A
lthough the 47th ward appears to be safe from potential school
closings at the end of the academic year, Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th ward) and
other education panelists at a North Side forum last night said all
Chicago communities would feel the impact of shuttered neighborhood
schools.
It’s likely some schools in the 47th Ward, and
others, would take in students from nearby schools that Chicago Public
Schools decides to close, the alderman said.
Pawar cited
one nearby public school, Trumbull, on CPS’ potential 129-school closing
list. About 30 percent of students at the elementary school near
Ashland and Foster avenues have special needs, he said.
“I
think some of the schools in the area will absorb those students, and
we’re OK with that,” Pawar said. “I just think what makes this a little
frustrating is we’re not moving cattle around. These are children, and
whether they’re special ed or not, how we count them matters.”
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Chicago Teachers Union members voted overwhelmingly this week to
approve a three-year contract, with the option of a fourth year, that
was hammered out amid a historic seven-day CTU strike. Now comes the
challenge of paying for the deal, which has so far largely played out as
a battle between the union and district on school closings. 