A group opposing plans to close 15 D.C. schools filed an injunction Friday in an attempt to keep the schools open.
Empower DC filed a lawsuit against the government Friday morning in D.C. Superior Court. They argue that the planned closures disproportionately affected low-income and non-white students.
D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson released the revised school closing list in January of this year after paring it down from 20 planned closures. It is estimated that 140 staff positions will be cut as an effect of the closures.
Henderson has said that the school system would achieve one-time savings of $20 million with the closures, with an additional savings of $8.5 million in each of the following years. The chancellor said the savings would be used to improve course offerings and staff arts, education, and language classes. Henderson also said that underutilized schools could see higher enrollments.
The most notable name on the school closings list is Spingarn High School, alma mater of NBA legends Elgin Baylor and Dave Bing, the latter of whom has gone on to become the current Mayor of Detroit.
