Private Schools Get Flood of Inquiries // Parents Seeking Alternatives in Case of Shutdown

The calls are starting to come in at the Maranatha ChristianAcademy on the Far South Side, according to the school'sadministrator, Betty Milsap.

Parents are calling, wanting to know about class sizes, paymentprocedures and academic programs, almost like a run on canned goodsin anticipation of a disaster. And with good reason, perhaps.

A budget deficit has clouded the scheduled start next month ofChicago public schools. As the School Board seeks to prevent ashutdown or a teachers strike, some parents are seeking alternatives- just in case.

City agencies are gearing up to provide a place to go for the400,000 potentially displaced students.

The …