Parents, teachers and union press Chicago Board to enforce resolution to save seven Acero charter schools

More than two dozen parents, teachers and union leaders used the public comment period of the Chicago Board of Education's Feb. 12 agenda review committee meeting to demand action after Acero's announcement that it planned to close seven schools and displace roughly 2,000 students.

The most repeated demand was that Chicago Public Schools produce and publish a concrete, implementable plan to carry out the board's Dec. 20 resolution directing CPS to "save our schools." "We have been fighting for 126 days to get answers that we still do not have from Acero or CPS," said Caroline Rutherford, CTU Charter Division vice chair and a visual art teacher at Acero Marquez. "Board members ... voted unanimously to keep our schools open. But 53 days after the resolution passed, Acero and CPS have us afraid that they will fail to implement the board's actions."

Why it matters: Acero operates a cluster of charter schools that serve primarily Latinx students in neighborhoods including Little Village and Pilsen. Parents and staff said prolonged uncertainty is causing transfers, staff departures and community trauma; several speakers said families already are leaving because they do not know whether schools will be open in August.

What speakers told the board - "It's been 126 days of chaos," said Stephanie Gomez, a Santiago parent. She urged the board to use its leverage over charter renewal and district funding to force Acero to commit to keeping schools open. "You have the power to take the two things that are most important to them away, their charter agreement and their money," she said. - Shannon Phillips, an Acero teacher, said daily classroom planning has been disrupted: "Every day for the past a hundred and 26 days, I've had to go into a school and not know whether I'm planning for next year or just tomorrow." - Multiple speakers, including Daisy Urenda (office coordinator, Acero Paz) and Indiana Castro (bilingual teacher, Acero Andres Cisneros), asked CEO Pedro Martinez and the CPS board to publicly commit that the schools will stay open and to publish the district's plan for absorbing or supporting the affected students.

District response and board remarks CEO Pedro Martinez spoke briefly after public comment, saying, "This continues to be a priority for myself. I know it's a priority for the board. ... More information as soon as possible, but know that this will continue to be a priority." Board members pressed for more frequent, specific updates: Board Member Brown urged "daily communication" to affected families and updates to the board every 72 hours. Several board members said they had attended Acero meetings and pledged continued oversight and engagement.

What the board asked for and what is next The transcript records no formal vote on a new action at the Feb. 12 meeting to enforce the Dec. 20 resolution. Board members repeatedly asked staff and the chief executive to provide specific plans and timelines and said they expect regular briefings. Speakers requested that CPS clarify whether it will withhold charter renewal or funding if Acero does not comply with the board's directive.

Clarifying details from the meeting - The Dec. 20 board resolution referenced by speakers is on the public record and directs CPS to create a plan to absorb the Acero schools if closures proceed. Speakers repeatedly cited "126 days" since Acero announced intent to close and "53 days" since the board adopted the resolution. - Speakers and staff said about 2,000 students could be affected and that seven Acero schools are involved; those numbers were stated by public commenters during the meeting.

Ending note Board members said they would continue to monitor the issue and asked district staff to provide more detailed and more frequent updates to both the board and families. The meeting record shows persistent community pressure for a clear timeline and public commitments from both CPS leadership and Acero.