Progress Illinois

Emmet Elementary School’s utilization rate is 66 percent, higher than a handful of other Austin neighborhood schools.

Even still, the Chicago Public Schools wants to close it at the end of the year, and that decision continues to puzzle some West Side community members and parents who spoke out against the action before Emmet’s final community meeting last night.

“Unfortunately we have an administration with this corporate ideology of privatizing education that uses our data to punish schools rather than use them as tools to go ahead and improve our children’s education,” said Dwayne Truss with the Austin Community Action Council. “And that’s wrong.” Read more »

Parents and South Side residents called the Chicago Public Schools’ plan to shut down 54 schools at the end of the year a violent and disrespectful act during the second and final community meeting regarding the closure of Miriam G. Canter Middle School, located in the city's Kenwood community.

CPS officials at Friday night's meeting dodged most of the frustrated community members’ questions, saying they were there to listen and that all public comment would be provided to CPS Chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett.

“The fact that you cannot speak back to us when we’re coming to you on our hands and knees to beg for our damn school, it’s outrageous,” said Hyde Park resident Jill Petty. Read more »