LA CASITA! Whittier moms invite supporters to Saturday BBQ, plan classes, and seek donations
A barbecue and rally will be held Saturday, July 9, 2011, to draw supporters for the campaign to bring a school library to “La Casita,” the one-story field house at Whittier Elementary School. From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Whittier parents and their supporters will offer free food at “The Little House” (or “La Casita” in Spanish) at 1900 W. 23rd Street (just east of Damen Ave.).
The "Whittier Moms" have won awards from various non-profit
organizations that support community activism. The plaques share shelf space with ceramic sculptures created by students in after school art classes organized by the parents, inside the field house they call "La Casita" The Whittier parents' struggle to renovate the aging one-story building highlighted the lack of facilities at many Chicago Public Schools. The moms tried speaking at every open Board of Education meeting, but only saved the facility from demolition after a 43-day sit-in last fall. They continue to draw national attention with a new sit-in this summer. They are trying to get the Board of Education's approval for a school library inside La Casita. In the meantime, they continue hold art, sewing and language classes, plus a weekly "Peace Circle" in that space. Substance photo by David R. Stone
Supporters are urged to bring small bookcases and milk crates, so more of the 4,000 books that have been donated can be displayed in the temporary library, and to bring art supplies for art classes that are starting at La Casita. The parents’ organization is also scheduling classes for English as a second language, and sewing.
After the rally and barbecue, the parents plan to continue their round-the-clock occupation of La Casita. The sit-in, which is entering its third week, is gaining strength as more people join, according to Lisa Angonese, who is the parent of a Whittier student and one of the organizers.
The current occupation of La Casita began when parents learned that the Board of Education had renewed a permit to demolish the field house. The Board of Education also was beginning work to create a library inside the school building, but have stopped such construction for now in the face of the parent-led protests.
The parents have already taken steps to create a library inside La Casita, and argue that none of the funds for renovation should be spent on a library inside the school building.
An earlier occupation last fall lasted 43 days. It ended after the parents identified sources of funds for renovating La Casita, and the Board of Education agreed not to demolish the structure, but to lease it for $1 a year for use as a community center.
In the parents’ plan for after the renovation, teachers would bring their classes to La Casita to use the school library during school hours. They expect it would be staffed by a full-time librarian hired by the Board. At the end of the school day, volunteers could take over, keeping the library open and maintaining tutoring programs to provide students with a safe space until evening, Angonese said.
The Board of Education still wants the library inside the school, even though this would eliminate a “resource room” used for special education services.
Whittier is one of about 160 Chicago Public Schools without a formal library staffed by a paid librarian. The Board of Education operates a total of 675 schools.
By: Tim Furman
Whittier Library
Have you been able to determine if the CPS plan to install a library inside the building (displacing a special education room) includes a media specialist and a library budget? Or is it just a room to house the donated books that already exist? This would be good to know.
Also, if the plan does include a media specialist and a budget, did those things get come at the cost of another FTE or funds in the building?