In immediate response to the Chicago Board of Education's vote to close/phase-out/consolidate or "turnaround" the remaining sixteen Chicago public schools, the Grassroots Education Movement (GEM) held a picket outside of the board headquarters and then marched to the Thompson state building. Once at the state building, it was confirmed to about 1000 participants that the Daley-appointed school board voted to close the remaining sixteen schools.

The greatest irony that reveals the ill-intentions of the school board and CPS leadership is the reason they stated in removing six schools from the list at the last moment on Monday night. In a press release, CPS cited "compelling evidence" presented by school communities during the public hearings. While it could be argued that intense pressure brought about by GEM caused the board to release some schools to save face, the choice of which schools appears arbitrary. One school, Nia Foundations, had only two representatives at it’s hearing and was removed. However, the majority of the schools now approved for closure or “turnaround” presented compelling evidence equal to the schools removed from the list. Other inconsistencies were also apparent in CPS decision making. Members of the board admitted they never read the hearing transcripts. Only a few raised their hands when asked if they’d been present at any of the hearings.

GEM activists will continue to organize around the detrimental effects of Renaissance 2010. Important will be the Soto bill 363 which is calling for a moratorium on school closings and an independent investigation into the board’s progress. A few members of City Council have also called for investigative hearings to be held by them. Meanwhile, we can expect more closings and “turnarounds” next year and the year after. A key goal of Renaissance 2010 is to further the Chicago Commercial Club’s Civic Committee’s plan to privatize Chicago’s “education market.” It should be noted that the board of education is made up bankers and lawyers, representing such organizations as Banco Popular and LaSalle bank.