Chicago arts communities press CPS to preserve conservatory models, demand charter accountability
Loading...
Summary
Teachers, parents and union leaders urged the Chicago Board of Education to protect arts conservatory schools moving to district management, to guarantee jobs and continuous health coverage for teaching artists, and to hold charter operators financially accountable.
Members of the Shai Arts and CHI Arts communities, supported by Chicago Teachers Union leaders, told the Chicago Board of Education’s agenda review committee on Jan. 14 that the district must act quickly to preserve intensive arts instruction and protect staff during transitions to CPS management.
Dr. Diane Castro, CTU financial secretary and a bilingual preschool teacher, told the board that “workers rights to a union must be respected at all CPS district and charter schools,” and urged CPS to “act with speed and urgency” to ensure misclassified school workers receive correct recognition and compensation. Castro also called on state lawmakers to restore nearly $2 billion in funding she said is owed to Illinois schools.
Speakers from Shai Arts said the board’s decision to absorb the school only postpones a potential collapse unless CPS adopts a concrete funding and staffing plan. Megan Riley, a Shai Arts math teacher and department head, said the conservatory model cannot be sustained “through philanthropy or other external revenue sources” and asked the board to use public funds to protect the school’s 15-hour-per-week pre-professional arts schedule.
Teaching artists and staff pressed CPS to guarantee employment offers and continuous health insurance during the transition. AJ Wester, a long-time teaching artist, asked whether there would be an allowance for teaching artists without traditional certification: “Most of us have higher degrees and even work at universities,” he said, urging CPS to provide alternative or fast-track licensure pathways.
Several speakers also queried the district’s oversight of charter operators and raised concerns about financial instability at multiple charter networks. Jen Conant, CTU charter division chair, and other union representatives asked the board to insist on clearer contingency and wind-down plans for charter operators facing insolvency.
The board did not vote on funding or staffing changes at the Jan. 14 agenda review meeting; several speakers asked that the topic be placed on the Jan. 29 regular meeting agenda so the board and district staff can present concrete plans and timelines.
