State Senator Mattie Hunter responded to Chicago Public Schools’ announcement yesterday regarding the proposed closure, co-location or turn-around of 53 schools, 15 of which lie within the boundaries of the 3rd  Legislative District.

“Although I am not completely in opposition to what CPS has decided, I am concerned that this decision has been made without the guidance of solid criteria and adequate investigation of all facets of the issue,” Hunter said. “Even though I remain hopeful we will see positive outcomes from this proposal, I cannot ignore that this judgment was reached without the consideration of CPS’ master facilities plan, which I look forward to seeing soon.”

Earlier this week Hunter became a chief co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1571, a measure which calls for a school closings moratorium that would prevent CPS from realizing any school closures before the end of the 2014 -15 school year.

“In spite of my optimism that this will ultimately prove for the best, I cannot deny a moratorium would benefit our public schools and children by making CPS establish clear criteria for school actions and really pinpoint the needs of these underperforming schools when determining strategies for such actions,” Hunter said.

Hunter also expressed her uncertainty that CPS has sufficiently considered the consequences of the proposed school actions and the general de-stabilizing effects that school closings could have on affected communities, i.e. social and economic issues, as well as concerns as a result of vacant buildings.

“15 of these schools designated in this proposal to close, co-locate or turn-around are in my district, and I recognize the impact this could have on the areas I represent and other communities throughout Chicago,” Hunter said. “I fear that this decision has not allowed for critical issues such as transportation to and from school and safe passage for students potentially put in danger of crossing gang territory lines to be adequately analyzed and addressed. This is
why I continue to support a moratorium, as I maintain we must investigate all the potential effects of these actions and not undertake hasty decision-making that does not consider all the consequences.”