The Chicago Public Schools Commission on School Utilization recently recommended the school district close up to 80 elementary schools in a 12-to-24 month period. These school closings and consolidations could impact up to 50,000 children and result in the destruction of 2,600 classrooms.
Since each classroom must be at least 600 sq. feet to be designated as such, that means CPS could destroy at least 1.5 million square feet of designated classroom space, most of which is located in the black community. McCorkle School, 4421 South State Street, was shuttered in 2010, despite community protest. Three years later the dilapidated campus sits as a Bronzeville neighborhood eyesore though it now has a brand new “for sale” sign in its front yard.