CPS to hold public hearing on proposed charter schools

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Public hearings will be held Wednesday night over plans to open seven new charter schools in Chicago.

While some support the idea, others argue that public money should be used to improve existing neighborhood schools.

During a time of massive budget cuts to Chicago public neighborhood schools, charter school opponents say this is not the time to open new charters. One proposal that is generating a great deal of controversy is a plan to build a new high school on the Southwest Side.

Araceli Escobedo and Carmen Torres are looking at a large empty lot they hope will become their children's new high school; the Noble Charter Network is proposing to build a brand school on this Brighton Park industrial lot at 47th and S. Richmond.

"This is for the parents who want a better education for kids on the Southwest Side," Torres said.

"Noble is not for every kid, CPS is not for every kid, you choose where to go," Escobedo said.

And these mothers say they want a choice closer to home. Right now, their kids commute over two hours a day to a Noble charter school on the North Side.

According to Noble Network, over 2,400 Southwest Side Noble students travel to other parts of the city. Brighton Park and surrounding neighborhoods are growing, and Noble believes there is a demand for another high school.

"There were 3,000 students that graduated from eighth grade and went off to different high schools. In two years, that number will double and become 6,000 students, this is per CPS data. There aren't enough seats available currently to meet the demand - this is going to be a proactive approach," said Adrian Segura, Noble Network.

But Noble charter opponents strongly disagree. Members of the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council have gathered over 6,500 signatures from residents opposing the new charter high school. They say there are over nine Chicago public neighborhood high schools and charters in the area already, including some new ones.

"Why is CPS using funds, budgeted funds, for a school that is really not necessary when you have just built five high schools within the area," said Linda Coronado, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council.

Parents fear Noble will pull kids from their neighborhood high schools, which they say means pulling resources as well.

Janeth Herrera's child goes to Kelly High School.

"I believe there is no need for a charter when there is already an existing centrally located high school to serve the students of this community," Herrera, a CPS parent, said via an interpreter.

Besides parents and neighborhood groups, 42 aldermen have called for a moratorium on new charters. The public hearing for the Noble proposal begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at CPS headquarters.

The school board will vote on all charter proposals at its October monthly meeting.