CPS to Engage Community on Proposed Co-Location of North River Elementary and ASPIRA - Haugan Middle School

CHICAGO –  Chicago Public Schools (CPS) today announced a public engagement plan to consider a proposal to co-locate the North River Elementary School in Albany Park with the neighboring ASPIRA-Haugan Charter Middle School. The proposed move, approved by the North River Local School Council, would mean a larger and enhanced environment for the nearly 260 K-8 North River students.

“We look forward to further engagement and consideration of this proposal to co-locate two schools in the Albany Park neighborhood, ” said CEO Pedro Martinez. “While we know many in the community already have voiced support of this plan, the two community meetings and planned public hearing offer an opportunity to gather additional feedback and possibly amend the proposal before taking this to our Board of Education for a vote early next year.” 

The proposal meets CPS guidelines, including that the space utilization data, after co-location, would not exceed the facility’s enrollment efficiency range, as defined by CPS’ Space Utilization Standards. 

North River Elementary currently leases space from the Archdiocese of Chicago and due to limited physical space, there is no available space for additional student programming or extracurricular activities. If this proposal is approved, North River will continue to have one classroom per grade and remain a school without an attendance boundary. The ASPIRA-Haugan Charter Middle School currently serves 121 students at its ADA-accessible building on West Leland, which can hold nearly 900 (870) students. 

CPS is committed to equitably distributing space and resources under the proposed shared ASPIRA facility, which would be owned by the District. An annual Memorandum of Understanding would govern the arrangement, addressing space allocations for the two schools and key operational details. 

CPS will host two community meetings and one public hearing on this matter to gather more feedback and possibly amend the proposed plan. Those who wish to make a public comment of two minutes or less must register to speak on the day-of, at the specific location, beginning one hour prior to the designated start time. Public comment will be accepted during each meeting or hearing and the transcripts will be available online at CPS.edu/Transitions. The community meetings and public hearing will be offered in person and may also be available  virtually, with those details pending. Time, dates and location are as follows:

 

Community Meeting No. 1

Tuesday, January 11, 2022 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

ASPIRA-Haugan Middle School

3729 West Leland Ave.

 

Community Meeting No. 2

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

ASPIRA-Haugan Middle School

3729 West Leland Ave.

 

Public Hearing 

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022 - 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

CPS Central Office

42 West Madison St.

 

 

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