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Bronzeville Lighthouse Charter Makes Final Plea To Remain Open

By Jamie Nesbitt Golden | February 17, 2016 9:46am | Updated on February 17, 2016 10:52am
 Students, teachers and staff pack the warm auditorium of Bronzeville Lighthouse Academy Tuesday for a hearing on the future of the arts school at 8 W. Root St.
Students, teachers and staff pack the warm auditorium of Bronzeville Lighthouse Academy Tuesday for a hearing on the future of the arts school at 8 W. Root St.
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Jamie Nesbitt Golden

BRONZEVILLE — Students, parents, and educators packed a school auditorium Tuesday evening in a final attempt to persuade the Illinois State Charter School Commission to rescue Bronzeville Lighthouse Academy from the Chicago Public Schools' chopping block.

Bronzeville Lighthouse is one of three South Side schools targeted for closure. 

The small arts school at 8 W. Root St., with 450 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, floundered briefly before a change in leadership during the 2013-2014 school year, supporters said, but saw an increase in teacher and student retention and managed to meet Northwest Evaluation Association standards before the CPS closure announcement last fall.

But the school had low test scores and attendance, WBEZ reported.

Allowing Lighthouse and the other targeted charters to remain open "would be a disservice to their students," CPS said.

The school is part of Florida-based Lighthouse Academies, which has 19 schools in seven states. The company said it uses a three-pronged approach to education: "rigorous academics, social development and arts infusion."

By law, the state charter school commission can reverse a CPS decision to revoke a charter school's contract.

Bronzeville Lighthouse, which opened in 2006, was the only school that didn't receive a remediation plan from CPS before it was ordered to close.

Officials have been working to relocate the school's 450 students, who — per CPS plan — would be moved among three neighboring schools: Beasley, Mollison and Beethoven. But parents and teachers said they fear the move will adversely affect an already vulnerable student body. For some, this would be the second time they've been displaced.

"They tell us that our kids will be able to go to these other schools," one parent told the commission. "But we know they won't be admitted because those are selective-enrollment schools."

Former teacher and charter founder Lina Fritz said, CPS "didn't even come here before making the decision. We aren't even worth a visit."

"They tell us that they don't have money, but Lincoln Park gets a new annex," she added, referring to Lincoln Elementary's $19 million addition designed to address overcrowding.

For 90 minutes, students, teachers and administrators testified how Bronzeville Lighthouse changed their lives. One parent recounted how her 7-year-old son called her "mommy" for the first time with the help of school staff.

"We're fighting for more than Bronzeville Lighthouse, we're fighting for our community," she said, fighting tears.

Another credited the school's arts-based curriculum with helping her daughter gain enough confidence to apply to a high school theater program. One former student, now a senior at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, spoke of college acceptance letters and his internship at the National Institutes of Health.

Lynette Sims, a former Bronzeville Lighthouse teacher who came to the hearing to show support, said she still considers the staff and students family and her time there made her a better educator. 

"I'm optimistic that the school will be saved, but the question is for whom?" said Sims, suggesting that the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood may influence the commission's decision.

Serena Green, a middle school teacher at Bronzeville Lighthouse for five years, also is optimistic about the school's future.

"I think we've done and shown everything that we possibly could, from scores and growth, to the level of community and family in our building, to the commitment that our staff and our students have," said Green. "Whether we stay open or not, we've shown well for ourselves."

The state commission' vote deciding Bronzeville Lighthouse's fate will take place March 1, at Sherman Park, 1301 W. 52nd St.

A hearing for Amandla Charter, another school slated for closure, will be held from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at 6800 S. Stewart.

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