CPS Closings Loom

For a wonderful and thoughtful perspective on the looming CPS school closings, check out today's Chicago Sun-Times Editorial.  It hits the major points, makes great sense and ought to be taken seriously by those who run the system.

For one, the piece makes mention of using a more nuanced 'underutilized formula.'  Right now, the brass is looking at closing schools with an under 70% utilization rate.  The Sun Times advocates a 60% capacity rate which means fewer schools would be looked at in terms of closure.  The paper suggests this rate because there are some schools, considered 'underused' that have a large Education Services population.  Beyond that fact, a good number of schools who are alleged to be 'underutilized' make great use of the space for terrific fine arts programs.

The editorial makes mention of how few dollars will be saved with each school closing, roughly $1 million per school.  That is a paltry amount.  Also, there are currently 24 CPS schools for sale and no one seems to be sprinting to any realtor to make a purchase.  The savings won't be all that significant.

Another meaningful point made by the paper concerns the very future of the various neighborhoods were the schools to close.  "And who suffers when a school, often the heart and soul of a neighborhood, closes?  It makes any kind of turnaround in a desolate and isolated neighborhood that much more unlikely."

Finally, to ease the transition, the CST advocates a two-year closing plan.  This will enable CPS to handle the phase-in in a more competent fashion, offering the safeguards that need to be put in place.  I, for one, would heed such advice.

Dick