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Parents, Students Furious About Plan To Close School

CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM) -- Public hearings are underway on plans to close or consolidate a handful of Chicago Public Schools.

As WBBM Newsradio 780's Bob Roberts reports, one school's defenders chose reason over anger.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Bob Roberts reports

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Mildred Rodriguez, a member of the local school council at Hans Christian Andersen Academy, 1148 N. Honore St., says she was promised that children already attending the school would be allowed to graduate.

The Chicago School Board wants to merge Andersen with the nearby LaSalle II Magnet Elementary School, which shares the same building.

"I'm here to ask, why isn't that promise being kept?" Rodriguez said.

Some students were even harsher.

"In my opinion, this is not at all moral. I believe that this decision to phase out Andersen is wrong," said an eighth grade student.

The student then asked hearing officer Fred Bates if the message was clear.

"I assure you, your voice is heard, loud and clear," Bates said.

Whether it will change anything is another matter.

The East Village Association reports parents are also concerned that the merger would dramatically increase class sizes in the upper grades at LaSalle II.

Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1st) is also opposed to closing Andersen early, since it is already too late for students to apply to other CPS schools or charter schools, the association reported.

As it is, there are only 61 students still attending Andersen, in grades 6, 7 and 8, the East Village Association reported. For lower grades, Pritzker Elementary School, 2009 W. Schiller St., has replaced Andersen as the designated neighborhood school, the association reported.

Andersen is one of eight schools that the School Board wants to close and consolidate into six others. If the plan to do so is approved, hundreds of students would be moved to new schools next year.

The move would mean eight schools would lose their identities and principals and as many as 100 teachers would be displaced.

The board could vote as early as April 27.

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