While Mahalia Jackson Elementary was spared by the Chicago Board of Education’s action, students at Betsy Ross Elementary and their parents were lamenting closure. Kim Vatis reports.
After weeks of protests, four Chicago public schools eyed for closure have been spared.
George Manierre Elementary School, Marcus Garvey Elementary School, Mahalia Jackson Elementary School and Leif Ericson Elementary Scholastic Academy on the West Side have been removed from the list of more than 50 schools district officials proposed closing, Chicago Board of Education vice president Jesse Ruiz confirmed.
The move comes a day before the city's Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the closings.
"These schools, for a variety of reasons, are trending well in terms of population, increases in attendance, utilization of the building, which is one of the primary factors for closing schools, academic progress, special needs populations," Ruiz said. "We just want to make sure [they] have the best possible setting, and leaving them in the schools that they are in was the best decision."
In addition, Miriam G Canter Middle School will be phased out over the next year and won't close until the following school year. Clara Barton Elementary School was removed from the turnaround list, which had slated the school to get new staff.
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- Lewis: School Closures Plan Racist, Classist and Unnecessary
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- Mayor Not Concerned About Political Fallout from CPS Closures
