Chicago Public Schools Board Unanimously Approves Plan to Save ChiArts, Fund Epic Academy Through End of School Year
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, Chicago's Board of Education has announced plans to take over operations at the troubled Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts), ensuring that the beloved institution will remain open despite financial deficits. The board's decision is a significant victory for parents and students who had been worried about the school's future after its operator, ChiArts Foundation, last month announced it would not renew its contract with CPS due to financial constraints.
Under the new plan, ChiArts will become a district-run fine arts magnet school, with students spending five hours daily in academic classes and three hours every afternoon in an intensive conservatory setting where they focus on a specific art form. However, there is still uncertainty about how the school will be funded beyond the current year.
CPS officials estimate that it would take around $5.5 million annually to run the conservatory program, but without external funding from donors through the ChiArts Foundation, the district's Department of Arts Education may struggle to cover the costs. The board has acknowledged this challenge and is urging families and community partners to help raise funds for the program.
Board President Sean Harden expressed his commitment to keeping the arts program alive, stating, "This board is completely supportive of ChiArts... The challenge becomes identifying the resources to preserve the conservatory." The decision marks a significant step forward in preserving this unique educational opportunity for students.
In related news, the board also approved $1.4 million to keep Epic Academy open through the end of the school year, ensuring that the charter school remains operational despite financial difficulties. This move comes after concerns from families about the district's failure to propose a plan that would allow teachers and students to transfer together to another school.
As part of this agreement, the district has agreed to develop a transition plan for Epic Academy, which will prioritize keeping students with their current teachers. Board members emphasized the importance of maintaining these relationships, citing the value they bring to student learning and well-being.
The new plans come as CPS navigates its own financial challenges, but board members are hopeful that by working together with families and community partners, they can find creative solutions to support the district's arts programs and ensure a positive educational experience for all students.
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, Chicago's Board of Education has announced plans to take over operations at the troubled Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts), ensuring that the beloved institution will remain open despite financial deficits. The board's decision is a significant victory for parents and students who had been worried about the school's future after its operator, ChiArts Foundation, last month announced it would not renew its contract with CPS due to financial constraints.
Under the new plan, ChiArts will become a district-run fine arts magnet school, with students spending five hours daily in academic classes and three hours every afternoon in an intensive conservatory setting where they focus on a specific art form. However, there is still uncertainty about how the school will be funded beyond the current year.
CPS officials estimate that it would take around $5.5 million annually to run the conservatory program, but without external funding from donors through the ChiArts Foundation, the district's Department of Arts Education may struggle to cover the costs. The board has acknowledged this challenge and is urging families and community partners to help raise funds for the program.
Board President Sean Harden expressed his commitment to keeping the arts program alive, stating, "This board is completely supportive of ChiArts... The challenge becomes identifying the resources to preserve the conservatory." The decision marks a significant step forward in preserving this unique educational opportunity for students.
In related news, the board also approved $1.4 million to keep Epic Academy open through the end of the school year, ensuring that the charter school remains operational despite financial difficulties. This move comes after concerns from families about the district's failure to propose a plan that would allow teachers and students to transfer together to another school.
As part of this agreement, the district has agreed to develop a transition plan for Epic Academy, which will prioritize keeping students with their current teachers. Board members emphasized the importance of maintaining these relationships, citing the value they bring to student learning and well-being.
The new plans come as CPS navigates its own financial challenges, but board members are hopeful that by working together with families and community partners, they can find creative solutions to support the district's arts programs and ensure a positive educational experience for all students.
. And what's up with the conservatory program being only 3 hours a day? That sounds like a total lot of homework for the kids. I get that they want to keep the arts alive, but can't we find ways to make it more sustainable in the long run? $5.5 million is still a lot of dough 
. And what about all the other schools that might be struggling just as hard? It feels like we're just patching up one hole while ignoring the rest 
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this is amazing news!!! i've been following the whole chiarts thing and it's so sad when you think about them closing down 
but now there's hope that they'll be able to save themselves thanks to the cps board taking over operations! i do wonder how they're gonna fund it though 
$5.5 million is a lot of cash 
It's all about priorities and resource allocation. The board says they're committed to keeping ChiArts alive, but what about the long-term sustainability of this plan? Are they just throwing good money after bad? 
The decision is all about finding that delicate balance between supporting our arts and culture, while also considering the needs of every student in this district.
but at the same time, I think it's a bit of a cop-out that they're counting on parents and community partners to foot the bill for this fancy conservatory program 
I'm so hyped about this news! ChiArts is literally my spirit school, and it's amazing that CPS is stepping up to save it 
. The idea of a daily balance between academics and arts training sounds genius 
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. It's crazy how one of these iconic schools was on the chopping block, but now it's gonna thrive under CPS' watchful eye 
. The new plan sounds a bit unorthodox – five hours of academics and three of conservatory? Sounds like a recipe for greatness 
ChiArts got the nod from CPS! About time - those art kids needed some stability 
. I mean, who doesn't love art? It's so important for kids to have those creative outlets, even if it means sacrificing some of their academic time 
!
I'm so glad to hear about ChiArts getting saved! It's like, you know when you're in high school and there's that one class that just makes everything better? That's what arts classes are for me 
I mean, can you imagine not having access to those kind of programs because of budget cuts? It's like, what even is the point of all this education stuff if we can't give our kids the tools they need to express themselves creatively?! 
I'm so down for families and community partners coming together to raise funds for that conservatory program. We got this, ChiArts! 
Just saw the news that ChiArts is gonna stay open 
. 64% of charter schools in Chicago are struggling financially 
So, let's get behind these initiatives and support our arts programs! 
. And yay for Epic Academy too! I've heard the teachers at my school are really good friends with the ones at Epic, so this transition plan sounds like a great idea 
...i mean who would wanna lose out on those art programs? $5.5m is still steep tho, hope they get some donors lined up ASAP 
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. i know how hard parents and students were worried about the school's future, but now there's a glimmer of hope 
. the fact that they're making it a fine arts magnet school with a focus on specific art forms is gonna be so inspiring for kids 
. And what about the teachers at Epic Academy? They're losing their jobs because of a lack of planning from the district... it's just not right 
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