Mar 24, 2008 5:56 pm US/Central
Students Get Escort To Crane High School
Students Living In ABLA Public Housing Fear Retaliation After A Teen Living There Was Charged With Killing A Classmate
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
School escorts are trying to bring a sense of security Monday afternoon at Chicago's Crane High School, weeks after the murder of a student.
CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports Monday is the first day of classes after spring break.
"Operation Safe Passage" came about after community leaders met with about 70 parents following the shooting death of student Ruben Ivy.
Students from the ABLA Homes public housing complex have feared retaliation because a 15-year-old ABLA resident was charged with that shooting.
The idea behind the program is to make sure children feel safe going to and from school.
Students were escorted to school by parents, police and community leaders Monday morning.
Ald. Bob Fioretti's office says about 1,400 students attend Crane High School, but only about 500 came back to classes Monday.
As the school let out in the afternoon, those students were met with a very visible police presence.
Some adults even boarded CTA buses to make sure kids felt safe on their ride home.
Many students were comforted by the show of support and police presence, but some students and parents say it's too little, too late.
"It's going to calm things down, stop gang violence I hope," said Crane junior Michael Chatman.
"A lot of stuff happen a long time ago, but when a boy gets killed, now they want to let somebody walk you home," said sophomore Latavia Austin.
"After all that's happened I'm just kind of nervous about her even going here, but she has to stay here another year or so," said Lakisha Shorter, whose daughter is a freshman at Crane. "I'm going to do whatever I have to do to keep her safe."
Shorter says she plans to make sure someone escorts her child to and from school everyday until the end of the school year.
Parents from ABLA say they'll continue to escort their children to school until everyone feels safe.
As for the increased police presence, Ald. Fioretti says that will continue for the rest of this week, and then they will re-evaluate the situation to see if it needs to go beyond that.
CBS 2's Mai Martinez and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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