Union leaders urged advocacy for school funding; charter representatives requested multi‑year renewals; parents and educators asked for remote options amid ICE activity and raised facilities and program concerns. The board recessed for 30 minutes, approved multiple consent and procurement items, and voted to table a dismissal of a tenured teacher to Feb. 26.
Students, teachers and parents from the Chicago High School for the Arts (Chi Arts/Shy Arts) urged the Board of Education to commit sustained funding, keep the 8 a.m.–5 p.m. conservatory schedule and retain faculty as CPS transitions the program into district management; the CEO said the district is pausing to finalize a fiscally sustainable model and will complete resource alignment in 30 days.
Interim CEO Dr. King told the board the district added clinicians and virtual mental‑health services, launched hub‑stop transportation earlier than planned and saw higher middle‑grade algebra participation and pass rates; he said SNAP changes would not affect free meals for CPS students.
Multiple parents and State Rep. Lillian Jimenez urged the Chicago Board of Education to provide remote-learning options after recent immigration-enforcement activity; interim district leaders said current state law limits remote instruction absent a governor-declared emergency but that CPS is exploring limited e-learning options and supports.
The Chicago Board of Education on Jan. 29 approved multiple procurement and financial items (including authorization tied to up to $1.65 billion in tax anticipation notes), adopted personnel and settlement items, approved LSC appointment for Owen School, and tabled a tenured-teacher dismissal to Feb. 26.
Interim CEO Dr. King told the board Jan. 29 that Chicago Public Schools will pause finalizing a funding model for Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) to develop a sustainable approach; parents, teachers and students urged full funding, staff retention and transparent principal selection.
Tremaine Reeves of SEIU Local 73 told the board many custodians who converted from private contractors to board employees (effective 09/30/2025) have not received a roughly $2-per-hour 'step 2' adjustment and requested urgent resolution to make workers whole.
The board moved and adopted two motions to commence closed sessions under the Open Meetings Act (MO-1 and MO-2) by roll-call votes of 18–0; the board reconvened with no votes taken in executive session and adjourned.
The board reviewed multiple procurement and capital items: renewal of athletic training services with ATI Holdings, a three‑year office supplies contract with ODP, a one‑year extension for identity and access services (Carahsoft/RapidIdentity), and unit‑pricing software for job order contracting; board members requested follow‑ups and data on program outcomes.
On Jan. 8, 2026, community members, school leaders and staff testified at a Chicago Public Schools public hearing seeking renewals for seven charter operators; no Board action was taken and CPS staff will present a summary for the Board to consider before a vote on Feb. 26, 2026.
