Determined Parents, Teachers and Community Leaders Plan Dec. 22nd demonstrations against CPS ‘school actions’
CHICAGO – Parents, teachers and leaders at eight schools currently under fire by the Board of Education are lifting their voices in unison against a proposal to close and turn around their schools and disperse most of their children elsewhere, instead of properly resourcing their current schools. On Thursday, December 22nd, many will stage a number of rallies, marches and other protests to fight against Chicago Public Schools’ proposed actions.
Parents at Casals, Piccolo, Herzl, Crane, Lathrop, Marquette, Stagg and Woodson elementary schools and Crane High School hope to dramatize their fight for resources and education justice. They plan to march, circulate petitions and lobby their local City Council members for support. Despite the outcry, the Board is expected to vote on the proposed school actions during its February meeting.
Hundreds of citizens have been vocal about CPS’ indifference to their concerns, including more than 300 people who held a three-hour candlelight vigil outside the Board headquarters last week. Angry parents and teachers disrupted the Dec. 14th Board meeting and accused CPS of awarding politically connected charter groups and “turnaround” programs lucrative contracts at the expense of under-resourced schools.
|
Targeted School |
Time |
12/22 Community Action |
|
Marquette, 6500 S. Richmond
|
10:30 a.m. |
Parents, teachers and community leaders to hold news conference and unveil a comprehensive plan to save their school |
|
Stagg, 7424 S. Morgan |
10:30 a.m. |
Parents and community leaders to send delegation to Ald. Latasha Thomas’ office to ask for public |
|
Herzl/Lathrop, 3711 W. Douglas |
2:15 p.m. – Rally at Herzl 2:45 p.m. – News Conference at Lathrop |
Parents, teachers and ministers to hold a rally to save their school; Herzl parents will march to Lathrop school, 1440 S. Christiana; news conference planned |
|
Casals, 3501 W. Potomac |
3:00 p.m. |
Parents, teachers and concerned citizens to meet at school; will visit Ald. Roberto Maldonado’s office |
|
Piccolo, 1040 N. Keeler |
3:00 p.m. |
Parents and activists will visit office of Ald. Emma Mitts |
|
Crane, 2245 W. Jackson |
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Parents and activists will kick off a neighborhood petition and canvass effort |
|
Woodson, 4414 S. Evers |
3:00 p.m. |
Parents and others to hold a rally |
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The Chicago Teachers Union represents 30,000 teachers and educational support personnel working in the Chicago Public Schools and, by extension, the students and families they serve. CTU, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, is the third largest teachers local in the country and the largest local union in Illinois. For more information visit CTU’s website at www.ctunet.com.
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