WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

The Chicago Board of Education approved a $363 million spending package Wednesday that will help pay for Chicago Public Schools massive restructuring plan.

CPS is paying a logistics firm $14.2 million to inventory everything from student records to textbooks in all schools set to be closed, turned around, or “co-located” with other schools.

While school closing plans have rattled communities and teachers, some see an opportunity.

The walk from King Elementary to Jensen Elementary on the West Side is 20 minutes each way — past boarded-up buildings and vacant lots. CPS says the walk is long enough that the students will get busing, but parents are still worried.

The Board of Education meeting drew morning protesters, while down the street, a City Council panel held a hearing to discuss the closings.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is addressing the racial disparities in his administration’s plan to close an unprecedented 54 public schools next year.

Civil disobedience: More than 100 protesters led away by police at a rally protesting Chicago Public Schools proposal to close 54 schools.