Chicago, Ill., Jun 24, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Chicago Public Schools officials have invited the De La Salle Christian Brothers to open a new public middle school in the city, the Chicago Sun-Times reported yesterday. It would be the first public school in Chicago, which is founded and run by a religious order but funded with tax dollars.
The Christian Brothers currently operate two campuses of San Miguel School – a Catholic middle school – in the city. The third school, however, would be within the public school system. It would be part of the city’s plan to create 100 new schools in the next six years.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan invited the Christian Brothers to open the new public school during a recent visit to San Miguel, Br. Edward Siderewicz, San Miguel’s president, told the Sun-Times.
The new public school would not be Catholic in nature. There would be no classroom crucifixes, no prayers and no mass, said Br. Siderewicz. It would simply adopt the same educational model as San Miguel – which is quite unique.