Andersonville Loves Trumbull Day: April 4, 2013

Trumbull School: part of Andersonville's National Historic District!

On Thursday, April 4, 2013, from 3PM – 5:30PM, Andersonville businesses will partner with parents and teachers in “Andersonville Loves Trumbull” Day, an initiative to demonstrate the importance of Trumbull Elementary School to the neighborhood. Trumbull is one of the fifty-three schools slated to be closed by Chicago Public Schools at the end of August.

During “Andersonville Loves Trumbull” Day, Trumbull parents, teachers, and friends will patronize local Andersonville businesses en masse to show mutual support for the community and demonstrate the economic impact that the school has on the neighborhood. Along with business owners, they will distribute materials explaining why Trumbull should remain open and how Andersonville constituents can advocate for it.

As the neighborhood chamber of commerce and development corporation, we believe that walk-able, quality schools are an essential element of strong communities. For our commercial district, Trumbull has been an important economic driver for over 100 years, serving our residents and employees and providing customers for our businesses. The building itself is one of the most significant structures in our Andersonville National Historic District. 

Recently, new leadership in the school’s parent-based Local School Council (LSC) has put Trumbull on a strong swing upwards. With a new principal, and thousands of dollars of improvements already invested, Trumbull is well on its way up. 

Trumbull Local School Council member Ali Burke tells us that by CPS' own standards, Trumbull should not be on the list for closure. CPS committed to not close schools that had 80% or greater occupancy. Trumbull’s highly-regarded special education program necessitates that the school have smaller class sizes. When determining Trumbull’s occupancy percentage, CPS deemed it to have lower than 80% occupancy, which is incorrect if the special education standards are applied. The Trumbull LSC fact sheet has more details. 

Below are other reasons why we think Trumbull is important. If you think so too, you can contact your local alderman and  CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett (bbyrd-bennett@cps.edu, 773.553.1500) to tell them to keep Trumbull open.

You can also download a window sign and an information sheet about Trumbull's impact on our local businesses.

Why Trumbull School is important for the Andersonville commercial district: 

Customers. Teachers and parents who work in and visit Andersonville make up a substantial consumer base for area retailers and restaurants. Trumbull serves a population with diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds who in turn are customers and employees of Andersonville businesses and help create a stable residential district.

Strong schools, strong neighborhood. Walk-able, quality schools are an essential element of strong communities. With the turnaround of Peirce School on Bryn Mawr, we have seen the substantial positive impacts of an excellent public school on local property values and community well-being. Trumbull is right in the middle of such a turnaround, with a new, parent-based, highly engaged local school council, a new principal, and thousands of dollars of improvements already invested. Trumbull is well on its way up.

Community cornerstone. The school building could prove a blight if left vacant, as many previously shuttered CPS school buildings currently remain. Such a closure may attract loitering and unwelcome activity and may decrease area property values. Already, the long-vacant Edgewater Medical Center has weighed on the community.

Historic significance. The Trumbull School building is one of the most historically significant structures in our Andersonville Historic District, designed by famed architect Dwight Perkins. It is gorgeous inside and out. It should be maintained, and maintained as a school.