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Parents, students and unions press Chicago board to preserve conservatory programs and protect staff amid charter transitions
Summary
Dozens of parents, students, teaching artists and union leaders urged the Chicago Board of Education to protect the conservatory model at the Chicago High School for the Arts, preserve teaching artist jobs, and ensure a transparent transition for Epic Academy students and staff.
Dozens of community members, students and union leaders used a public-comment period at the Nov. 4 Chicago Board of Education special meeting to press the board to preserve arts programming and protect staff and students affected by proposed charter and contract changes.
Union representatives opened the public-participation block. Jackson Potter, CTU vice president, criticized charter operators and urged the district to prioritize stability, mutual aid and coordinated student supports, including food and transportation assistance and potential stipends for staff who perform outreach and wellness checks. Caroline Rutherford, CTU charter division vice chair, provided staff-survey counts for multiple Acero schools and urged the board to preserve qualified educators during any transition.
Parents, students and teaching artists focused on the conservatory model at the Chicago High School for the Arts (referred to in public comments as "Shai Arts" or variants in the public testimony). Students described intensive daily arts instruction and credited the school with launching their careers; teaching artists said low pay threatens the program. Parent Rosemary Vega, students Samantha Gonzalez and Maya Davis, and teaching artists Grace Sindico and Christian Hellum described the program’s unique training and urged board members to protect the conservatory and employ community engagement and alternative funding strategies before making final changes.
Speakers repeatedly asked for meaningful consultation, town halls and commitments that staff and program elements (the conservatory model and teaching-artist roles) be preserved where possible. Several speakers said they had tried to contact board members and district staff and requested follow-up action from the board office.
Board members responding during the meeting said they shared concerns about stability and committed to additional engagement. Several board members emphasized legal, hiring and certification constraints and asked district staff to return with implementation detail and timelines.
The public comment block concluded with the board proceeding to consideration of its public agenda items and subsequent votes on establishing the Chicago High School for the Arts as district-managed and the Epic Academy renewal.
