This afternoon Piccolo Elementary parents held a Press Conference to defend their school. They announced that they will occupy Piccolo to protest the Board of Education’s plans. The Board plans to vote on Wednesday to turnaround Piccolo and hand over management of the school to AUSL, Academy for Urban School Leadership, a privately connected firm with ties to City Hall. For the time being, you can follow what's happening on Occupy Chicago's UStream account.
Broadcasting live with Ustream
“For months now, Piccolo parents have wanted their voices heard, but the mayor, CPS and members of the Board have given them a deaf ear,” said CTU President Karen GJ Lewis. “Tonight these courageous parents have decided to dramatize their efforts to save their school by engaging in non-violent protest. We stand in solidarity with them, as well as the thousands of parents and community leaders from other targeted communities, in our ongoing education justice fight. We call on CPS to invest in our under-resourced neighborhood schools and halt its plans to turn them over to AUSL or shut them down all together.”
To support the parents of Piccolo, go to Piccolo School, 1040 N. Keeler. Bring friends, food, blankets, and water. Support Our Schools, Don’t Close Them!
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Click here to watch a video from the press conference.
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Parents occupy school, demand to talk with Rahm
“Stop Playing Politrix With Our Schools.”
“They have a new principal,” said Shronda Wilson, whose two kids, ages 5 and 7, attend the school. “They haven’t given her a chance. She has come here from the beginning of the school year and done a tremendous job. They have good teachers here.”
Late Friday, CPS officials said they had not decided whether to evict the parents.
http://www.suntimes.com/...
"We want to hear from the mayor," said Latoya Walls, Piccolo parent. "Hear us. We are taxpayers. We have a right. We have a say so. These are our kids."
"Until we hear from the mayor, we will be here," said Rosie Hudson, Piccolo parent, who said she was willing to risk arrest.
The protesters entered the school Friday afternoon with sleeping bags and food, with no apparent security to stop them. They were protesting Chicago Public Schools' "turnaround" plans for the school, which, if approved, would lead to teachers and staff being replaced.
http://abclocal.go.com/...