Mass firings proposed for 10 Chicago schools

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and city public school officials say they want to fire the staffs of 10 underachieving schools in hopes of improving student performance.

Dismissing a school’s principal and teachers is part of a process known as a “turnaround.” Emanuel and school officials say turnarounds are among the drastic changes needed at many schools.

The 10 proposed schools have each been on academic probation for at least five years. If the city education board approves its plan, the Chicago Public Schools would spend $20 million on transition costs and new programs and coaching for the 5,800 students in those schools.

Seventeen schools are currently in turnarounds.

Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard are scheduled to announce the latest changes Tuesday at one of those schools.