AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/close/)
The Chicago Board of Education voted this week to renew Plato Learning Academy’s contract for two years, giving the Austin school more time to improve its rating. Specific conditions for the contract renewal will be finalized with Plato’s operator early next year, officials say.
The Chicago Board of Education is expected in early December to take action to shutter Plato Learning Academy, a K-8 contract school that has two campuses in Austin, for failing to meet the district’s academic standards. Parents, students and community members plan to speak at the Dec. 6th board meeting in hopes of saving the school.
The Austin school is down to just 150, causing some to fear it will be shuttered. CPS shut down four Austin elementary schools in 2013, including one right across the street from Douglass.
Preservation Chicago included Francis Scott Key Elementary School, which now sits empty.
Some hope CPS will alter some of the Safe Passage routes, while others continue to advocate for an elected board of education.
The Chicago Board of Education is expected to approve the district’s 2013-2013 spending plan at its monthly meeting tomorrow.
CPS will hold two meetings about neighborhood school closures Jan. 31 and Feb. 13 in the Austin-North Lawndale network.
Despite accusations the financial institution is abandoning the community, a spokeswoman said they hope to open a new location in Austin.
In a letter to AustinTalks, the state lawmaker responds to the recent YMCA closing by calling on the governor to make it a priority to fight for the West Side.
Residents and advocates met Monday to discuss why closing the Austin center is harmful to the community. An 11 a.m. protest is planned at the Y’s Downtown headquarters Thursday.