On Dec. 15, Chicago School Board members unanimously approved a plan to institute a Naval Academy program in Senn High School, with board president Michael Scott saying he was convinced existing programs would not be short-changed, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Even various demonstrations, including one in the Loop on Dec. 14 and a last-minute walkout by hundreds of Senn High School students on Dec. 15, could not persuade board members to drop the plan. The military school will occupy the entire south wing of Senn’s building.
About 500 Senn students (out of 1,700) walked out of the North Side school. Later, during the proceedings, they made their feelings known. ‘Is this whole thing fixed?’ senior class president Joddite Woldegevriel, 17, asked board members. ‘Why Senn?’
Critics contend that squeezing the existing students into the remaining space would hurt several organizations and courses, such as the school’s service learning program. They also fear that Senn would become a recruiting site for the military. On the other hand, advocates say the plan would bring the school $2.1 million and offer a new citywide option.
The plan’s supporters included 48th Ward Ald. Mary Ann Smith, whose naval aviator husband attended college on the GI bill. Smith wrote to board members: ‘I believe such a facility will provide new options for students in our community, offer a high-quality college preparatory program, instill discipline and create an environment for academic excellence.’