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Austin North Lawndale hearing

Jean Schwab - February 21, 2013

More than 900 people gathered from the Austin-North Lawndale network hearing on the school closing, where 16 elementary schools were given an opportunity to discuss reasons their schools should not be closed. The hearing was held in the House of Prayer Church of God in Christ.

While the President of the United States claims to be promoting pre-kindergarten education, the Chicago Board of Education in Barack Obama's home town continues to plot to destroy the city's real public schools. Above, students from Sumner Elementary School show their feelings. Substance photo by Kati Gilson.The first speaker was Alderman Deborah Graham of the 29th Ward. Graham stated that the students in the 29th Ward have made progress and closing the schools would “disturb the growth of our children.” Graham is against closing schools.

The second speaker was Alderman Robert Fioretti, 2nd Ward, who stated that closing schools destabilizes our children because schools provide a stable environment, social services and proper nutrition. Fioretti noted the absence of the members of the Chicago Board of Education and high ranking members of the CPS administration.

“Where are they? They need to see and feel what is happening here.” Fioretti recalled that we were told in 2011 that there was a budget crisis but in June 20, 2012 CPS reported a $40 million surplus. What we all want, he said, is smaller class size and more music and art teachers. Thirty aldermen have called for a moratorium on school closings. “Neighborhood Schools are our future,” he said,” Children are our future.” Fioretti warned the audience not to throw up the white flag and give up on our schools.

Alderman Jason Erwin, 28th ward, stated”There are places in this country that pay money to send their children to schools that are not crowded.

Adam Anderson, a CPS administrator, served as moderator. He stated that the list has been reduced to 129 schools under consideration because the "Commission" appointed by Barbara Byrd Bennet has heard what people are saying. He wanted to have each of the 16 schools come up to the microphone and present their case. While Anderson was talking, the audience started shouting: "No School Closings" and "We want Bennett!”

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Chalmers Elementary School- A Safe Haven (homeless shelter) is right across the street from Chalmers and has been educating the children of the shelter. A Safe Haven sees Chalmers as a valuable partner in caring for homeless children. Third- grade teacher Luis Loa stated that the 50% space utilization rate was appealed by the principal, Dr. Nolen, to James Dispensa in the CPS Office of Demographics and planning. “Chalmers has a full-day kindergarten, two new homerooms, one primary, and one middle school. There are art and music classes. The second- floor north wing is occupied by Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative High School. Student attendance rate is 96% and teacher attendance 97%.

According to Takieya Renfro, a Leasing Agent at the Chicago Housing Authority Park Douglas Development, located adjacent to Chalmers, CHA has plans to further expand with 130 new units.

The facility has had approximately $10 million in mechanical and capital improvements over the past 5 to 7 years. One of the most dynamic speakers was Windy Tersen, a member of Action Now, parent of a former Herzl student, and aunt of two current students of Hertzl, who told the hearing officers: “There are people here that look like us but are puppets. Our school officials are part of the 100 roster, people making over $100,000 a year. Stop sending puppets down here. Time to let Springfield and CPS officials know that we are fed up, fed up and we won’t take it no more. This is Shock Doctrine, destabilizing kids in order for gentrification to happen. When you pay your taxes, it is for public, not private, schools”. Tersen signed up for the LSC at Herzl as a student advocate, but was listed as a community representative, which she does not qualify and was pushed off the LSC.

Lawndale Academy used to have three buses delivering students to school but CPS stopped the program and this decreased the number of students in the school. Lawndale Academy does not need charter schools in their neighborhood. Lawndale has several programs for the students in their school, such as ABC and Action for Children; all donated or funded by private grants and organizations. Mason Elementary wants CPS to reinstate the truancy officers. Are they afraid of our children becoming successful? After Mason was taken off probation, everything was taken away.

Ronald McNair Elementary is open six days a week. McNair has a large special needs population, including some students so severe that they can ‘t attend school. The school is comprised of 30-40 physically or mentally disabled students. There are students with autism, severe profound disabilities, blind students, and students with IEPs. Louis National University is funding a Reading Recovery program at the school. May Community Academy have many programs working with students including the partnership with the YMCA. The building is also used for student resources and a job preparation program for parents. Several participants mentioned that they had been misquoted and were wondering about the purpose of these hearings if people are not really listening.

Lewis Elementary is under construction, school officials, don’t even know why they are on the list. An upset parent yelled at the Hearing officials. “How Dare You! You tell Rahm Emanuel, you haven’t seen nothing yet until you take our school away. “

Crown Elementary Academy - Rachael Culich , Colombia College, talked about their partnership with Crown. Together they have been able to raise millions of dollars for the school. Weekends and evenings are filled with drumming, dance, self expression activities. Jada Fry, a student, told about art, choir, science, and computer classes that she attends at school. Oscar De Priest Elementary School – Concerned that if the school were closed, students would have to travel through different gang areas, putting students at risk.

Mathew Henson Elementary - All of Henson school is utilized, There are 28 classrooms, 7 ancillary classrooms which include music, and Science , 21 classroom with 30 students 3 teachers resource rooms, a staff break room, 6 clinicians who work with students with special needs, in-school suspensions, an intervention room, parent room and 3 recess rooms. Henson also provides a food pantry. Henson elementary School has almost forty students in a preschool Every bit of our school is utilized.

William Penn Elementary has had a 12% increase in students this year. Thirty to 40 percent of Penn’s students are disabled. Penn has 15% of its students are ESL students, 11 special education classrooms with 130 students with severe disabilities. Penn shares a space with a charter school (Kipp). Kipp was given a choir by CPS but not Penn. A Penn parent wondered if Penn students could also participate. Penn has also had classrooms in the basement. Nathanial Pope Elementary is utilized. It has a Science lab, computer Lab, special education media Center and Rocket Basket ball programs; Pope also works with Safe Haven. It is open on Saturdays. Pastor Robin Hood, a program manager for Cease Fire, North Lawndale and founding Pastor for West Side Safe Passages stated that closing even one school is a public safety problem. There will be violence or death of kids if schools are closed. Frederick Collins, a policeman and running for cook county sheriff, agrees that when schools are closed, there is an increase in crime. When George Bush was elected President, he asked the nation to volunteer and donate time and money to improve our communities, is what he meant, that schools each have to find resources themselves while the CPS spends more and more money to open new Charter schools. It was apparent that the schools were using private grants, donations, community volunteers or outside partnerships to help with meeting the needs of the students.

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