2 weeks Ago By Jitu Brown, Jason Ervin
Last week, the debate about Chicago Public Schools, its budget and its future took a new and alarming turn. The new information should be a disqualifier for CPS leadership in the eyes of anyone in the city who remembers school closings that have devastated Black and brown communities. Apparently, that is exactly what CPS’ CEO has been plotting to repeat.
We write this together coming from very different careers — Jitu Brown, a lifelong education organizer-turned-unopposed school board candidate, and Ald. Jason Ervin, a professionally trained accountant appointed to the City Council by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2011.
We both fought then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to close primarily Black schools, among them six schools in the 28th Ward as well as Dyett High School, the site of a 34-day hunger strike . Such closures made zero sense then and would make zero sense to repeat now. School cuts and closures increased violence in our communities, drove hundreds of thousands of Black families out of Chicago since 2000 and effectively purged Black teachers from CPS.
They harmed academic outcomes and did nothing to positively affect the district’s budget. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune function dfm_stn_player_script_id_wQoDAMss( getS2NApiForPlayer ) {if( typeof window.MNGAuthentication !== 'undefined' ){const s2nApi = getS2NApiForPlayer( document.
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MNGAuthentication.isUserSubscriber();}} Garrett A. Morgan Elementary, 8407 S.
Kerfoot Ave. in Auburn Gresham. Opened 1972, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Matthew A. Henson Elementary, 1326 S. Avers Ave.
in North Lawndale. Opened 1962, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune William H.
King Elementary, 740 S. Campbell Ave. in Tri-Taylor.
Opened 1959, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Guglielmo Marconi Elementary, 230 N. Kolmar Ave.
in West Garfield Park. Opened 1962, closed 2013. The fine arts magnet school was named for the inventor of radio.
Marconi received a reprieve in 2010 when it was pulled from an earlier school closings list at the last minute. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Nathan R. Goldblatt Elementary, 4257 W.
Adams St. in West Garfield Park. Opened 1941, closed 2013.
Originally a Catholic school named Holy Ghost, it was purchased by CPS and reopened as a public school in 1965. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune West Pullman Elementary, 11941 S. Parnell Ave.
in West Pullman. Opened 1894, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John Fiske Elementary, 6145 S.
Ingleside Ave. in Woodlawn. Opened 1905, closed 2013.
Fiske remains open in name at the former Sexton Elementary building. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Ignace Paderewski Elementary, 2221 S. Lawndale Ave.
in South Lawndale. Opened 1964, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Genevieve Melody Elementary, 412 S.
Keeler Ave. in West Garfield Park. Opened 1965, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune William H. King Elementary, 740 S. Campbell Ave.
in Tri-Taylor. Opened 1959, closed 2013. Students relocated to Jensen Elementary.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Nathaniel Pope Elementary, 1852 S. Albany Ave. in North Lawndale.
Opened 1918, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Graeme Stewart Elementary School, 4525 N. Kenmore Ave.
in Uptown. Opened 1907, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John Calhoun North Elementary, 2833 W.
Adams St. in East Garfield Park. Opened 1960, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Kate S. Buckingham Center, 9207 S. Phillips Ave.
in Calumet Heights. Opened 1962, closed 2013. Buckingham was a therapeutic day school for special education students.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Granville T. Woods Math & Science Academy, 6206 S. Racine Ave.
in West Englewood. Opened 1965, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Anthony Overton Elementary, 221 E.
49th St. in Grand Boulevard. Opened 1963, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Alfred David Kohn Elementary, 10414 S. State St. in Roseland.
Opened 1911, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Charles W. Earle Elementary, 6121 S.
Hermitage Ave. in West Englewood. Opened 1896, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Daniel S. Wentworth Elementary, 6950 S. Sangamon St.
in Englewood. Opened 1890, closed 2013. Wentworth's auditorium has murals made of 26 historic paintings from 1914 showing American history.
Comedian Bernie Mac was an alumnus. The school remains open at the former Altgeld Elementary building. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Laura S.
Ward Elementary, 410 N. Monticello Ave. in Humboldt Park.
