Special Board Meeting Tuesday, November 4

001President Harden, before you begin today's meeting, I would like to read a few announcements. Welcome to the November 4th, 2025 special board meeting. Before we start special board meeting, I would like to share a few safety points and next meeting announcements. Please note that primary exit and entrance to the boardroom is the door that you use to enter this morning. If you are leaving the room, please use this door. The restrooms are outside the boardroom doors to your left. During the special board meeting, we ask that you keep all aisles and exits clear. If you have need any assistance during the special board meeting, please wave the attention of one of our security officers. Mark your calendars for the upcoming meetings. A special board meeting is scheduled for November 10th, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. And

002the next agenda review committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Both will be held at 42 West Madison Street Garden level boardroom. For details on how to register to speak or observe at the meetings and to learn about the speaker lottery process, please visit the Chicago Board of Education website. If you have any questions about registration or public participation, please contact the board office for assistance. Thank you for joining us today. President Harden, we are now ready for you to begin. >> Good morning everyone. Welcome to the Chicago Board of Education special meeting. Today is November 4th, 2025. I'm President Shan B. Harden. On behalf of my fellow board members, thank you for joining us today. We're holding today's special meeting in the boardroom at the CPS Loop office, 42

003West Madison Street Garden level. I would like to note that board members and senior leadership are physically present in the boardroom and registered speakers may join us in person or virtually if they've opted to do so, and registered observers are joining us in person. The special board meeting of Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 is hereby called to order. Assistant board secretary, please call the role. Member Losano, >> present. >> Member Smith, >> present. >> Member Veles, >> present. >> Member Bole, >> here. >> Member Wallace, >> present. >> Member Pope, >> here. >> Member Rivas, >> present. >> Member Brown, >> here. >> Member Rio Sierra, >> present. >> Member Bannon, >> present. Vice President Bautista, >> present. >> Member Gutierrez, >> present. >> Member Biggs, >> present. >> Member Toakora, >> present. >> Member Blae,

004>> present. >> Member Sakor, >> present. >> President Harden, >> present. >> I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Maline King, interim superintendent, chief executive officer. Elizabeth K. Barton, acting general counsel, Dr. Alonso Carmona, acting chief education officer, and Charles Mayfield, chief operating officer. The order of the meeting will be as follows. We go into coal session, reconvene from coal session, recess, reconvene from recess, go into public participation, discussion of public agenda items, vote on public agenda items, and then adjourn. We'll now move into executive session. Board members Zor, do you have motion MO1? >> I move for the passage of motion number 25-1104-1 and the commencement of a closed session to consider matters permitted under section 2C of the Open Meetings Act subsection 1 as specified in the motion. >> Is there a second?

005>> I second the motion. >> I will proceed with a roll call. Member Losano. >> Yes. >> Member Smith. >> I. >> Member. >> Yes. >> Member Bole. >> Yes. Member Wallace. >> I. >> Member Pope. >> Yes. >> Member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Member Brown. >> Yes. >> Member Rio Sierra. >> I. >> Member Bannon. >> Hi. >> Vice President Bautista. >> Yes. >> Member Gutierrez. I >> member Biggs. >> Yes. >> Member Dodakora. >> Yes. >> Member Blae. >> I >> member Sakor. >> Yes. >> 16 eyes, zero nays. Zero abstensions. This motion is adopted by the board. H2. President Harden. This mean we're not going to call session. Sorry. >> Yes. If you can What's up? >> Ellen is on. Miss, >> the special board meeting of the board of education is

006reconvene. Assistant board secretary, please proceed. >> President Harden, I would like to note for the record that there were there are no items to vote on from executive session. Member Kuster, do you have a motion? >> Um, I do. I motion that we withdraw the 15minute recess from the agenda and proceed with public comment. >> Is there a second? >> I second the motion. >> I will proceed with a roll call. Board member Losano. >> Yes. >> Board member Smith. >> I. >> Board member Lopez. >> I. >> Board member. >> Yes. >> Board member Voy. >> Yes. Board member Wallace. >> Hi. >> Board member Kuster. >> Hi. >> Board member Pope. >> Board member Rosenfeld who has joined us virtually. >> She's having technical difficulties. I'll continue with member Rivas. >> Yes. >>

