K&R
... that's actually pretty vague. Like an "edict," of sorts. So many questions. Like when does this big change go into affect? Next fall? Do all the teachers go with the kids? If not, how many teachers will be losing their jobs? With all the trouble they are having in Chicago, this can't be a good thing. Wonder how many of those kids will drop out altogether and end up in gangs? How many kids are going to be in each class? Looks to me like this is going to cause more trouble and cost more money than it solves/saves. Guess we will just have to wait until they dribble out each and every change. Is Rham up for reelection again in 2014? They should have titled the article
"Shock Doctrine Disaster Capitalism Hits Chicago!" Geemineez already.

I suspect the real reason is a blend of politics, funding shortfalls, and demographics. Highly doubtful the real reason has been elucidated in the media.

Personally, I'd rather see my kid in a charter school than some of those South side hell holes. Lesser of two evils.

not have a deficit and has not had a deficit.

and the schools being closed are not 'underutilized'.

stated reasons for the closings is somehow off-topic because of 'austerity' is just bull.

fix up a bunch of run-down, half-empty schools (like every infrastructure project in this country, they built too many of them and then let them fall apart) or bus the kids to buildings needing less work. From a financial standpoint, this decision makes sense. They're looking at about a $1 billion deficit in their school district and they have to do SOMETHING.

It's all a numbers game. This country doesn't give a crap about the actual product (think cars in Detroit, but human lives), just the numbers.

Eh, who cares about kids in these areas? They were just going to get into a gang anyway, now we KNOW they'll get knocked off and save us some money.

Officials of Chicago Public Schools continue to assert that a billion-dollar deficit in the district’s budget is fueling plans to close public schools across the city. However, Truthout reports that in the midst of discussions on school closures, a recent audit has discovered that instead of a deficit in the Chicago Public Schools budget, a surplus of $334 million was recorded! The district responded that the money came from early payments from the state and county. Other sources claim that the money is a combination of underestimating revenue for the year and under spending.

Truthout further claims that this is not the first time Chicago Public Schools has “played” with the budget numbers. The previous year, the district estimated it would suffer a budget deficit of $245 million. The district instead reported a surplus of $316 million when all was said and done – a difference of nearly a half-billion dollars. The pattern can be tracked back further, to projections made between 2005 and 2008.

This crisis was manufactured and decisions are being made based on incorrect and incomplete financial, enrollment, and utilization data,” Valerie Leonard, a spokesperson for Lawndale Alliance, told Truthout. Leonard and others have called on the school district to issue a moratorium on school closures until a facilities master plan is created by the district.

http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/577

Privatized corporate sponsored conditioning education

Every damned time this happens I keep telling the union leadership to publicly question what the class sizes are in his children's school's classrooms. The Union should call a Public Forum, inviting the mayor, university presidents, parents, principals and Big Business to speak. Rahm Emanuel should explain to Chicagoans just why "other people's children" not afforded the same quality learning environments, and the same quality professionals.

The local universities owe Chicago the reasons why they are not speaking out against this poor achievement practice. Parents should explain why they have not been up in arms about the crowded conditions of their children's learning. PRINCIPALS -- the city's schools' "instructional leaders" should explain why they are not up in arms about the forced diminishment of quality education in their communities' schools. This forum should take place within the Chicago Board of Education Building. Then these schools' forum participants should simply sit down, stay there, i until the mayor and lackeys renegotiate spending priorities toward chopping the six figure army at the top and redistributing it to their schools. Security should take over the doors, let in Occupy people, nationally syndicated journalists and labor lawyers.

There is not enough public fight about this country's children. There is no longer any institutional commitment to human development in this country. There is only 'every one for himself.' So wrong. So unenlightened, feudal and mean spirited. AFT Local #1's Karen Lewis has the money and manpower. She must do this.

good article-
http://www.wbez.org/news/chicago-proposes-closing-53-elementary-schools-firing-staff-another-6-106202