Chicago Public Schools officials today released maps of routes where security will be provided for the thousands of children going to new schools this year.
The so-called "safe passage" routes are designed to smoothly shift students from 47 schools being closed this year to nearby schools. Parents have voiced concern about children crossing rival gang territories and passing empty buildings and vacant lots. Some of them have complained that CPS has been late releasing the maps.
Training for safe passage workers, originally targeted by CPS for this week, is now set to begin next Thursday.
CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett said the maps are being mailed to every student affected by closings as well as being posted on district’s website.
“They are not embedded in stone,” she said. “It’s a daily communication, daily opportunity. Where we know there may be an incident, we trust the Chicago police department and our safety and security to make sure we are informed and updated regularly.”
Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said the same police unit that planned for NATO is planning for the back to school week when students from 47 closed elementary schools will be walking to designated neighborhood schools. He said police will be patrolling the routes. District commanders will have specific plans for each route.
“This is nothing new,” McCarthy said. “Kids have been crossing gang lines for years to go to school. We have a program in place that’s very clearly worked. We’re doing more of it this year based upon the school closings.”
The safe passage program was started by CPS after the beating death of Fenger High School student Derrion Albert in 2009, and until now has been used mostly for high schools. Last school year, it was added in four communities where elementary schools closed.
Because so many schools closed this year, CPS added nearly $8 million to the program and is hiring an additional 600 people to escort students along designated safety routes during arrival and dismissal times.
All told, 59 additional schools will be receiving safe passage support when school begins.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...-safe-passage-routes-20130809,0,4881483.story
Yes, we all know how well those "Gun Free Zone" signs worked in Chicago....
The so-called "safe passage" routes are designed to smoothly shift students from 47 schools being closed this year to nearby schools. Parents have voiced concern about children crossing rival gang territories and passing empty buildings and vacant lots. Some of them have complained that CPS has been late releasing the maps.
Training for safe passage workers, originally targeted by CPS for this week, is now set to begin next Thursday.
CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett said the maps are being mailed to every student affected by closings as well as being posted on district’s website.
“They are not embedded in stone,” she said. “It’s a daily communication, daily opportunity. Where we know there may be an incident, we trust the Chicago police department and our safety and security to make sure we are informed and updated regularly.”
Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said the same police unit that planned for NATO is planning for the back to school week when students from 47 closed elementary schools will be walking to designated neighborhood schools. He said police will be patrolling the routes. District commanders will have specific plans for each route.
“This is nothing new,” McCarthy said. “Kids have been crossing gang lines for years to go to school. We have a program in place that’s very clearly worked. We’re doing more of it this year based upon the school closings.”
The safe passage program was started by CPS after the beating death of Fenger High School student Derrion Albert in 2009, and until now has been used mostly for high schools. Last school year, it was added in four communities where elementary schools closed.
Because so many schools closed this year, CPS added nearly $8 million to the program and is hiring an additional 600 people to escort students along designated safety routes during arrival and dismissal times.
All told, 59 additional schools will be receiving safe passage support when school begins.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...-safe-passage-routes-20130809,0,4881483.story
Yes, we all know how well those "Gun Free Zone" signs worked in Chicago....
