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Acero impasse, charter renewals prompt urgent pleas from teachers, parents and union at CPS meeting
Summary
Teachers, charter staff and parents pressed the board on the fate of seven Acero charter schools and urged a swift memorandum of understanding with CPS; union leaders and charter teachers called for protections for affected students and staff at the Jan. 30 meeting.
Dozens of teachers, union leaders, charter staff and parents used the Chicago Board of Education’s public comment period on Jan. 30 to demand quick action to keep seven Acero charter schools open for the 2025–26 year and to secure stronger oversight of charter operators.
Multiple speakers said negotiations between CPS and Acero over a memorandum of understanding (MOU) remain unresolved and asked the district and Acero to finalize an agreement immediately.
Steve McNamee, a special education teacher at Octavio Paz Elementary (an Acero school), said the community and school staff were confused and afraid because Acero had been silent about next year. “We need to hear in no uncertain terms that these seven Acero schools will remain open through the 2025–26 school year for certain, and we need to hear that now,” McNamee said.
Caroline Rutherford, a teacher at Acero Marquez and CTU charter division vice chair, said Acero officials told union representatives that CPS had not…
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