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Teachers, parents and arts partners urge CPS to preserve Shy Arts conservatory as cuts move forward
Summary
Teachers, alumni, parents and arts partners urged the board to halt plans that would shrink Chicago High School for the Arts' conservatory model, saying proposals to cut from ~70 teaching artists to 20 would dismantle specialized pre‑professional arts education and undermine donor partnerships.
Dozens of speakers on June 25 pressed the Chicago Board of Education to preserve the conservatory model at Chicago High School for the Arts (often referenced as Shy Arts) as CPS transitions the school to district management and reduces staffing.
Board member Blae opened the topic during board comments by saying a resolution on Shy Arts was not placed on the agenda and that nearly 70 teaching artists had been terminated with just 20 "resident artist" positions proposed — changes she and others described as a functional dismantling of the conservatory. "This is a CTE program that is super important," she said, noting equity and career‑training implications.
Multiple public commenters — including current teaching artists, the school’s union council chair and arts community leaders — warned the proposed staffing model would eliminate the specialization that draws students and community partners. Alex Cookman, a social science teacher at the school, said donors and partner institutions would not necessarily follow if the conservatory model erodes. "The conservatory program is what makes Shy Arts exceptional; we do not desire to be a jack of all trades, master of none," he told the board.
Arts partners including the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of Contemporary Art provided letters urging continued investment in the conservatory model; teaching artists described narrow, specialist instruction (jazz, opera, stage combat, percussion, etc.) that, they said, cannot be preserved on a 20‑position model. Gustavo Cortinez, an internationally recognized musician who teaches at the school, said the conservatory’s specialist faculty are central to the school's pre‑professional identity.
Board response and next steps: Several trustees said they supported consideration of a resolution and recommended adding the topic to the next agenda for formal consideration. Union and community leaders asked the board to ensure community voice, institutional knowledge and staff input guide any transition plan. The board did not take a final action on a Shy Arts‑specific resolution during the June 25 session.
