Families and staff at seven Acero charter schools that are set to close are demanding their private management keep the schools open or Chicago Public Schools take over their operations.
Those school communities featured prominently in public speakers’ comments at Thursday’s Board of Education agenda review meeting, which is a preview of next week’s full board meeting.
“I’m not an activist or a political player. I don’t understand the politics around charter schools — and I don’t care, and neither should you,” said Stephanie Gomez, a mother of three kids at Acero’s Esmeraldo Santiago Elementary in Humboldt Park. “Your responsibility is the well-being of your students, including mine and the rest of the kids at Santiago and Acero.
“This isn’t the normal academic failure story, but the repetitive cycle of the occurrence in Black and Brown communities,” she said. “This will never happen in a school filled with white or wealthy children. Why isn’t the education of our children treated with the same urgency?”
Santiago is among seven schools that Acero management announced would close next school year because of financial constraints. The charter network operates 15 campuses, and these closing schools enroll about 2,000 kids.
Charter schools are publicly funded but privately managed. They are part of the CPS system, but they have their own board and administration. The Board of Education and CPS CEO don’t have direct control over those schools.
But CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and the school board members newly appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed concern over the closings Thursday.
“We found out the same day that our community found out. As you can imagine, it was very troubling,” Martinez said.
He said CPS just approved Acero’s charter in 2023 for three years through 2026. Martinez said he would update the board and public on the situation as he learns more.
“We are right now in discussions to understand what is happening and understand the challenges,” Martinez said.
Iliana Castro, a bilingual teacher at Cisneros whose daughter also attends there, said “educators and parents are devastated” to “lose not only a crucial education institution but also a cherished community hub.
“As a child growing up in this community, and now as a teacher serving this same community, I’ve seen firsthand the vital role Acero Cisneros plays,” she told the board. “It’s more than just a school. It’s the heart of our neighborhood, and it’s a gathering place that brings our families together. It celebrates our heritage and provides a sense of stability for our students.”