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Parents, students and unions press board to protect arts programs and prioritize staff continuity
Summary
Union leaders, parents, students and teaching artists delivered extensive public comment asking the board to preserve conservatory programming at Chi Arts and to pursue stability for schools facing charter transitions, citing past harms from closures and requesting concrete transition planning.
Union leaders and dozens of community members used public participation at the Nov. 4 special board meeting to urge the Chicago Board of Education to protect arts programming and school communities.
Jackson Potter, CTU vice president, told the board that charter operators had "taken advantage" of the system and called for "maximum stability" for affected students and staff. Caroline Rutherford (CTU charter division) presented survey figures showing the number of charter teachers willing to remain under district management and said families had not been adequately consulted. CPAA president Kia Banks warned the board that it could not adopt measures that would violate statutes or contractual agreements and insisted principals retain discretion over staffing decisions.
Students, alumni and teachers with Chi Arts testified about the conservatory model’s role in advancing low-income students into collegiate and professional arts opportunities. Student Samantha Gonzales called Chi Arts “a family” and said losing the conservatory model would deprive many students of access to arts education. Parent speaker Rosemary Vega described the trauma of past school closures and implored board members to consider the impact on Black and Brown communities.
Speakers also requested clear communication from CPS staff; Esmeralda Delgado reported an update on a building lease and asked the district to secure a promised lease to support continuity for her school. Repeated public testimony framed the later board votes on Chi Arts and Epic Academy and pressured board members to include families and staff in transition planning.
The public comment period was time-limited; the board acknowledged the testimony and proceeded to formal discussion and votes on the public agenda.
