Charter staff and families press CPS over transition plans amid reported financial crises

Chicago — Teachers, union leaders and parents urged the Chicago Board of Education on Dec. 3 to compel clearer transition plans and stronger staff protections as several charter networks face reported financial instability and possible closures.

At public comment, Caroline Rutherford, CTU charter division vice chair, told the board CPS is "undermining and ignoring" directives it voted to require for EPIC's transition and said CPS convened a high-school fair — not the transition-planning meeting the board had directed — leaving families and staff without a receiving-school designation or written guarantees on staffing and enrollment. "For the stability of the students, staff, families, and the community, please, CPS, step in and ensure that there is a plan," Rutherford said.

The Chicago Teachers Union’s Dr. Diane Castro warned the board that midyear budget cuts — and a shortfall if proposed TIF reductions go through — risked thousands of positions across the system and urged board members to pressure city council to deliver promised revenue. "Voting no on this budget would kill approximately 8,000 jobs in our schools," she said.

Representatives and teachers from the Espira/Aspira charter network described a separate financial emergency. Heath Davis, a teacher at Espira Early College, said staff learned in October they would be laid off because of lower enrollment and that reporting in late November suggested the network might not be able to meet payroll. "We left for Thanksgiving break, unsure if our schools would be open when Thanksgiving break ended," Davis said. Jen Conant, chair of C2's Charter Division, said Espira’s board authorized property transfers to a new foundation in June and that the district needs transparent financial documents and a stabilization plan.

Todd Ferry, a history teacher at Espira, said he was told by network leadership he would receive only one more paycheck and that teachers did not know whether the schools will reopen after winter break. "If the board cannot direct the CEO and the CEO cannot lead, who is left?" Ferry asked.

Speakers for charter schools seeking long renewals also urged the board to adopt multi-year renewal terms for high-performing campuses. Yessica Ruffino of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, and Allison Jack, representing thousands of charter families, asked for minimum five-year terms and argued short renewals undermine staff retention and program continuity. The speakers reiterated an often-cited funding gap figure — that charter campuses receive roughly 83% of the per-pupil funding district-managed schools receive — and asked the board to use renewals to advance stability.

The board did not take a final vote on renewals or compel a particular transfer approach during the meeting. Several speakers asked specifically that, when contracts or transitions occur, the district prioritize retention of current teachers and teaching artists and provide written guarantees for staff and student placement.

What happens next: Several speakers requested the board direct CPS leadership to produce written, school-by-school transition plans with explicit staff retention commitments and to review the financial records of charter operators requesting assistance. The board did not announce a timeline for such follow-ups at the Dec. 3 agenda-review meeting.