Chicago board votes to close or revamp 16 schools

The Chicago school board has voted to close, consolidate or revamp 16 public schools starting in September. District officials says 12 of the schools landed on the list because of low enrollment. Four others are academically failing and going into a turnaround program, meaning teachers and staff must reapply for their jobs. The board's decision came after nearly five hours of testimony from dozens of parents, teachers and students who spoke out against the plan. Nearly two dozen school supporters camped out in tents overnight on the sidewalk in front of the district's headquarters. Hundreds of protesters chanted "save our schools" and carried makeshift coffins.
To read The Chicago Tribune article, click here.

EARLIER: Six of 22 Chicago public schools will be spared closure or shakeups, district officials say.The schools spared are Peabody, Yale, Hamilton, Holmes, Global Visions High and Las Casas High. Yale and Holmes originally were slated for a summer shutdown and "turnaround." Peabody and Las Casas, a high school for special education students, were to be shuttered. Hamilton was due for a phase out. Gobal Visions had been slated for consolidation into another small school in the old Bowen High School building they both shared. The decision was based on "compelling community testimony" during 22 public hearings on the shakeups, a district spokeswoman says.
To read The Chicago Sun-Times article, click here.