Education
‘Some Things Cannot Wait’: Chicago School Board Approves Measure Pressuring Acero to Halt School Closures
(WTTW News)
Chicago’s Board of Education has passed a resolution pressuring the Acero charter network to keep open seven schools it plans to close, but no new details were shared about Chicago Public Schools’ efforts to keep those schools afloat.
During a special meeting Thursday afternoon, the six-member board unanimously approved a measure demanding Acero return any unspent public funding if it moves ahead with the closures at the end of the current school year.
The agenda for Thursday’s meeting included only a small handful of items, including a district update on Acero, but that presentation was not made.
Mayor Brandon Johnson was asked about that presentation at an unrelated news conference and said he was “not aware of this blockage that you’re speaking of.”
“The ultimate responsibility of the board is to work with the CPS leadership,” Johnson said. “And there’s no particular directive outside of making sure that we invest in children and not close schools.”
Acero currently operates 15 schools, and the resolution states that its leadership must meet with the board to “mutually discuss and explore alternatives that enable Acero to continue operating” each of those schools through June 30, 2026.
But if Acero proceeds with closing seven schools before the next school year as planned, then the operator “shall return all unspent public funds and property as required under 105 ILCS 5/27A-10.10 and Acero’s Charter School Agreement.”
The resolution states any closures may also be considered when it comes time to renew Acero’s charter agreement in 2026. It also states that CPS will extend its GoCPS application deadline for Acero students to Dec. 15 in order to “minimize the potential disruption.”
Acero leadership last month announced plans to cease operations at Cruz K-12 and Casas, Cisneros, Fuentes, Paz, Santiago and Tamayo Elementary Schools. Those closures would impact more than 2,000 students and around 270 educational staffers. It said the closures were spurred by declining enrollment, increasing personnel and facilities maintenance costs and inadequate school facilities.
Johnson said that if Acero goes ahead with its plan, it would be the “largest school closings” in the history of Chicago’s Latino community.
Caroline Rutherford, who serves as vice chair of the Chicago Teachers Union’s charter division, called Acero’s plan “reckless” and called on the charter network not to “abandon” its students.
“Each one of our schools that Acero hopes to close are essential pillars to the communities they serve,” Rutherford said.
“I just want to highlight the fact that we do have an urgency in front of us. I believe that what’s in front of us reinstates our concern for what’s happening,” board member Rafael Yáñez said. “Like we said before, it’s irresponsible to leave behind 2,000 students and families and just to understand the ripple effect that will have for many communities.”
Acero released a statement that said the network followed the process outlined in its charter agreement when announcing closures and has always adhered to financial and facilities requirements.
“There are no winners when high-quality schools are forced to close their doors due to the implications of inequitable and inadequate public school funding and the impact this has on the charter school community in particular,” the statement said, in part. “While we are disappointed by the misinformation surrounding this heartbreaking circumstance, we welcome working with the Chicago Public Schools to find long-term and sustainable solutions for everyone impacted by these anticipated closures.”
The board on Thursday also approved a resolution cementing CPS’ status as a welcoming school district and voted to retain the law firm Cozen O’Connor.
Also during Thursday’s meeting a pair of Chicago alderpeople — Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) and Nick Sposato (38th Ward) — called on the existing board to hold off on making any “major decisions” until the 21-member hybrid board can be sworn in.
“I understand emergencies happen and anything that cannot wait must be acted upon,” Hopkins said, “(but) any major decision that is not an emergency needs to wait until the new board is sworn in and seated.”
That new board, which will contain 10 elected members and 11 members appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, will be seated in January.
Earlier this week, five elected board members published a letter calling on the current board not to take any actions that would “alter the finances, staff, curriculum, short or long term strategic plan, external contracts or any other pertinent operation of CPS.”
Board member Debby Pope on Thursday countered that the current board could not sit back for another two months before taking action on the Acero schools.
“Some things,” Pope said, “cannot wait.”
Note: This article has been updated to include a statement from Acero.
