Songhai Story

Given the fact that Songhai’s ISAT scores have gone up so drastically in the past three years, it is indeed a very sad day to learn that Songhai is to be closed. In 2010 49.1% of Songhai’s students met or exceeded state standards. By 2012 that same measurement found that 60.1% of the children met or exceeded that benchmark. That is an increase of 22.4%, far more than the average for the entire CPS system. This is indeed a remarkable achievement given the abnormal amount of CPS approved administrative turnover at Songhai.


As the Founder and President of Schools Count Corp, a federal charity that provides free student supplies to nearly 40 CPS schools, I can attest to the strong commitment of Ms. Pirtle, and her staff, to the students of Songhai and the community. Those of you at CPS should be made aware of the fact that the achievement I alluded to earlier is the direct result of the staff making significant improvements in curriculum delivery and their emphasis on helping students work to the best of their ability. Without the steadfast work of the Songhai staff you would have more empty desks and far less ISAT score achievement than you do now.

What is all the more remarkable about the Songhai success story is that it has been obtained in spite of the very real blight which exists in the neighborhood. I can assure you that closing Songhai will not only further exacerbate that blight but you are bound to see ISAT scores plummet as students are crowded into other schools. This school isn’t underutilized, it is utilized wisely by the current staff given the dearth of resources.

Closing schools just adds to the very real trend of something being taken away from the residents. They have lost enough stores, factories, jobs and security over the years. Closing the schools is but another instance of the citizens ‘losing’ something or having something taken away and it is outside of their control. I urge you to keep hope alive, give the children and community what they deserve. Keep Songhai open.

Sincerely,
Richard Flesher