Kyle Hillman

Cassandra Washington served as principal for seven years and recently rallied for better school funding.

For the first time, schools are required to pay for diverse learners themselves.

In Rogers Park, parents and leaders at Gale Elementary said cutting the program would be "unacceptable."

Grady Humphrey, a former candidate for 49th Ward alderman, said the tree's leaves clogged his gutters.

The school has struggled academically and has been plagued with facility problems, such as lead paint.

CPS told Gale Elementary's principal it didn't include the school in a federal funding request.

School leaders have complained for years about the school's broken cameras and other facility issues.

School leaders said their requests to fix the school have gone unanswered by CPS officials.

Last year, the school faced permanent closure, and then a $448,000 budget cut.

"It's just so sad what they're doing to the kids," said Gale teacher Roberta Kaiser.

At a town hall meeting, parents said they didn't want to open a school building to a charter school.

A pared down list of 129 schools facing closure did not include Gale and Field Elementary Schools.

Some think the meeting is a sign the school is on CPS's next closure list.