Number of half-empty Chicago public schools doubles, yet lawmakers want to extend school closing moratorium – Wirepoints
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.
Once an area is on a trajectory of decay. The thing to do is give a reprieve or drastically lower property tax prices to encourage redevelopment and new buyers. Letting the rates go to 10 pct or more on undesireable property will only accelerate the downward trajectory of the area. You need to make the area tax free to encourage it’s healing, then recoup in a future decade after responsible and employed folks who took the risk to buy there tax free get settled. Basic pricing economics should drive regrowth, in Illinois the collectors only see their side, and only… Read more »
You are spot on, Rick. The problems are now so deep that only some form of ten or so -year plan makes sense, and it will have to include drastic elements like that. But denial reigns, and it won’t happen until we get closer to Puerto Rico’s tragedy.