Number of half-empty Chicago public schools doubles, yet lawmakers want to extend school closing moratorium – Wirepoints
April 19, 2024
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A set of state lawmakers want to extend CPS’ current school closing moratorium to February 1, 2027 – the same year CPS is set to transition to a fully-elected school board. That means schools like Manley High School, with capacity for more than 1,000 students but enrollment of just 78, can’t be closed for anther three years. The school spends $45,000 per student, but just 2.4% of students read at grade level.
Hopefully, all media will get the message, in Illinois, too.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes, why lawmakers don’t want to touch the tax’s cost drivers, just how much Illinoisans’ tax burden has grown over the decades, why Gov. Pritzker failed to meet his promise to reform property taxes, and more.
It would be interesting to know the student metrics — graduation rates, test results, % going to college, etc. It says a lot that the author is focused on disparity in salary and pensions. Is this a pitch for higher salaries in rural areas? To me, it’s just more evidence that educators are too much concerned about compensation and benefits and too little concerned about students. No doubt cost of living is higher in urban and suburban areas and urban teachers have to put up with many students from poor or unstable homes. If a teacher does not like his/her… Read more »
I’ve mentioned this here before, but the HS in our town hasn’t had a kitchen for several years now due to budget cuts. Meals are brought over from the grade school and are often cold when the kids get them. So go ahead with your strike, CTU. We’re leaving this dumpster fire state next year anyway.