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Board tables EPIC Academy amendment after heated debate over wind‑down, repayment and community protections
Summary
The Chicago Board of Education tabled an amendment to the EPIC Academy charter wind‑down plan after contentious debate over deadlines, repayment language and guarantees for students and staff; the board will revisit the matter at its next meeting. (Tabled: 19–0; amendment failed: 2–6–11).
President Sean B. Harden reconvened the Chicago Board of Education’s Oct. 30 special meeting to consider an amendment to EX1, the board report proposing the termination/return of EPIC Academy’s charter and $1.4 million in FY26 funds to support a wind‑down. Board member Jeetu Brown moved a last‑minute amendment requiring a portfolio office‑prepared wind‑down plan in consultation with EPIC students, families and staff, a chief executive recommendation by Dec. 3, 2025, and repayment provisions requiring EPIC to reimburse the district (by Dec. 31, 2026) from sale proceeds or other sources, with twice‑monthly financial reporting from EPIC to the portfolio office.
The amendment drew sustained public comment beforehand from union and school speakers who urged stronger safeguards and clearer plans. Jen Conant, CTU charter division chair, told the board the proposal would “close a school with no plan for the future of those students or their school community” and asked the board to either vote it down or significantly amend it to ensure funds and any sale proceeds “go back to the district and ideally would follow EPIC students.” EPIC staff and teachers described the school as a small community with specialized services that would be disrupted by a midyear closure.
Chief Education Officer Alfonso Carmona responded that the district had mailed multiple letters and scheduled a Nov. 4 town hall for EPIC families, and said roughly 160 students would need transition options; he said the district was working to secure seats at other schools and planned a high‑school fair while acknowledging limits on guarantees around staffing because of existing labor agreements and principals’ hiring authority.
Board members split over both substance and procedure. Several members expressed concern that the amendment was introduced at the last minute without legal review and that parts of the repayment and staffing language could conflict with labor contracts. Member Pope and others said the board must do more than provide stopgap funds and should develop a plan with parents and community leaders. Member Brown framed the amendment as an effort to protect students and staff; his emotional remarks prompted an exchange on decorum and a later apology for language he used during debate.
After a brief recess for legal review, the board voted on the proposed intervening amendment (MO 3); the amendment failed (2 ayes, 6 nays, 11 abstentions). The board then voted to table (lay over) EX1 as posted, adopting the motion to table by roll call (19 ayes, 0 nays). The district said the item will return to the board’s agenda at a subsequent meeting where the wind‑down plan, community engagement steps and any repayment details can be further reviewed.
What’s next: EX1 (the EPIC Academy item) was tabled and will be returned to the board for further consideration at the next meeting. The chief portfolio officer and portfolio office will be expected to engage families at the scheduled Nov. 4 town hall to begin transition planning.
