Chicago Public Schools looking at some potential changes. Interim CEO Terry Mazany says the district has more schools than it needs to serve its students. Earlier in March on Eight Forty-Eight Mazany said that over the next two years CPS might close between 10 and 30 schools. Early Wednesday, reporters were briefed on CPS’ tentative list of schools being considered for consolidation or closing. The list includes nine buildings that would be affected.

Not everyone agrees on the number of schools that need closing – nor the process by which this happens. State Representative Cynthia Soto is the co-chair of The Chicago Educational Facilities Task Force. After eleven months of doing research and gathering public input, the bipartisan task force has come out some recommendations on school facilities for CPS. Representative Soto joined Eight Forty-Eight’s Alison Cuddy to explain more.

List of elementary school closings/consolidations:

Jacob Beidler Elementary School closes and Willa Cather Elementary School is receiving school.
Avondale Elementary School and Logandale Middle School are combining grades to be an elementary school in Logandale building
Hans Christian Anderson Elementary closes. LaSalle II Magnet School is receiving school.  
George Schneider Elementary School closes. Jahn Elementary is receiving school.
Carpenter Elementary School closes and Talcott Elementary is receiving school.
Tilton Elementary School is phasing out; there will be no pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten next year.  Marconi Elementary is receiving school.  

List of high school closings/consolidations:
Bowen Environmental Studies High School, Chicago Discovery Academy High School and Bowen Global Visions Academy High School will close and students will be folded into New Millennium High School. 

Music Button: Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra, Iceberg”, from the CD World of Funk, (Ubiquity)