CPS Proposes School Consolidations, Closings In Action Plan For Next School Year
(CBS) -- Chicago Public Schools released its school action plan for the 2015-16 school year in a statement Tuesday afternoon. The plan contains recommendations for school consolidations, closures and co-locations.
In February, the Board of Education will vote on the following propsals:
- Consolidation of Austin Polytechnical Academy, Austin Business and Entrepreneurship, and VOISE Academy and a boundary change of Frederick A. Douglass Academy
- Consolidation of Mary Mapes Dodge Renaissance Elementary Academy and Morton School of Excellence
- Co-location of John Spry Community School with Maria Saucedo Elementary Scholastic Academy and Telpochcalli Elementary School
- Co-location of KIPP Elementary School with Orr Academy High School
- Closure of Moses Montefiore Special Elementary School
- Closure of Marine Military Math and Science Academy
CPS says that both Marine and Montefiore have zero enrollment.
"During the past few months, we have engaged LSCs, parents and principals throughout the city about how to best modify schools so that they align with the needs of families and communities," CPS CEO Forrest Claypool said in a press release. "Community input has played an important role in informing these proposed actions, and we believe these modifications will allow us to better use our limited resources to meet students' needs."
The Morton and Dodge schools have shared space since 2013. Morton has 340 students; Dodge 122, down from nearly 500 in 2010. Both are managed by the Academy for Urban School Leadership and the Board of Education says they already share enrichment, counseling and non-core educational services and tools.
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Before the vote, community meetings will be held on each proposal in the plan.
Community meetings on the Austin consolidation plan will be held at 231 N. Pine Ave. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 13 and 19 and a public hearing on Jan. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the CPS Central Office at 42 W. Madison Street.
Meetings on the Dodge-Morton consolidation will be held at Westinghouse High School at 3223 W. Franklin Blvd. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 13 and 19 and a public hearing on Jan. 28 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the CPS Central Office at 42 W. Madison Street.
Meetings on the Spry/Saucedo co-location will be held at Saucedo Elementary Academy at 2850 W. 24th Blvd. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 and 20 and a public hearing on Jan. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the CPS Central Office at 42 W. Madison Street.
Meetings on the Orr/KIPP co-location will be held at Al Raby High School at 3545 W. Fulton Blvd. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 and 20 and a public hearing on Jan. 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the CPS Central Office at 42 W. Madison Street.
Meetings on the closures of Montefiore and Marine will be held at Phoenix Military High School, 145 S. Campbell Ave., from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 7 and 11 and a public hearing on Jan. 27 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the CPS Central Office at 42 W. Madison Street.