007Member Brown. >> Yes. Member Rio. >> I. >> Member Bannon. >> I. >> Member Gutierrez. >> I. >> Member Biggs. >> Yes. >> Member Dakota. >> Yes. >> Member Sakord. >> Yes. >> Member Dberry. >> I think you can hear me now. I'm a Yes. >> Thank you. 18 eyes, zero nays, zero abstension. This motion is adopted by the board. races has been withdrawn. >> Thank you. We'll now proceed with today's public participation session. >> Thank you for joining to share your comments with the board. In compliance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act, public participation, sometimes referred to as public comment is a portion of the board meeting or hearing that grants district stakeholders the opportunity to address the board with their concerns and their comments. Note that public participation is a time for the

008board and CPS senior leadership to listen and hear from you rather than a time for dialogue with board members during or after your remarks. While we can't discuss personnel matters, public participation is a key component of transparent governance and it provides us as board members as well as senior leadership an opportunity to listen to everyone who has signed to speak. This board takes equity of voice seriously and while we may not address your comments directly during public participation, CPS leadership is always present at our meetings and are able to address concerns as follow-ups after the meeting. As a district and as a board, we also have many other spaces for authentic dialogue. For example, each and every one of our board members host board office hours so that you can have a conversation. We invite

009you to use our website cpsb.org. or if you want to meet with the board member during office hours. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to meet with board members outside of a board meeting. And we thank you for your attention and consideration. And finally, as a reminder, union representatives will be allotted 5 minutes to speak before public participation and any elected officials will be allotted 5 minutes to speak after the conclusion of public participation. Assistant Board Secretary, please share the rules of public participation. Members of the public who registered to speak were given the option to attend in person or via an electronic format. For those who prefer to attend via an electronic format, they were given information to access this meeting by dialing a number and using their phone. We did

010this so that speakers with limited or no access to the internet or who may have a weak internet connection could still participate using their phones. Also, members of the public may submit written comments for the board of education special board meeting via the written comments form on our board's website or mailed at 42 West Madison Street, Garden level. Written comments received between the day the public agenda was posted through 5:00 p.m. the day after the board of education special board meeting will be submitted to the board and published within five business days on our website. Speakers, please listen while I provide directions for p for public participation. I will call your name and number when it's your turn to speak. For speakers joining us virtually, as a reminder to unmute, please press star six. Once

011you hear your name, please state your name for the record. I will then start your two-minut timer. When there are 30 seconds remaining, I will inform you so that you can proceed to conclude with your remarks to allow for the next speaker to begin. For anyone standing with a speaker, know that in order to comply with city fire code, please stand along the glass partitions on the marked spots to keep the aisles clear. Thank you. President Harden, before we begin calling registered speakers from the speakers list, we do have union reps who would like to address the board. We will begin with Jackson Potter, CTU vice president, who is here in person. Good afternoon. You know, um, how sometimes you don't realize how much you've missed a person until you see them for the first

012time in a long time. That's Rosemary Vega right here, who's a parent that was a fierce advocate and champion fighting the school closings when Rahm went on his rampage and closed a record number in the 2013 school year. And she was up here advocating for Lafayette that had record-winning orchestra and programming and defending the interests of black and brown children then. And here we are now today with the wheels coming off that charter experiment that was supposed to solve all the ills and create the stability that uh it you know never created. And yet um we've got charter operators taking advantage of a system that has holes you can drive a truck through. And so, you know, don't envy the position you're in, but I am glad that you're in the these seats to monitor,

013protect, defend, and ensure the public interest even if the entities that closed the schools took advantage, privatized, and now are closing again didn't. Um, I think it's critical and I stand in unity with our siblings and the principal association and uh with President Banks that we really need to see maximum stability in this process. That means school communities that aren't being devastated by loss of educators, programming, displacement, that children and their families are being listened to and heard when they say they want continuity. So to the maximum extent possible, that should be our way. It's what we did in Shields Middle School. It's what um you know we've done in other parts of the city when we've created middle schools and ensuring there's some continuity of staff and programming. So there's a template. Let's use

014it. The district's own history points in the right direction in these discreet examples. I will say another part of u maintaining and enabling maximum stability is what LA Unified just did in serving dinner to students in danger of losing all their SNAP benefits think at 5:00 p.m. every day. Um I think the district needs to consider similar efforts. we have asked to coordinate around mutual aid as it relates to food banks and pantries and doing some initiatives together. Uh you know would love to hear back from that offer to coordinate more. Epic is another de facto school closing in the making and a predominantly black school. Um it's what we saw in 2013 um you know over and over again. And this is even worse in some ways because at least in the school closings

