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LOCAL News :: Children & Education

Officials, Community Convene At City Hall On Wednesday Morning -- Intensity Builds Over Inadequate High School Space In Chicago’s Largest Community

Chicago, IL, December 19, 2007 -- The battle for an additional high school in Austin brings parents, community leaders, and public officials to the Board of Education meeting this Wednesday, morning, December 19th. A rally and press conference is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. in the lobby of City Hall, 125 S. Clark Street in Chicago.
BREAKING NEWS

Westside Health Authority (WHA)
Austin Community Education Network Member
CONTACT: Anthony Bowman, WHA
(Cell) 773-727-8358
canthonybowman (at) gmail.com

Officials & Community Convene At City Hall On Wednesday Morning
Intensity Builds Over Inadequate High School Space In Chicago’s Largest Community

Chicago, IL, December 19, 2007 -- The battle for an additional high school in Austin brings parents, community leaders, and public officials to the Board of Education meeting this Wednesday, morning, December 19th. A rally and press conference is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. in the lobby of City Hall, 125 S. Clark Street in Chicago.

Community groups and elected officials will present their case for a new high school with the Austin Community Education Network. In addition to Network members, Austin’s public officials who will attend the conference include: Alderman Isaac Carothers (29th Ward), State Representative LaShawn Ford (8th District), State Representative Deborah Graham (78th District), State Senator Lightford (4th District), Alderman Emma Mitts (37th Ward), and Alderman Ed Smith (28th Ward). After the press conference, the groups will speak at the monthly board of education meeting, starting at 10:30AM.

The Austin community has been devastated since 2004 when CPS began restructuring the existing Austin High School. “The Austin community is the largest community in the City of Chicago,” said Dr. Grady Jordan of the Austin Community Education Network. “We need a comprehensive state-of-the-art-high school.” Even with the old Austin building re-opened, there are insufficient high school slots to serve Austin’s large student population. Many local teens are forced to travel long, sometimes dangerous routes to schools all over the westside.

State and local legislators agree that an additional high school is needed, and CPS officials report that an internal investigation has confirmed that an additional high school is needed to serve the community. Location and funding are being explored, and a referendum for a new high school on the February 5, 2008 ballot in Austin wards is pending.
 
 

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