Opened 1973, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Nathaniel Pope Elementary, 1852 S. Albany Ave.
in North Lawndale. Opened 1918, closed 2013. Designed by Swedish architect Arthur Hussander, it is one of several Classical Revival school buildings Hussander built along Chicago's boulevard system.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Anthony Overton Elementary, 221 E. 49th St. in Grand Boulevard.
Opened 1963, closed 2013. Designed by Perkins + Will, the striking campus contains classroom towers connected with glass corridors. The building has a twin that remains open as Beethoven Elementary.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Robert Emmet Elementary, 5500 W. Madison St. in Austin.
Opened 1913, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Jean D. Lafayette Elementary, 2714 W.
Augusta Blvd. in Humboldt Park. Opened 1893, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Alfred David Kohn Elementary, 10414 S. State St. in Roseland.
Opened 1911, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune George Leland Elementary, 5221 W. Congress Parkway, in Austin.
Opened 1970, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Nathan R. Goldblatt Elementary, 4257 W.
Adams St. in West Garfield Park. Opened 1941, closed 2013.
Originally a Catholic school named Holy Ghost, it was purchased by CPS and reopened as a public school in 1965. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Graeme Stewart Elementary School, 4525 N. Kenmore Ave.
in Uptown. Opened 1907, closed 2013. Actors Harrison Ford and Gloria Swanson are alumni.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Francis Parkman Elementary, 245 W. 51st St. in Fuller Park.
Opened 1911, closed 2013. Carved stone marks the former boys and girls entrances. Parkman was the receiving school for the closed Princeton Elementary just four years ago and some students have now moved twice.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Elizabeth Peabody Elementary, 1444 W. Augusta Blvd. in Noble Square.
Opened 1895, closed 2013. Named for an educator who opened the first kindergarten in the U.S.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Elihu Yale Elementary, 7025 S. Princeton Ave. in Grand Crossing.
Opened 1951, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Mary E. Courtenay Elementary, 1726 W.
Berteau Ave. in Ravenswood. Opened 1949, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Matthew A. Henson Elementary, 1326 S. Avers Ave.
in North Lawndale. Opened 1962, closed 2013. Named for the first explorer to reach the North Pole, who was African American.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Arna Wendell Bontemps Elementary, 1241 W. 58th St. in West Englewood.
Opened 1973, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Lyman Trumbell Elementary, 5200 N. Ashland Ave.
in Edgewater. Opened 1909, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Robert Emmet Elementary, 5500 W.
Madison St. in Austin. Opened 1913, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Laura S. Ward Elementary, 410 N. Monticello Ave.
in Humboldt Park. Opened 1973, closed 2013. Ward remains open in name, moving into rival school Martin Ryerson Elementary's building a half-mile away.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Robert Nathaniel Dett Elementary, 2306 W. Maypole Ave., on the Near West Side.
Opened 1963, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Louis Armstrong Math & Science Elementary, 5345 W. Congress Pkwy.
in Austin. Opened 1969, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Near North Elementary, 739 N.
Ada St. in West Town. Opened 1884, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Songhai Elementary Learning Institute, 11725 S. Perry Ave. in West Pullman.
Opened 1897, closed 2013. The school was called Scanlan Elementary until 1997 when it was renamed for a 7th century empire in West Africa. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune West Pullman Elementary, 11941 S.
Parnell Ave. in West Pullman. Opened 1894, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Charles W. Earle Elementary, 6121 S. Hermitage Ave.
in West Englewood. Opened 1896, closed 2013. Earle remains open in name at the former Goodlow Elementary Magnet building.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Louis Armstrong Math & Science Elementary, 5345 W. Congress Parkway in Austin. Opened 1969, closed 2013.
Named for a founding father of jazz who lived in Chicago. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Lyman Trumbell Elementary, 5200 N. Ashland Ave.
in Edgewater. Opened 1909, closed 2013. Named for U.
S. senator from Illinois who introduced the 13th Amendment. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Daniel S.
Wentworth Elementary, 6950 S. Sangamon St. in Englewood.
