Call for moratorium on school closings

February 3, 2009 (WLS) -- A state lawmaker is calling for a one-year moratorium on Chicago Public Schools closings and reorganizations.

State Representative Cynthia Soto will introduce the measure. If approved, new standards would be developed to regulate how buildings in the district are used and when schools should be closed.

Soto says the process for identifying schools for closure in the Chicago public school system has not been applied fairly and consistently.

"So you are hearing from my constituents. They want a moratorium now and that's what this bill will do. There is going to be a process...and we are going to be investigating how the old process works," said State Rep. Cynthia Soto, (D) Chicago.

Soto is calling for a six-member committee of state senators and representatives to develop requirements for a new process.

Under the current school board plan, two Chicago public schools in Soto's Northwest Side district would be closed.

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