The right approach
South Loop parents are taking educational planning seriously
05/27/2009 10:00 PM
For the last several months, the Jones College Prep local school council has held special meetings following its regular sessions to discuss Chicago Public Schools’ apparent plans to build Jones an entirely school structure with some kind of access for South Loop students.
Last week, current and prospective South Loop Elementary School parents and other interested community members gathered to discuss looming space concerns at SLS. The meeting was co-sponsored by two area community organizations.
Both groups — and there’s plenty of overlap between the Jones and SLS contingents — are trying to broach issues publicly as CPS plans the futures of these two fine institutions. Each wants to be able to point to public processes that have happened when CPS finally plays its hand. And there are many big decisions looming — from where the Jones attendance boundary will be drawn to how exactly SLS will solve its capacity issues, should they prove enduring.
It’s the right approach.
CPS, like any large bureaucracy, operates under its own logic. They do what they want to do, community residents with experience negotiating with CPS tell Chicago Journal. And so having talking points articulated and community positions staked out well in advance of the big decisions at Jones or SLS is smart.
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By Seth Blumenthal from Fulton River District
Posted: 05/30/2009 11:22 AM
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