10/13/2017
Mayor Rahm Emanuel today joined Alderman Michael Zalewski to break ground on the new annex at Michael M. Byrne Elementary School. The addition will house 16 new classrooms, including a science lab, a music room and a library, as well as a large multi-purpose room. “Year after year, Byrne students achieve record academic gains, and we owe it to them to remove any barriers to academic success,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “This annex provides students and teachers with the extra space and facilities necessary to obtain a 21st century education.”
Renovations to the main building will include converting the lunch area and library into to classrooms, and updating the fire alarm system. Additional construction will include removing existing modular units and installing an artificial play field at the site.
“This state-of-the-art annex would not have happened without the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers and the whole community,” said Alderman Michael Zalewski, 23rd Ward. “Today we celebrate the new opportunities and renewed investments in Garfield Ridge.”
The annex will be constructed by the Public Building Commission and is expected to be complete by fall 2018.
Mayor Emanuel and CPS have addressed overcrowding at over 35 local schools in recent years, including Skinner, Zapata, Dore, Dawes, South Loop, Prussing, Addams, Little Village, Bridge, Onahan, Ebinger, Pasteur, Canty, Byrne, Edwards, Dore, Garvey, Hale, Peck, Stevenson, Dirksen, Sauganash, and many more. The Mayor remains committed to working with communities to find innovative ways to relieve overcrowding.
The City of Chicago has been committed to broad investment in capital projects at schools across the city. Investments with CPS has included new schools and annexes, playgrounds and air conditioning, improvements and access to technology, new computers and expanded bandwidth, expanded academic programs and core facilities investments.
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