Introduction to CPS Board Decision
Chicago’s Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to take over Chicago High School for the Arts and committed to continuing its conservatory arts program that offers students specialized training from professional artists.
Decision Implications
The decision means the Humboldt Park school will remain open after fears that it could shutter. The operator of the publicly funded, privately managed school announced last month that it would not renew its contract with Chicago Public Schools due to financial deficits.
Funding Concerns
Still, questions remain about how CPS will fund the arts program that parents and students urged the school board to maintain. “This board is completely supportive of ChiArts,” board president Sean Harden said. “The challenge becomes … to figure out how we identify the resources to preserve the conservatory, and that’s the commitment you have from the board.”
Epic Academy Funding
The board at Tuesday’s special meeting also approved $1.4 million to Epic Academy to keep the charter open for the rest of the school year before allowing it to close in June. The school’s board had previously announced that Epic could not operate beyond this school year, citing financial woes partly due to declining enrollment.
ChiArts Program Details
Under the CPS plan for ChiArts, the school will become a district-run fine arts magnet school. ChiArts students spend five hours each day in academic classes and three hours every afternoon in a conservatory where they focus on an arts discipline, such as dance, visual arts or theater. That differs from fine and performing arts schools where students take one or two classes in their discipline, whether that is visual art or dance.
Funding for Conservatory Program
CPS funding pays for the academic portion of student’s days, while the money for its conservatory program comes from donors through the ChiArts Foundation. Without that foundation’s help, CPS estimates it’ll take $5.5 million annually for the district’s Department of Arts Education to run the program. CPS officials previously proposed making the conservatory open to all students, not just those enrolled in ChiArts. But board members said ChiArts families were unhappy with that proposal.
Community Involvement
Board members congratulated ChiArts families who have shown up at meetings to advocate for their school. But they said the community is going to have to help raise funds for the program because CPS has its own financial difficulties. “Now we need you to help us find partners that fit you well, that keep you in the shape that you love,” said board member Ebony DeBerry, whose district is on the North Side. “It’s going to take a group like you all to find the right partners that keep their commitment to your futures like we just have.”
Future Plans
The board hopes to address funding for the conservatory program at a January board meeting.
Epic Academy Students and Teachers
Leading up to the vote on the Epic charter school, families accused the district of failing to propose a plan that would keep the community together. In response, West Side district board member Jitu Brown introduced an amendment at Tuesday’s meeting that called on CPS to develop a transition plan for students that makes it possible for them to transfer together to another school and — to the extent possible — stay with their teachers.
Transition Plan
There had been concerns that requiring teachers to follow their students to their new school would interfere with a principal’s authority over their staff. But board members stressed that the amendment is intended to encourage school leaders to interview those teachers. “What we are hoping to have is the opportunity for a community that loves one another, has built bonds, built confidence, has built trust, to stay together to the maximum extent possible,” board member Debby Pope said.
Conclusion
The CPS board’s decision to take over ChiArts and fund Epic Academy through the end of the school year is a positive step for the students and families involved. However, funding concerns and the need for community involvement in raising funds for the conservatory program remain. The board’s commitment to addressing these issues in the coming months is crucial to the success of these programs.
FAQs
- Q: What is the status of ChiArts after the CPS board decision?
A: ChiArts will become a district-run fine arts magnet school and will continue its conservatory arts program. - Q: How will the conservatory program at ChiArts be funded?
A: The funding for the conservatory program will need to be secured, potentially through community involvement and partnerships, as CPS estimates it will require $5.5 million annually. - Q: What is the fate of Epic Academy?
A: Epic Academy will receive $1.4 million to stay open for the rest of the school year before closing in June. - Q: Can Epic Academy students and teachers stay together after the school closes?
A: The CPS board has introduced an amendment to develop a transition plan that would allow students to transfer together to another school and, to the extent possible, stay with their teachers.
