Special CPS School Board Meeting Seeks to Prevent Acero Charter School Closures
Resolution Calls for Acero to Appear Before the Board to Discuss Alternatives to Closures
The Chicago Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday to consider a resolution designed to pressure a charter school operator to keep open seven schools it plans to close in June. The resolution calls for Acero Schools, a 15-campus charter school network, to appear before the board at a yet-to-be-determined date to discuss alternatives to closures. The resolution also threatens Acero, stating that contract renewal for its other eight schools could be in jeopardy if it goes ahead with the closures.
Charter School Operators and Public Funding
Charter school operators are private organizations that receive public money to run public charter schools. Acero’s contract expires in June 2026. The special meeting is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at a Chicago Public Schools (CPS)-owned building at 4655 S. Dearborn St. The next regularly scheduled monthly board meeting is on March 12.
Newly Appointed Board Members
This will be the third meeting for board members who were partially elected by Mayor Brandon Johnson after his first appointed board resigned in October. One of those newly appointed members, the president, resigned, and there are now only six on the board, which is a quorum and enough to do negotiations. A new board of 21 members, partly elected and partly appointed, will be installed in January, but some of the current members could remain.
Resolution and Potential Consequences
The “Maintain Steel Attendance Centers” resolution says the closures, which will affect about 2,000 students and 270 staff members, “could cause substantial disruption and harm” and “are incompatible with the Board’s educational mission and… call into question whether the Board should renew the Acero Charter School Agreement in 2026.”
Other Agenda Items
In addition to discussing Acero’s resolution, the board will address a resolution that recognizes that “the 2024 presidential election may have caused fear, worry, confusion, sadness, anger or anxiety for CPS staff, students and their families.” The resolution goes on to say that the school district is committed to being a place where all students are welcome and that it “will not provide assistance to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the enforcement of federal civil immigration law. Therefore, ICE will not be permitted access to CPS facilities or personnel, except in rare cases where CPS has a criminal court order.”
Contract Negotiations
The board also plans to meet behind closed doors to discuss contract negotiations. The school district has been in negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) since the spring. The directors’ association is also negotiating a contract.
Conclusion
The special meeting is an opportunity for the board to take a stand against the potential closures and to work with Acero to find alternative solutions. The resolution is a strong statement of the board’s commitment to the educational mission and the well-being of its students and staff.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the special meeting?
A: The purpose of the special meeting is to consider a resolution that pressures Acero Schools to keep open seven schools it plans to close in June.
Q: What are the potential consequences of the closures?
A: The closures could cause substantial disruption and harm to the students and staff affected, and could call into question whether the board should renew Acero’s charter school agreement in 2026.
Q: What is the current status of contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union?
A: The school district has been in negotiations with the CTU since the spring, and the board will meet behind closed doors to discuss contract negotiations during the special meeting.
