Last week I reported that CPS, Mayor Emanuel, and Ms. Byrd Bennett (CEO of the district) proposed that they be given an extension, until March 31, 2013, regarding which schools will be shuttered commencing with the 2013 school year. In return, there will be a five year moratorium on school closings. On the surface this might seem workable.
But, as the expression goes, 'the devil is in the details.' For example, how many schools will be closed? Are we talking 40, 50 or 75 schools? The reason these questions about how many schools will be shut down is because it directly impacts other major concerns.
Will all of these school closings leave many neighborhoods without a public school? If so, talk about a travesty!! Will children then be bused long hours and long distances? Without wanting to create a problem, rather facting today's reality, will children go to a neighboring public school where there might be entangling gang problems? Also, when schools are closed what will be the class size? Will they go up, down or remain relatively the same?
And what will be the driving force of school closings...age of the school, number of students attending or will test scores be the guiding light? Or is there a combination of elements driving the closure of CPS neighborhood schools? How many will become 'turnaround schools?
Like I said, the 'devil is in the details.' Me thinks this is going to be messy
Dick
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