Opened 1890, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Louis Armstrong Math & Science Elementary, 5345 W. Congress Pkwy.
in Austin. Opened 1969, closed 2013. Named for a founding father of jazz who lived in Chicago.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Charles W. Earle Elementary, 6121 S. Hermitage Ave.
in West Englewood. Opened 1896, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Benjamin E.
Mays Elementary, 838 W. Marquette Rd. in Englewood.
Opened 1960, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Guglielmo Marconi Elementary, 230 N. Kolmar Ave.
in West Garfield Park. Opened 1962, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Genevieve Melody Elementary, 412 S.
Keeler Ave. in West Garfield Park. Opened 1965, closed 2013.
One of the first three schools to adopt Mayor Rahm Emanuel's longer school day in 2012. Melody remains open in name at the former Edward C. Delano Elementary building.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Jean D. Lafayette Elementary, 2714 W. Augusta Blvd.
in Humboldt Park. Opened 1893, closed 2013. Contains over 100 murals including restored historic works.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Garrett A. Morgan Elementary, 8407 S. Kerfoot Ave.
in Auburn Gresham. Opened 1972, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Songhai Elementary Learning Institute, 11725 S.
Perry Ave. in West Pullman. Opened 1897, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Louis Armstrong Math & Science Elementary, 5345 W. Congress Pkwy. in Austin.
Opened 1969, closed 2013. Named for a founding father of jazz who lived in Chicago. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John Fiske Elementary, 6145 S.
Ingleside Ave. in Woodlawn. Opened 1905, closed 2013.
Fiske remains open in name at the former Sexton Elementary building. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Robert Nathaniel Dett Elementary, 2306 W. Maypole Ave.
, on the Near West Side. Opened 1963, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Elizabeth Peabody Elementary, 1444 W.
Augusta Blvd. in Noble Square. Opened 1895, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John J. Pershing Elementary Humanities Magnet, 3113 S. Rhodes Ave.
in Douglas. Opened 1958, closed 2013. Known as Pershing East, the school remains open in name and was consolidated into the Pershing West Middle School building.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Matthew A. Henson Elementary, 1326 S. Avers Ave.
in North Lawndale. Opened 1962, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Francis Parkman Elementary, 245 W.
51st St. in Fuller Park. Opened 1911, closed 2013.
Carved stone marks the former boys and girls entrances. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Ignace Paderewski Elementary, 2221 S. Lawndale Ave.
in South Lawndale. Opened 1964, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Francis Scott Key Elementary, 517 N.
Parkside Ave. in Austin. Opened 1907, closed 2013.
Designed by Prairie School architect Dwight H. Perkins who built several CPS buildings of this period. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John B.
Drake Elementary, 2722 S. King Drive in Douglas. Opened 1961, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Betsy Ross Elementary, 6059 S. Wabash Ave. in Washington Park.
Opened 1937, closed 2013. Named for the woman who made the first American flag. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune William H.
King Elementary, 740 S. Campbell Ave. in Tri-Taylor.
Opened 1959, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Genevieve Melody Elementary, 412 S. Keeler Ave.
in West Garfield Park. Opened 1965, closed 2013. One of the first three schools to adopt Mayor Rahm Emanuel's longer school day in 2012.
Melody remains open in name at the former Edward C. Delano Elementary building. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Genevieve Melody Elementary, 412 S.
Keeler Ave. in West Garfield Park. Opened 1965, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune West Pullman Elementary, 11941 S. Parnell Ave. in West Pullman.
Opened 1894, closed 2013. There are two historic Works Progress Administration murals in the auditorium. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Graeme Stewart Elementary School, 4525 N.
Kenmore Ave. in Uptown. Opened 1907, closed 2013.
Actors Harrison Ford and Gloria Swanson are alumni. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Robert Nathaniel Dett Elementary, 2306 W. Maypole Ave.
, on the Near West Side. Opened 1963, closed 2013. Dett opened as the area's population grew with the nearby Henry Horner Homes, and dropped dramatically as the public housing project was demolished during the last decade.
Dett remains open in name in the former Herbert Elementary building. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John B. Drake Elementary, 2722 S.
