| Two Schools To Be Closed As Fire Risks |
| Two local public schools will be closed next semester as an indirect result of the recent Chicago school fire that took 92 lives. |
| The school board is expected to approve the action Wednesday. |
| Dr. Smith, school superintendent, said Monday that Westside Elementary School and Middle Elementary School will be closed on Jan. 23, at the close of the first semester. |
| The two are among the oldest school buildings in the city and the only two remaining with open stairwells. |
| About 180 pupils in the two schools will be affected by the move. |
| For the last five years the school district has been enclosing stairwells and installing corridor firewalls in all the older building on order of the Fire Department. |
| Mr. Jones, assistant superintendent in charge of buildings, said Monday closing of Westside and Middle has been considered for some time. They also are among the smallest buildings in the school system. Middle has four classrooms and about 100 pupils and Westside seven rooms and about 80 pupils. |
| Jones said fire drills were held regularly in both schools and a custodian is on duty at each all the time school is in session. |
| When the buildings are closed, Westside and Middle pupils probably will attend nearby schools. |
| Open stairwells were blamed for the rapid spread of the Chicago fire, which trapped dozens of pupils on the upper floors. |
| Dr. Smith said no decision had been made on the disposal of either school, but it was unlikely either would be replaced because of declining population in the areas. |
