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Haugen parents and teachers press CPS for space, demand colocation review
Summary
Parents, teachers and community members from Haugen Elementary told the board the school is at capacity with classes in closets and no room for a third kindergarten; they asked the board to reconsider denied colocation requests and for transparent criteria and remedies.
Multiple parents, teachers and community members from Haugen Elementary used public comment to describe severe overcrowding and to ask the board to consider colocation at a nearby underused building.
"We have teachers providing IEP services in hallways, closets converted into classrooms," said Zachary Cabot, a parent, describing space converted for instruction and clinicians working without private offices. Speakers detailed lost specialty rooms (library, science lab), preschool instability and an overtaxed staff.
Community speakers asked the board to place Haugen's colocation request on a future agenda, to disclose why the chief portfolio office denied the request and to require the portfolio office to perform and share a needs assessment and community survey. "We respectfully request that you put our colocation request on the agenda, allow it to see the light of day, and for the public to weigh in," Tiffany Harvey said.
Board members acknowledged the presentations and said district staff would provide clarity on utilization metrics and the factors that informed the portfolio decision. One member asked whether the district projection for 2025–26 utilization would exceed 100% under new methodology. The full discussion of facilities and portfolio decisions prompted board members to ask for follow‑up information on utilization calculations, on‑site observations and the financial implications of colocation versus other facility options.
No formal vote was taken on the Haugen requests during the meeting; capital staff said they would hold additional community meetings for other vacant sites and continue outreach with local aldermen.
