Just months after closing 50 schools, Chicago issues RFP for more charter schools

[Teamster Jeff]

>>>
Just two and a half months after a historic vote to close 50 schools, Chicago is laying the groundwork to bring more charter schools to the city.

Without fanfare, the district posted an official “request for proposals” to its website Monday that invites charter schools to apply to open shop in what the school district has identified as priority neighborhoods—large swaths of the Southwest and Northwest sides
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The Chicago Teachers Union and others have argued for years that school closures are about making way for charters and weakening the union.

“We are not surprised at all by this,” said union president Karen Lewis . “We were called conspiracy theorists, and then here is the absolute proof of what the intentions are…. The district has clearly made a decision that they want to push privatization of our public schools.”

The district has been slowly shifting students to charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately run. Around 13 percent of district students—and more than 20 percent of the district’s high school students— are educated in charter schools. Teachers at charters cannot be represented by the Chicago Teachers Union.
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http://www.wbez.org/news/education/just-months-after-closing-50-schools-chicago-issues-rfp-more-charter-schools-108398

[Chisox08]

1. That was the point of closing those schools.

How did all of those empty school building get there? Somebody's got to fill them.

I saw this coming from a mile away. Rahm and his cronies want to destroy the teacher's union as punishment for being against his run for mayor.

[madrchsod]

23. yup ....more condo`s for the urban rich.

[kysrsoze]

2. Rahm is a complete asshole.

He has no qualms about decimating CPS, especially in low income areas, while bringing in more charter schools (which demonstrably test no better than public schools and cost much more) and sending his privileged children to private school.

He's a smug, self-serving asshole and the collection of eunuchs in the City Council are as just as subservient to him as they were to Daley.

[live love laugh]

3. And they would risk kids' lives for their agenda. So-called "Safe Passage" routes

replete with shiny yellow signs near the closed school buildings are supposed to be a beacon to guide displaced children through gang territory as they head to new schools August 26th. School hasn't even started and somebody was shot on a safe passage route last week.

[Octafish]

4. Funny how that works.

What's sad: The Democratic Party once stood four-square and proudly for Public Education.

[Fumesucker]

5. No one could have predicted

Condi was like the fucking Oracle at Delphi, her words fit such a vast array of situations.

[FiveGoodMen]

20. No one could have predicted these things without being labeled a conspiracy nut.

Conspirators never have to hide what they're doing. They just have to ridicule anyone who catches on.

[Starry Messenger]

6. There's always money for that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. I should feign surprise

[Zorra]

8. Either we stop electing Third Way politicians, or austerity and privatization is our future.

Unions will become extinct.

End of story.

Only by electing real Democrats will we ever be able to reverse the trend toward fascism that the Reagan administration set in motion.

[liberal_at_heart]

10. +1

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. Rahm used to work for Goldman Sachs so nothing like this should be surprising.

Shameful and horrific, but not surprising. Solidarity with the Chicago Teacher's Union!

[eilen]

11. The mayor is an Obama Democrat.

Why are you surprised?

[Teamster Jeff]

17. Not surprised at all

Union busting 101. Cry poor then shift the the work to non union entity (cheaper labor).

[marmar]

12. k/r

Naomi Klein, poet and prophet.

[ctsnowman]

14. X 1000

[sarisataka]

13. This is happening in Chicago?

I'm shocked

[Brigid]

16. Cute kid.

If she's from Chicago, her parents are going to have to move to get her educated.

[Brigid]

15. This was the plan all along.

Is anybody really surprised?

[apnu]

18. nope.

My kid goes to one of the top rated CPS schools and its a disaster. I shudder to think what its like at the middle of the pack schools or the bottom ranked ones.

I can't stan Rhambo.

[limpyhobbler]

19. The mask is off. Maybe now we can have an honest discussion about who is on our side.

But I doubt it.

[gollygee]

21. Well, yeah

As others have said, that was the point of it.

[madrchsod]

22. obama,duncan,and rahm

all three never went to a public school. rahm and duncan send or sent their kids to a very exclusive private school in chicago. the obama`s really don't have a choice where to send their kids.

public schools are the backbone of our society. rahm,obama,and duncan do`t see it that way.