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Every morning, Mirella Gomez walks her three children to school at Helen A. Haugan Elementary in Albany Park. One by one, she kisses them on the forehead and whispers a gentle reminder in Spanish to take care of themselves before sending them off for the day.

Since August, her daughter has been telling her stories about crowded spaces in the school, but it wasn’t until Monday that she saw the reality for herself.

Gomez said she visited the school’s former library to grab documents she needed.

Suddenly, her daughter’s words struck her as she scanned the room. Every inch of the space was claimed by people and things, Gomez said.

Desks, tables and play areas for children were packed tightly near the printing area. Boxes and bins of nameless it

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