MORGAN PARK — As Morgan Park High School's top-ranked hoops team practiced, the parents of the players and the school's principal met to iron out a solution that could possibly satisfy all parties involved.
After meeting for close to 90 minutes in the school's library on Saturday, the Morgan Park boys hoops parents and school officials decided that a game has be to scheduled versus Simeon by Thursday, Jan. 28.
From today's meeting between Morgan Park hoops parents and the school principal. @DNAinfoCHI pic.twitter.com/8WjJx39guX
— Evan F. Moore (@evanFmoore) January 16, 2016The game against Simeon has not been rescheduled at this point, parent spokeswoman Tiffany Burrell said.
No game took place Saturday after the parents of the players threatened to boycott or forfeit after the game against Simeon was moved from Morgan Park's home gym to Little Village High School and then to Brooks by Chicago Public Schools. The parents want the school to have a larger gym with more seating.
Burrell said everyone involved is working together to iron out a solution.
"Everyone is on the same page, which is a wonderful thing. All of our concerns were addressed," Burrell said. "We decided work out an agreement to help the players and for the betterment of Morgan Park High School."
Burrell said parents will meet with school principal Carolyn Epps at some point next week.
Darlene Randall's son Jarrin is a member of Morgan Park's basketball team. She says the meeting was positive.
"Progress was made," Darlene Randall said. "We are all on the same page working toward a resolution."
Basketball coach Nick Irvin and Illinois State Sen. Napoleon Harris (D-15) also attended the meeting.
Irvin echoed the parents' sentiments.
"We met today and it was productive," he said. "We're trying find a solution."
Epps told DNAinfo that the only thing she would discuss was the centennial celebration the school had earlier in the day.
Morgan Park alum Anthony Brown was asked to attend the meeting by the parents of one the players but he decided to leave once it was announced by Epps that only the parents of the players can attend.
"Morgan Park has needed a new gym since it was built. I don't know who thought that tiny gym was sufficient and when they didn't build further out to 111th Street," Brown said. "But I think this protest will be in vain. I understand that the boys have had great recent success but a whole entire building is a long shot."
If Morgan Park ends up having to forfeit the game, it will be the second one this year. Last month, CPS punished Morgan Park and three other CPS schools for games they played against Detroit schools because the games were not sanctioned by the Illinois High School Association.
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