015of bygone eras, we had a commitment to staff and students when there were receiving schools for there to be following students so that there was the least disruption possible. That's in our agreement with the district. We cannot toss people to the wind. So to the extent that you can utilize your existing resources and examples to replicate best practices, I would encourage that you know um Cedo Carmona uh you uh experienced this at von Humble. You know you know how dangerous and problematic it is to disregard the interests of schools and communities. You help shepherd what we just saw at Hogan uh to maximum impact and stability. uh we should take that and run with it. Uh Superintendent King similarly at Kourtney when it merged with Stockton. So we we have to defend our most vulnerable

016students. Please consider that as a priority in your deliberations today. And then lastly, I would just say that we had a productive conversation last week, district officials around uh provision of transportation. and we had a a good exchange with COO Mayfield and would like to hear back as to the results of some review and determine if there's ways we can help students who don't have access to transit but are fearful and traumatized by ICE assault on their families and school communities. Uh we also, you know, would like to hear back on necessary updates to the district guidelines around the virtual academy. >> You have 30 seconds remaining. Please conclude. And then uh we want to make sure there's no adverse action taken to educators who are trying to respond in the moment to the needs

017of their students if their you know attendance is spotty providing you know the resources necessary for them to maintain their academic engagement. And then you know we've offered an idea around stipens. We are open to exploring that in any way, shape or form to conduct school visits uh from staff or visits from school staff, wellness checks, food delivery, dropping off academic material, etc. >> Thank you for your comments. Please >> we really need that coordination and support. Uh we stand open to receive any [clears throat] mutual efforts in that regard. Thank you. For the record, President Harden, Vice President Bautista has joined the meeting via Zoom at 2:36 p.m. I will continue with our next union rep is Caroline Rutherford, CTU Charter Division Vice Chair, who's here in person. Good afternoon, members of the board

018and CEO King. Not here, but maybe sometime. Uh, I have been a charter school teacher for 15 years, but I am disappointed in the charter industry. I am disappointed in some board members sitting before us today in claiming to support charter schools, but last week walked by a group of charter educators facing school closure and said nothing to them. I'm grateful for board members who show their passion for students, teachers, and families. Board member Brown, thank you for your words last week. Epic educators were moved by your support and that you actually name the tragedy that they are living and want to fully support them. Last week, I heard board member Rivas say he was disgusted by comments made about charters. But please be clear with the folks in this room. Is it charter operators

019you support or charter educators, families, and students in these ongoing failures by the adults in charge of those charter networks? Those are the sides. These schools are not closing because students failed. These schools are not closing because teachers failed. They are not closing because parents and community failed. They are closing because their operators failed. Board members, you have spoken to the students, families, and educators. Have you spoken to the students, families, and educators at Epic Academy since the closure announcement? Many of you came to visit Shy Arts. Thank you so much for your support. But what about the charter schools in your own district facing closer closure? Epic parents have signed up to speak, but have not been chosen in the lottery. CPS has had no meetings with them or even sent them notice that

020the board was voting on their future. Today CPS is proposing to give them even less support or guarantees than the students got when ROM closed 50 schools. Today you're voting on two schools with very different outcomes presented by CPS. But there are some things that are similar. Number one, neither shy arts shy arts nor epic families, parents, students or staff have been consulted about their own futures by CPS. No one has enough information to support everything in each of these agenda items because they have not been explained to us. Board members, have they been properly explained to you? While both provide financial support in various ways, they don't go far enough. Schools are built on relationships, trust, and community, which both of these schools have successfully developed. Where is the language to pro preserve those

021essential parts of a community? CPS can do better. We understand existing district policies may not fit these scenarios entirely. So policies need to change and you all have the power to do that. Dr. Carmona, I respectfully disagree with the statements you made on October 23rd. You stated, "When it comes to staffing, we keep the schools as close as possible to what they look like today, but there are limitations, certification, residency, and current staff members who do not want to work at these schools." I have been an Aero teacher for 15 years and I've been elected by hundreds of Vero teachers and educators. And so this is very important to me. Have you actually looked at how many of these limitations exist? Because I have. We've surveyed all of our members. We have the data. The

022number of members at each school that meet the qualifications and want to stay at their school under CPS management. Casus 16 out of 21. Cisnerero 17 out of 25. Quentes 25 out of 31. Santiago 18 out of 25. and tomorrow 19 out of 23. And those are the hard yeses, not the may. Yet they have no idea if they will be offered a job by CPS when Nero lays them off in two weeks. These five schools will be broken piece by piece instead of valued and preserved. Board members, we have stood before you at every meeting for over a year, pleading with you all to protect students, staff, and communities. And we are asking you again today, please provide Epic the option for students and staff to stay together at a high quality CPS school

