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Students, parents and teaching artists urge board to preserve ChiArts conservatory model
Summary
Dozens of students, parents and teaching artists from the Chicago High School for the Arts urged the Board of Education to preserve the school's conservatory schedule and keep teaching artists employed, warning that proposed schedule changes would dismantle the conservatory model.
During the public‑comment portion of the March 19 meeting, many students, teaching artists and parents from the Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) urged the board to preserve the school’s conservatory model and protect teaching‑artist roles.
Speakers described the conservatory as essential to ChiArts’ identity and outcomes and said that proposed schedule changes (moving conservatory hours or shortening the day) would force cuts to teaching artists and core conservatory time. "There is no art school without artists," former student and teaching‑artist Aria Hawkins said, arguing that teaching artists bring professional connections and mentorship that prepare students for careers in the arts. Parents and students said the conservatory model produces measurable opportunities — auditions, scholarships and college placements — that would be jeopardized by cuts.
Multiple teachers and teaching artists described how the conservatory schedule enables deep practice and partnerships with local arts organizations. Several speakers offered to partner with CPS and the board to raise external funds and find a "runway" to preserve the model while district staff work to identify sustainable resources.
Board leadership responded in the meeting: they told the ChiArts community that no final decisions had been made and committed to continue working collaboratively, seeking external resources and a runway to preserve the conservatory where possible. "The conservatory is not going away by our actions," a board representative said, adding that the district will help find external supports to sustain the program.
Other themes during public participation included calls for charter accountability, requests to investigate alleged Local School Council election irregularities in Albany Park and Hancock, and labor concerns from cafeteria workers seeking higher pay and adequate staffing. Unite Here Local 1 representative Latanya Marshall urged the board to negotiate a fair contract for cafeteria workers, citing hourly pay figures and staffing shortages.
What happens next: The board said it will continue dialogue with ChiArts stakeholders and work to identify funding pathways; community members asked for written commitments and timelines for preserving conservatory hours and teaching‑artist roles.
