ChiArts educators and parents urge board to fully fund arts conservatory and guarantee staff retention
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Summary
Teachers, parents and alumni from Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) told the board that cuts threaten a full-day conservatory program and asked CPS to commit to retaining current staff as the school transitions into district management.
Speakers representing Chicago High School for the Arts told the board that ChiArts’ conservatory-style full‑day model is not equivalent to an elective arts class and that underfunding would remove specialized instruction, mentorship and industry-aligned training.
A ChiArts speaker summarized the concern bluntly: “If ChiArts is not fully funded by CPS, students lose futures, not hypothetical, real, measurable futures in education, careers, and community impact.” Teachers and teaching artists — including Megan Petes, Caitlin Ryan and Jennifer Peppers — said the program’s four‑year ensemble model cannot be replicated by after‑school offerings and urged a district commitment to preserve staff and program structure during the portfolio transition.
Speakers asked the board to prioritize continuity so that seniors and cohorts can graduate together and so professional faculty can remain with students. Testimony also urged the board to apply the retention resolution passed last year and to ensure the district’s renewal/transition process does not lead to large staff attrition.
Board members acknowledged the testimony and several signaled willingness to seek commitments from administration on staffing and funding details ahead of the Feb. 26 meeting. No formal vote on ChiArts funding was taken at the agenda review meeting; speakers requested the board record a clear, written commitment to staffing retention and funding allocations to be delivered in the coming weeks.