King Drive in Douglas. Opened 1961, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Arna Wendell Bontemps Elementary, 1241 W.
58th St. in West Englewood. Opened 1973, closed 2013.
At 40 years old, it is one of the newest building on the closings list. Bontemps is one of five schools closing in the troubled neighborhood. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Arna Wendell Bontemps Elementary, 1241 W.
58th St. in West Englewood. Opened 1973, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Mary E. Courtenay Elementary, 1726 W. Berteau Ave.
in Ravenswood. Opened 1949, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Burnham Elementary Inclusive Academy, 1903 E.
96th St. in South Deering. Opened 1954, closed 2013.
Burnham, which was at 89% utilization and highly rated academically, relocated to the larger building formerly home to Lawrence Elementary. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Ignace Paderewski Elementary, 2221 S. Lawndale Ave.
in South Lawndale. Opened 1964, closed 2013. Reflecting the neighborhood's population at the time, the learning academy was named for a Polish pianist and diplomat who once made the cover of Time magazine.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Francis Scott Key Elementary, 517 N. Parkside Ave. in Austin.
Opened 1907, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Mary E. Courtenay Elementary, 1726 W.
Berteau Ave. in Ravenswood. Opened 1949, closed 2013.
Courtenay remains open in name at the former Stockton Elementary building in Uptown. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John J. Pershing Elementary Humanities Magnet, 3113 S.
Rhodes Ave. in Douglas. Opened 1958, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Elihu Yale Elementary, 7025 S. Princeton Ave. in Grand Crossing.
Opened 1951, closed 2013. The Yale Club of Chicago had partnered to provide tutors and mentors since 1997. A world away from the Ivy League, these Yale students relocated to Harvard Elementary.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Alfred David Kohn Elementary, 10414 S. State St. in Roseland.
Opened 1911, closed 2013. The fine and performing arts magnet cluster school as named after a member of the Chicago Board of Education who founded the CPS' nutrition program. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John Calhoun North Elementary, 2833 W.
Adams St. in East Garfield Park. Opened 1960, closed 2013.
Located next door to a charter school and after-school program that drew many students from Calhoun. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Graeme Stewart Elementary School, 4525 N. Kenmore Ave.
in Uptown. Opened 1907, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Burnham Elementary Inclusive Academy, 1903 E.
96th St. in South Deering. Opened 1954, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Elizabeth Peabody Elementary, 1444 W. Augusta Blvd. in Noble Square.
Opened 1895, closed 2013. Named for an educator who opened the first kindergarten in the U.S.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Elihu Yale Elementary, 7025 S. Princeton Ave. in Grand Crossing.
Opened 1951, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Nathan R. Goldblatt Elementary, 4257 W.
Adams St. in West Garfield Park. Opened 1941, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John J. Pershing Elementary Humanities Magnet, 3113 S. Rhodes Ave.
in Douglas. Opened 1958, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Near North Elementary, 739 N.
Ada St. in West Town. Opened 1884, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Burnham Elementary Inclusive Academy, 1903 E. 96th St. in South Deering.
Opened 1954, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John B. Drake Elementary, 2722 S.
King Drive in Douglas. Opened 1961, closed 2013. The school remains open in name at the former Williams Elementary building.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune George Leland Elementary, 5221 W. Congress Parkway, in Austin. Opened 1970, closed 2013.
Leland became an independent school in 1989 and was named for a Texas congressman who died that year in an Ethiopian plane crash during a missionary trip. Leland remains open in name at the former Horatio May Elementary building. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Granville T.
Woods Math & Science Academy, 6206 S. Racine Ave. in West Englewood.
Opened 1965, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Near North Elementary, 739 N. Ada St.
in West Town. Opened 1884, closed 2013. The oldest building on the closings list, Near North served entirely special education students.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Kate S. Buckingham Center, 9207 S. Phillips Ave.
in Calumet Heights. Opened 1962, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune John Calhoun North Elementary, 2833 W.
