Chicago Public Schools officials primed the public Wednesday for what may be coming in December when they decide what schools will be closed, consolidated or turned around.
At the Board of Education meeting, Oliver Sicat, the district’s new chief portfolio officer, said there is a correlation between poorly performing schools and underutilized school buildings. CPS officials said they will rely on school performance as the primary factor in determining which schools to overhaul, but facility usage will also be taken into account.
“What that could mean is that our parents are voting with their feet,” Sicat said.
A school’s “performance level” is tallied by a complex calculation that awards points based on state test scores, student growth measures and attendance rates, among other factors. The lowest ranking, Level 3, is for schools the district has placed on probation because of poor performance. Most CPS schools on probation are concentrated on the city’s South and West Sides, where underutilized buildings were also high, according to Sicat.
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis dismissed Sicat’s presentation as an attempt to create a smoother reception for the always controversial annual school overhauls.
“They’re just dragging it out and dressing it up under a different name,” Lewis said.
Last year, the district announced plans to consolidate 16 schools. After public outcry, four schools were spared.
Any new school closings or consolidations must be announced by Dec. 1 as part of a law signed last month by Gov. Pat Quinn.