Security Plan for Crane Tech Students

By Margaret Lyons in News on Mar 18, 2008 6:17PM

More than 200 high school students, residents of the ABLA Homes, haven't been to school since March 7 because they're afraid of gang retaliation following the murder of one of their classmates.

When spring break ends next week, Crane students from ABLA -- also known as "the Village" -- will gather at one central location each morning. CTA buses will pick them up after they've walked en masse to the bus stop.Then a Chicago Police escort will follow the buses to a transfer point, where under the watchful eyes of even more officers, they will board second buses to Crane at 2245 W. Jackson. They will enter the school under police watch....

Crane's detailed external security plan already includes blockades that divert all traffic but buses from in front of the school; CTA buses at the school waiting for students as they exit; school security guards at each bus stop and Crane staffers on every corner; 10 to 14 police squad cars that bring 20 to 27 officers each day to surround the school, and five police cameras within a block.

But once those kids get to school, what exactly are they supposed to do there? Only 7.7 percent of students meet or exceed state goals, and only 60 percent graduate. The composite ACT score is 15.1.

Crane's principal Richard Smith said his gang-involved students have a "suicide bombing mentality," and that gang conflict has been present at Crane for years.[S-T, S-T]