Mar 25 2013

Chicago Tribune: Principals on school closings: ‘There’s been no planning. Just slash and burn’

Newswire | Published 25 Mar 2013, 9:23 am | Comments Off on Chicago Tribune: Principals on school closings: ‘There’s been no planning. Just slash and burn’ -

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As word dribbled out today about which Chicago public schools will be closed, some parents renewed their charges that minorities are being unfairly targeted while principals accused CPS of “slash and burn.”

CPS officials are expected to release a list this afternoon of about 50 schools slated for closing, many educators, parents and students at targeted schools got word earlier today.

Natasha Norment, 28, said she was “very disappointed” after learning Wednesday evening through a news report that her 10-year-old daughter’s school, Mahalia Jackson Elementary at 917 W. 88th St., was on the list.

“It seems that they’re targeting the African-American schools,” Norment said Thursday. “The majority of these schools are in black communities. I feel it’s not right.”

Clarice Berry, president of Chicago Principals and Administrators Association, said principals of schools on the closing list were told at 6 a.m. today and were instructed to inform their teachers but not to talk to anyone else until 5 p.m. Berry said she also was told by CPS not to talk to the media until 5 p.m.

“I’m angry. I’m upset. I’m shaking to the core. I didn’t think they’d actually go through with this, the largest number of closings ever. There’s been no real planning,” Berry said.

Berry said there has been little planning at schools that are expected to take in students whose buildings are shuttered. Principals have told her that nothing has been worked out to provide the libraries or air conditioning CPS has promised at all receiving schools.

“There’s been no planning. Just slash and burn,” she said.

Berry expressed anger at Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who is on a family skiing vacation in Utah this week. “You do this stuff and you run away on vacation,” she said. “That is really wonderful.”

The Chicago Teachers Union released a statement saying it was “outraged” as the “hit list” of schools.

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