Metro BRIEFINGS

SCHOOLS IN CRISIS: The Chicago public school system faced yet anotherin a long line of crises. With no reform plan, no new money, nocompromises and no help in sight, all hell broke loose at a ChicagoSchool Finance Authority meeting after the oversight panel rejectedthe School Board's reform plan, saying it failed to substantiallymove power away from the board. Story on Page 3. BRIDGE COSTS RISE: The city has hired a team of four engineeringfirms to quickly reinspect and reassess repair costs for Chicago's 52bridges and 303 viaducts. The move was triggered by the soaringcosts of the Michigan Avenue bridge rehabilitation project, which nowwill cost $5 million over the $225.8 million …