Ald. Opposed to Alternative School’s Planned Location

Deborah Bayliss | As of Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Chicago’s 5th Ward Ald. Leslie Hairston Ald. is opposed to the location of a planned alternative school in her ward at 7037 S. Stony Island Ave.
Chicago’s 5th Ward Ald. Leslie Hairston Ald. is opposed to the location of a planned alternative school in her ward at 7037 S. Stony Island Ave.

Controversy surrounding the location of a South Side alternative school is picking up steam as an alderman in the area stands in opposition of the EdisonLearning – Magic Johnson Bridgescape Academy planned location.

Del Marie Cobb, spokesperson for Chicago’s 5th Ward Ald. Leslie Hairston, explained that Hairston. is not opposed to the alternative school that will serve a mixture of students who’ve dropped out, transferred out and those who have been expelled. However she is opposed to the location the school wants to occupy at 7037 S. Stony Island Ave.

“The busy intersection is home to a strip mall with several retail businesses and the Parkway Apartments that attract groups of youth who hang out in the area,” said Cobb. “The alderman has offered to work with the school on finding a different location. Putting a school there on top of all of that, is like “pouring gasoline on a fire.”

Hairston’s Chief of Staff, Kimberly Webb, said they’re doing everything possible to keep the school out.

“Working with Chicago Public Schools’ Network for Alternative Options, Magic Johnson Bridgescape was guided towards establishing an Academy in the South Shore neighborhood, a community where many students could benefit from this program, said Will Polite, vice president of Development, EdisonLearning. “CPS estimates that there are thousands of school aged students in the neighborhood that have dropped out of school and are in need of a flexible student-centered program like MJB. Shortly after recruitment efforts began for the Academy in the South Shore, the Academy was nearing maximum enrollment. The South Shore Academy will provide at least 150 reengaged and motivated students with a path to earning their high school diploma that would otherwise be unavailable.”

Polite went on to say that the present time, their primary focus is to reach out to those students who were looking forward to beginning their education at the South Shore Academy, and inform them about alternative arrangements that Bridgescape Academy is currently in the process of making to address their needs.

Bridgescape Academy currently has another school in the Lawndale neighborhood located at 3210 W. Roosevelt Rd. A call to the school on Tuesday found there was a huge turnout for enrollment at that location.

The Bridgescape Academy two locations opens on Aug. 26. Each will serve 150 students in grades 7 through 12 based on a model used by the organization’s 17 schools around the country, which are a joint venture between Magic Johnson Enterprises and EdisonLearning.

The Student-focused program provides students an opportunity to earn a high school diploma at a pace suitable to their schedule, lifestyle and learning needs. Students will have an abbreviated, flexible school day and maximize online learning to focus on required courses and subjects that align with their specific areas of interest. A custom curriculum, individualized support and counseling provide students a roadmap for success.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to enroll a student into the EdisonLearning – Magic Johnson Bridgescape Academy call (773) 238-2677. For the Lawndale enrollment office located at 2177 S. Millard Ave., call (773) 522-1398. To contact the South Shore enrollment office located at 750 E. 71st Street, Suite 204, please call 773-363-1324.

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