Union leaders, charter advocates and parents press board on funding, staffing and remote options; board votes to recess, approve agenda items and table a tenurе

Chicago — Public participation at the Chicago Board of Education’s Jan. 29 meeting covered a wide range of topics: labor calls for district support in funding campaigns, pleas from Chi Arts families (covered in a separate article), charter renewal requests, facilities and program complaints, and urgent calls for remote learning options in neighborhoods affected by immigration enforcement activity.

Labor and advocacy: Chicago Teachers Union vice president Jackson Potter urged the district to support a statewide funding strategy and said educators returning from conferences could bring best practices. CTU representatives also pushed for impact bargaining related to ICE/Border Patrol operations and asked CPS to help organize participation in a Feb. 17 state day of action.

Charter renewals and parent testimony: Speakers from Acero, University of Chicago Charter (Woodlawn), the Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC) and Intrinsic Schools described program successes and asked the board to grant longer charter renewals to ensure stability. AGC’s founder urged a 10‑year renewal to continue a model of global‑citizenship education.

Safety, remote learning and SOAR program concerns: Several parents and community leaders described recent ICE and Border Patrol activity near schools and asked the board to consider remote‑learning options and a policy to provide alternatives for families who feel unsafe. Illinois State Rep. Lillian Jimenez urged the board to develop a remote policy and to coordinate with the legislature if necessary. Separately, SOAR program teachers said licensed high‑school teachers were laid off midyear, leaving students in credit recovery without licensed instruction; they asked the board to restore licensed teachers and protect the program.

Board action highlights: The board took a 30‑minute recess (motion passed by roll call with 19 ayes, 0 nays). On reconvening, the board approved multiple public agenda items including procurement, contract amendments and personnel appointments (roll‑call tallies recorded in the minutes). Notably, the board voted to table an earlier dismissal resolution for tenured teacher Adebisi Ige to the Feb. 26 meeting; the motion to table passed 14 ayes, 5 nays. Later, the board approved moving into closed session for permitted matters and, upon reconvening, recorded no executive‑session votes.

Why it matters: Speakers framed these issues as urgent for families and staff — from midyear staffing disruptions in reengagement/credit recovery to immediate safety concerns that some parents said forced them to consider keeping children home. The tabled personnel dismissal and the board’s votes to approve contract and procurement items will shape operations going forward.

Ending: The board adjourned after returning from closed session. Multiple community follow‑ups were requested and board members asked staff for more detailed briefings on facilities, charter oversight and possible remote‑learning policy options.