BEVERLY — A coalition against the proposed merger of Kellogg and Sutherland elementary schools in Beverly has planned a "Unity Walk" at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The crowd will gather at Kellogg's campus at 9241 S. Leavitt St., walk to Sutherland at 10015 S. Leavitt St. and then to the offices of Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) at 10400 S Western Ave.
O'Shea has proposed merging the two public elementary schools, saying enrollment has declined at both schools. He believes this is a result decreased attendance by children living within the neighborhood boundaries.
The Keller Regional Gifted Center would move from Mount Greenwood into Kellogg's building under O'Shea's plan. This would allow the overcrowded Mount Greenwood Elementary School to take over Keller's nearby campus at 3020 W. 108th St.
The reorganization would also include a "significant investment" at Esmond Elementary School in Morgan Park, O'Shea said. This school at 1865 W. Montvale Ave. last saw improvements in the early 1970s and is suffering from numerous issues, including frequent water damage as well as heating and cooling problems.
O'Shea's plan has been met with opposition since it was announced Sept. 6. Many Kellogg parents argue the plan would close their high-performing, majority black school. Indeed, Kellogg's population is 83 percent black, according to Chicago Public Schools' website.
Parents at Sutherland — which is 61 percent black — say the plan would overcrowd their school, essentially shifting the problem from Mount Greenwood to Beverly. And Keller parents fear their magnet school might be asked to move again if trends shift and the combined Sutherland-Kellogg school becomes a more popular option for neighborhood families.
"At a time when Chicago’s leaders say they want to offer the best educational opportunities to all Chicago students, 19th Ward Ald. Matt O’Shea is moving to take away those opportunities," organizers of the Unity Walk said in a press release.
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