CPS proposes 20 new schools to open
By Susan Dosemagen
Medill Reports - Chicago
Chicago Public Schools officials said Wednesday that they are so pleased with recent progress in creating new schools that they are moving ahead rapidly with 20 others.
"We had our first replication of district schools and that's gone extremely well with the Disney II campus opening," said Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan. "We're already starting to think of Disney X."
The Chicago International Charter School - Loomis Campus at 9535 S. Loomis opened this fall and is one of the 100 new schools slated to open by 2010 under the Renaissance 2010 plan, started four years ago by Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Disney II Magnet School at 815 N. Kedvale Ave. in Humboldt Park replicates the lakefront Walt Disney Magnet School in Uptown. It was one of 20 new schools to open this fall under Renaissance 2010.
Duncan proposed another 20 schools to the Chicago Board of Education, which is expected to vote on the recommendations at the Oct. 22 meeting. Two UNO Charter Schools in Gage Park, Charter Academy high school set to open in 2010 and Gage Park Elementary set to open in 2009, were approved by the board in September.
Of the 20 proposed schools, 15 are high schools and five are elementary schools. Duncan said the school system is creating more high schools than ever to provide more options and opportunities for students.
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"We can't become complacent, we can't accept the status quo," Duncan said, "and one of the places where we're getting better fast is new school creation."
If passed by the board, 14 of the schools are scheduled to open next fall and six schools in fall of 2010.
In his proposal, Duncan included a recommendation to transform six underperforming schools over the summer and reopen in fall of 2009 with new leadership.
Under Renaissance 2010, 75 new schools have been created.
So how many of these new...
Back to page topSo how many of these new schools are in our area........? ZERO! Something needs to be done.
The CICS elementary school...
Back to page topThe CICS elementary school at 95th and Loomis technically is in the Brainerd neighborhood, but it - like all Chicago charter schools - does accept students regardless of where they live in Chicago.
But I do understand that that's not your point. Educational challenges at Morgan Park High School and several other public elementary schools; financial challenges at Br. Rice, Mother McCauley and Marist high schools, as well as at Morgan Park Academy and a host of parochial elementary schools; and strict admission requirements at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences do pose a problem for area parents: Where may we send our children for a solid education that doesn't drain our bank accounts and allows them to stay in the nieghborhood?
From what I understand, none of the latest schools released by CPS's Renaissance 2010 plan would be located in Mount Greenwood, Beverly or Morgan Park.
But seriously, can CPS actually open or renovate 100 schools in the next few years and not build just one in our area?
After talking with some...
Back to page topAfter talking with some public officials, the sentiment is NO Charter Schools here due to no union with these types of schools. After campaigns and promises made about schooling in the area, is there any movement to actually get anything done about it? No. We need a organization to call for a townhall meeting with Arnie Duncan. Too long have the hard working, tax paying residents of our community had to watch while others get new schools and we don't. We are constantly forced to pay higher taxes and are not seeing any of it come our way. How about a Southwest Observer Townhall Meeting?
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