Teachers union objects to possible class-size hike in Chicago

FromThe Chicago Sun-Times: Plans to save money by increasing some Chicago classrooms to 35 students could violate fire codes, the president of the teachers union says. The municipal code calls for "20 square feet per person" in a classroom, which means the school system would need a 720-square-foot classroom to accommodate 35 kids and a teacher. A district spokeswoman says more than 90 percent of Chicago's classrooms are at least 700 square feet; new buildings typically have 900-square foot classrooms. Earlier...from The Chicago Tribune: Chicago public school principals have been given budgets for next year that would raise some class sizes by as much as 25 percent, the result of a $600 million deficit for next school year. The specter of packed classrooms has fueled widespread anxiety among parents and teachers — but the worry may be premature. The district's figures are based on a state budget few think will pass. That proposal from Gov. Pat Quinn would trim $1.3 billion from education across the state, including about $368 million from CPS, to manage a massive state deficit.