Adams St. in East Garfield Park. Opened 1960, closed 2013.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Granville T. Woods Math & Science Academy, 6206 S. Racine Ave.
in West Englewood. Opened 1965, closed 2013. Named for an African American engineer and inventor who developed many improvements to the railroad system.
Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Francis Parkman Elementary, 245 W. 51st St. in Fuller Park.
Opened 1911, closed 2013. Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune Betsy Ross Elementary, 6059 S. Wabash Ave.
in Washington Park. Opened 1937, closed 2013. Garrett A.
Morgan Elementary, 8407 S. Kerfoot Ave. in Auburn Gresham.
Opened 1972, closed 2013. CPS CEO Pedro Martinez knows this. His history with our schools doesn’t start with his return to Chicago from Texas.
He actually served as the chief financial officer at CPS from 2003 to 2009; he oversaw many of the financial mistakes that became the pretext to Emanuel’s closures. The fact that Martinez is even considering such measures has caused both of our phones to ring off the hook from colleagues and parents who share our disbelief that this could possibly be in the works. People are asking: If our students cannot live and learn in our neighborhoods, what neighborhood will even remain? Contrary to what former CPS CEO Paul Vallas and his Illinois Policy institute may lobby for, what has informed our leadership through our careers is that budgets are not solely a question of addition and subtraction.
A city’s budget is a moral document that reflects its values and priorities and how it decides to care for or neglect the needs of its residents. Privatizers say they want to do what’s “best for children.” These children are our children.
They live in our communities. They are not orphans. You cannot care for our children if you do not respect the communities where they live.
Under Vallas, David Vitale, Forrest Claypool and even Martinez, the balance of CPS’ budget was made by resourcing schools in white neighborhoods at the expense of schools in Black neighborhoods when the fact is that the baseline for education across our city should be greatness. But just look at two schools, Agassiz (now named Harriet Tubman Elementary) and Mollison, for the evidence. The two are separated by about 11 miles but more so by the educational experience they provide their students.
At Harriet Tubman, a North Side school, students enjoy three times more arts and creative opportunities, according to a 2018 report by Journey for Justice Alliance. Plus the student-to-teacher ratio at Tubman is 68% smaller. Why are small class sizes standard for white children but wasteful for Black and brown students? The election of Mayor Brandon Johnson was meant to be an opportunity and a mandate to change the inequity baked into the system.
Chicagoans elected an elementary school teacher whose children attend public school on the West Side on the promise of departing from the status quo, on the promise to lead differently and make Chicago work for everyone, especially the neighborhoods such as ours that have never gotten their due. When we’ve experienced mass school closures, it starts with a list that is initially “theoretical” but soon becomes reality. So, we were more than dismayed to find out that CPS officials recently completed a facilities analysis, school leadership has floated a list of schools to be considered for closure and consolidation, and budget presentations suggest mass cuts to critical school positions including custodians, security, technology support for students and families, and staff support for students with disabilities on buses .
Cuts and closures are a red line in a school district that still is not providing adequate funding, let alone full funding, for its students. In the third largest city in the country and the largest economic contributor in our state, we shouldn’t be in a position in which anyone goes without. There’s no reason why students at some schools may study multiple languages, be exposed to the latest technologies and have their choice of extracurriculars while students at others are having their programming slashed and are forced to attend schools that can’t regularly staff core positions.
All of our students deserve a world-class education and shouldn’t have to leave their neighborhood to receive it. The school cuts and closures of a decade ago are a stain on our city’s history. The pain and disruption they caused are still felt in our neighborhoods (and the people and institutions missing in them) to this day.
Anyone with some sense would be moving our district in the farthest opposite direction possible. As the district works to finalize budgets, we are expecting forward-looking solutions that plan for investment, not depopulation, and definitely not another case of history repeating. The fact that Martinez is leading with cuts instead of conviction means that those even higher up than Martinez either need to take the reins or take a vote so that Chicago can save our schools without the hunger strikes, marches, sweat and tears, and fallout of a decade ago.
Jitu Brown is the director of the national education organization Journey for Justice Alliance and running unopposed in school board District 5. Ald. Jason Ervin is the chair of the City Council Budget Committee and represents the 28th Ward.
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