Huberman tries to freeze out Pilsen parents

"We're not going anywhere..."

Chicago school boss Ron Huberman has ordered the heat turned off inside Whittier School field house in an attempt to freeze neighborhood parents out of a building they've been occupying for nearly a month, round the clock to prevent demolition. The gas shutoff left the field house without heat or hot water, just as night temperatures were due to fall to the 40s.

CPS wants to raze the structure, which it calls unsafe, and put in a soccer field to be used by a nearby private school, Cristo Rey. Parents want it converted to a library and parent center. Whittier is one of 160 Chicago elementary schools without a library.

Whittier parent Manuel Beltran said parents will stick it out by using electric heaters.

"They want us to run away but we are not going to ,'' Beltran said. "We are not going anywhere.'' (Sun-Times)

Electric heaters, books, and hot coffee can be brought to the field house at 1900 W. 23rd St.