Whittier Elementary Sit-In Resumes
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 23, 2011 2:27PM
The sit-in at the Whittier Elementary fieldhouse is back on. Yesterday, CPS spokesman Frank Shuftan said construction would begin on the school system's plan for a library within the main building and not honor the agreement between former CEO Ron Huberman's administration and the Whittier parents who want to rehab the fieldhouse into a green library and community center.
Today, a Chicago Public Schools contractor erected fencing around a portion of Whittier School that will allow for construction of a new library for Whittier School students. We are excited that this long anticipated project has begun. The library will provide a great place for children to enhance their learning opportunities. Construction of the library within Whittier will honor a commitment made by CPS to the Whittier community last year and we believe placement of the library within the school is the best option for the students. Because of the construction activity that will be taking place, it was necessary to fence off an area of the school property to avoid the potential for injury. We will continue working with the Whittier community on related issues, such as the pending lease of the Whittier Field House to the Whittier Parent Committee.
I paid a visit to the fieldhouse last night and spoke with Evelin Santos, a spokeswoman for the Whittier Parent Committee. Santos, who represented the parents at yesterday's School Board meeting, said that the board "didn't even want to hear our plan."
Santos provided us with copies of the CPS' plans for the library in the school and the parents' plans for the fieldhouse. (I've included them in the post.) "Our plan is the result of six months of pro bono work. The CPS plan for the library in the school cost the system money," Santos said.
"And they say they have no money because they're in a deficit?"
Santos said all they want is for CPS to honor the agreement they reached in February. Unfortunately, that agreement isn't binding. Former CEO Ron Huberman resigned from the school system shortly after and, according to Santos, "(Interim CEO) Terry Mazany told us he couldn't make major decisions like this" because he wasn't long for the job.
Construction barriers were raised around Whittier's main building as the parent committee was downtown for the School Board meeting yesterday, an indicator, along with other documents we've included with this post, that construction of the library will begin soon. CPS has also set up a security watch near one of the entrance to the playlot, to restrict access to the fieldhouse.
Santos said the Whittier Parent Committee has raised $564,000 for their proposed project. $364,000 of that was promised in October 2010 by 25th Ward Ald. Danny Solis. Since they don't have a binding agreement with CPS, Santos said she's hoping that Solis steps in and reminds CPS of their commitment.