December 3, 2018

Ald. Dowell Statement on Injunction Blocking Transition of National Teachers Academy Into Neighborhood High School

 

Chicago, IL - Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd) has issued the following statement on the Cook County Court's decision to grant an injunction preventing CPS from transitioning National Teachers Academy Elementary School into a neighborhood high school.

 

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"For more than forty years, the residents of the South Loop community have been without a neighborhood high school. The easy thing would have been to ignore the issue and continue with the status quo. But I believed, and continue to believe wholeheartedly, that providing a quality neighborhood K-12 education to all residents of the 3rd Ward is the right choice. Change is always difficult, however in the long term, opening a high school in the South Loop is what is best for the community. With today's court decision I remain committed to this goal and ask that CPS quickly find a viable alternate location for a neighborhood high school.

"I would like to thank Dr. Janice Jackson, CEO of CPS, and her entire team for their tireless dedication to this project. I would also like to thank the countless residents of the South Loop, Bronzeville, GAP, Chinatown and Bridgeport communities who came to the public meetings, wrote letters, sent emails, submitted testimony or otherwise participated in this long process. This was truly a community effort undertaken to make the 3rd Ward the best place to live, work and raise a family.

"Though I don't agree with the judge's decision to grant the injunction, it's a decision that must be accepted. As always, I ask you to join me in supporting all of our schools and all of our students moving forward. Providing a neighborhood high school for the South Loop community remains an important priority and it is a goal I still firmly believe can be accomplished together for the benefit of all students."