Mayor Daley Introduces Measures to Acquire Land for New Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2008

Mayors Press Office, 312-744-3334
Kevin Smith, Public Building Commission, 312-744-9277

Mayor Richard M. Daley today introduced to the Chicago City Council a pair of resolutions which would allow the Public Building Commission of Chicago to acquire land on which a new high school and a new elementary school will be built.

The construction will be part of Mayor Daleys Modern Schools Across Chicago initiative. The ordinances would allow the purchase of property in the Back of the Yards neighborhood for a new high school to be built near 47th Street and Hoyne Avenue and a new elementary school to be constructed at 38th Street and St. Louis Avenue.

The strength of any school is found in the dedication of the faculty and in the pride of the students, and both are strengthened by a structure that encourages both the faculty and the students to aspire to great things, said Mayor Daley. These two new schools will feature a modern, environmentally friendly design that will serve the Back of the Yards community for many years to come.

Preliminary plans for the high school call for use of the Chicago Public Schools prototype design, a 200,000 square-foot structure suitable for 1,200 students. The new school would feature a gymnasium/auditorium and music, art and library facilities while satisfying multiple requirements for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

At the new elementary school, meanwhile, preliminary plans follow a prototype design resulting in a 105,000 square-foot building with various amenities. It also would satisfy multiple requirements for LEED certification.

Tentative schedules call for the new elementary school to be ready in fall of 2010, while the new high school to be ready in the fall of 2011.