number of failing schools. Huberman and Chief Education Officer Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins announced proposed actions that call for the turnaround of five schools, closing four schools, consolidating four other schools and the phasing out of one school.

The news is not sitting well with many educators and parents who say the realignment of schools and Renaissance 2010 has failed the city’s students miserably. But Huberman defended the proposal. He said he and other school leaders can not sit on their hands and do nothing when there are problem schools.

“Our primary obligation is to assess the performance of schools and provide the best possible educational opportunity for students in every school in Chicago,” Huberman said. “This means taking a long hard look at every school under our Performance Policy and making what can be difficult decisions on whether a school is properly serving its students.

“At the same time, we – like virtually every school system in the U.S. – are faced with tough budget constraints and, as a result, we must ensure that we are using our limited operational funds in a smart, cost-effective way. We cannot afford to operate schools where the student population has declined to a level in which keeping a school open is no longer fiscally prudent.”

The Chicago Teachers Union has consistently opposed the idea of shifting students and closing schools as a means to improving them. They believe closing schools and displacing students and staff is not the answer. The CTU says combining schools and students could lead to overcrowding and would lead to a host of other challenges.

“Everyone wants schools to succeed and no one wants that more than the educators in the classroom. Closing schools, removing highly qualified and certified teachers in the name of ‘educational opportunities’ is just wrong,” wrote CTU President Marilyn Stewart in a press release. “We agree that the district should be fiscally prudent in looking at operational costs of keeping schools open that are in disrepair and are not conducive learning environments.  But we strongly oppose the turnaround model of removing the staff and adults who have long-standing relationships with students and families.  Relationships with trusted teachers and staff are a key to the emotional well-being of students.”

CPS critics say shifting students and the converting of Carver Military Academy from a neighborhood school to a select enrollment school led to much of the problems this school year at Fenger High School. Fenger is the school where Derrion Albert was killed back in October when a neighborhood brawl amongst Fenger students spiraled out of control and he was struck in the head with a railroad tie.

“Here we go again,” said community resident Telfair Williams. “If they are going to close schools they need to do a lot of community research to see if they are mixing students together who have a history of tension among them. They also need to consider if the students must go through rival gang territory to get to their new school. If so, CPS should provide safe passage routes. I just don’t feel good about this again.”

Stewart agrees. She says creating an environment conducive to learning is not just inside the walls of the building and classroom. She said it is an issue that must be looked at holistically.

“As a 30-year teaching veteran, I’m concerned about the students, teachers and communities who will be adversely affected by these changes,” Stewart said. “CPS must consult with the educators and other stakeholders affected in order to minimize or eliminate the adverse affects of these proposed changes. After all, teachers know what students need.”

Huberman said the concerns of Stewart and community residents will be considered. According to him there will be several community meetings over the next few weeks to hear from the public and others who may have concerns with the proposed changes.

Under Board-approved policy, CPS can close or create turnaround schools for chronic low performance; for low enrollment and underutilization; or if a building has fallen into a state of substantial disrepair. New guidelines introduced this year aim to ease the transition of students from one school to another.

The Academy for Urban School Leadership will be charged with implementing a turnaround strategy at four of the schools for which turnaround is being proposed:

Bradwell Elementary School, 7736 South Burnham

Frank L. Gillespie Elementary School, 9301 South State Street

Charles S. Deneen Elementary School, 7257 South State Street

Wendell Phillips High School, 244 East Pershing Road

The current John Marshall High School, 3250 West Adams, is proposed to be turned around by the CEdO-CPS Office of School Turnarounds. Even though this means the entire staff will be replaced, Huberman announced that legendary girls basketball coach Dorothy Gaters will keep her job. He called her “an institution” and said “part of the fabric” of the West Side school that has been on academic probation for the last 14 years.

Only one school is being closed due to low enrollment, Huberman said.

George Schneider Elementary School, 2957 North Hoyne Avenue is being slated for phase-out. In a phase-out, existing students may stay at the school but the school will not enroll any new students and decrease by one grade level per year. Huberman said four schools are being proposed for consolidation:

McCorkle Elementary School, 4421 South State Street, because of the poor condition of its facility. Ludwig Beethoven Elementary School, 25 West 47th Street, which has been designated as the receiving school for McCorkle students, will receive $8.5 million in capital improvements during the summer.

Ignance Paderewski Elementary School, 2221 South Lawndale Avenue, because of low student enrollment. Roswell B. Mason Elementary School, 4217 West 18th Street, is the designated receiving school.

Guglielmo Marconi Elementary School, 230 North Kolmar Avenue, due to under enrollment will be consolidated with George W. Tilton Elementary School, 223 North Keeler Avenue, to form Tilton-Marconi School. Other school options for Marconi students will include Ericson, Gregory and Calhoun North Elementary Schools.

Irvin C. Mollison Elementary School, 4415 South King Drive, due to underperformance will be consolidated with Ida B. Wells Prep Elementary School, 244 East Pershing Road, in the Mollison building, as the Wells-Mollison School.

Due to poor performance, four schools will be closed all together:

George W. Curtis Elementary School.

Simon Guggenheim Elementary School, William H. Prescott Elementary School and Bartholome De Las Casas Occupational High School.
Story posted: 1/23/2010

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