Acero Charter Schools community members raged during an emotional meeting Wednesday night in Gage Park against the private organization’s leadership, urging the board to reverse course on its plan to shutter seven schools next year.
Dozens of students, teachers, parents, staff and Chicago Teachers Union members attended a rally outside Acero Idar Elementary School ahead of the board meeting.
They chanted “Whose schools? Our schools” and “Save our schools.” Many held up signs reading “Keep Tamayo open” and “Keep our schools open.”
Parents, students, CTU members rallied outside Acero Idar Elementary before Wednesday night’s contentious meeting.
Reyna Rodriguez, mother of students at Esmeralda Santiago — one of the schools slated for closure — said she doesn’t want to spend the holidays looking for a new school for her children. She said that if Acero CEO Richard Rodriguez can’t figure out how to keep the schools open, he should resign.
“I don’t want to have to worry thinking, ‘Oh, are they going to close the schools, do I have to keep looking for my son’s school?’” Reyna Rodriguez told reporters at the rally. “Rich Rodriguez, make up your mind. If you cannot do your work, quit my friend.”
During the board meeting, which was held inside the school’s gymnasium, Acero officials ceded their speaking time to allow more time for public comment. It was the first time since the closures were announced that families had a chance to face the board, CTU leaders said. More than 200 people packed the gym. Speakers, including several young children, had harsh words for Acero leaders.
Acero community members attend the first public meeting since the charter operator decided to close seven schools before the next school year. They had tough words for the charter leaders.
“It appears to us that you view students as dollar signs and prioritize making money to giving students an education,” said Melanie Soto, an eighth grader at Sandra Cisneros Elementary, another school that is planned for closure.
“You are not only leaving teachers and students with no schools or jobs, you are destabilizing and tearing apart our communities,” said America Murillo, Soto’s classmate. “This is deeply disappointing because we are supposed to look up to you, Mr. Rodriguez.”
Many had the same message for the board: “Shame on you.”
Acero announced plans in October to close seven of its 15 campuses at the end of this school year, citing rising expenses and falling enrollment over the last several years. The schools primarily serve Latino students, and these would be the largest school closings ever in Chicago’s Latino communities, affecting 2,000 students.
Acero has come under fire from parents, students, educators, the mayor and board members for the proposed closings. Among the solutions proposed by CPS include giving Acero more money to continue running the schools for a short time and the district taking over the schools.
Contributing: Sarah Karp, Nader Issa