023like Southshore. They deserve happy, healthy, secure high school futures. Engage the epic parents, families, and staff in town hall discussions to develop these paths. Provide the shy arts students and staff a guarantee the heart of their school, which is the arts conservatory pre-professional training program, will remain intact. work with the Shy Arts teachers, teaching artists, students, and parents. Learn about the operations of the Shy Arts Conservatory model in order to maintain it and replicate it at other schools across Chicago in the future. Commit to funding arts education at Shy Arts and across the city. >> 30 seconds remaining, please conclude. >> That are not solely relying on donations from a foundation. After over a year now, the teachers and staff at the five is Acero schools deserve stability in their future employment. CPS must make

024the effort to keep these highly qualified and committed educators before we lose them and frankly lose the schools. I know we've been waiting for answers, but if the language before you today does not protect students, staff, and school communities, then we need to get it right. >> Thank you for your comments. The next union rep is Troy Lab Labraier from American Federation of School Administrators Midwest region president who's here in person. Good morning, beautiful people. Try this morning. Um, I want to start by saying uh thank you to the superintendent search committee uh for the work you putting in to identify a superintendent for our school. Uh I come with a concern regarding that work, but I don't want to be another person launching into a concern without expressing a deep appreciation for the time

025and effort that you're putting into the search. uh you have my gratitude. I'm here to point out that you're moving forward with selecting a superintendent of schools without including accountable representatives of the principles and assistant principles who lead the schools. Those of you have community organizing backgrounds, you know that people can't claim to represent a group if they are not communication avenues and accountability, lines of accountability between them and the people they are said to represent. And no such lines exist here. I know that you can't make every stakeholder happy. At the end of the day, you got to get your work done. At the same time, principles and assistant principles are not your average stakeholders. Principles are the only leaders who directly manage every part of a school's ecosystem. The only leaders who directly

026manage every part of a school's ecosystem. instruction, safety, budgets, hiring, evaluation, procurement, operations, culture and climate, community engagement, and that's just a few. That's literally just the beginning. They manage all of that plus. So when you have a decision to make or an initiative to plan for, I want you to start thinking about our union of principles and assistant principles as strategic priority partners, leaders that you have to bring in early, engage deeply in sustained involvement throughout the planning and decision-making process because of the principal's position once again as the only leaders who directly manage every part of a school's ecosystem. They have to be there in the beginning. They have to be there early. They have to be in deeply. And it has to be sustained. Superintendent issue directives and launch district-wide initiatives across

027each area of that ecosystem. And principles see how those directives impact schools better and for worse in real time. Representative principles would help you evaluate candidates not just on lofty goals, but on how well they can stage and support the execution of those goals in schools. Ultimately, it's the execution that's going to impact students. Now, I want to talk a little bit about because this is bigger. My point here is bigger than just the search committee. It's about how the district has approached principles in general. The search committee is just another example. I want to make a larger point about the weight that our principles take on. Principles are public-f facing leaders who absorb the impact of the district's decisions every day. When policies miss the mark, school communities turn to principles for answers and

028often hold principles responsible for your decisions. That's why principles have an urgent need for this board and the next superintendent to recognize and honor that accountability. They need you to honor it with actions that say, "We respect and value what you bring to the table, principles." You can show school communities respect by deeply engaging the principles who lead them. Whether the process be the superintendent search, absorbing charter schools into the district, or budgeting for the upcoming school year, if it's important, then representative principles who are accountable to their colleagues should be at the table by nature of their positions as keepers of the ecosystem. In terms of the superintendent search, we believe the search committee should invite elected representatives of principles to interview the superintendent finalists and submit a well-reasoned recommendation to the committee and

029to this board to help make your decision stronger. It is my understanding that a different course of action is being discussed with President Banks and although it falls short of our recommendation, it does show that the lines of communication are open and that this board is moving towards showing greater respect for principles and the assistant principles who make up our union. So, we appreciate that and uh lines remain open. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. Our next union rep is Kia Banks, CPAA president, who is here in person. Good afternoon. [clears throat] I understand that there's there's pain here. A mostly black school is being dissolved while a mostly non-black school is being absorbed. That contrast is jarring. And the optics, they're bad. It hurts. But here's the thing. I feel what our

030board members are trying to do here. And I agree with my brother in in Labor, Jackson. Maximum stability for children is the goal. But I cannot stand by and allow for any discussion, amendment or motion that would override a statute. We all want students to see familiar faces, but they deserve the right educators with them. Principles are trusted to make that call. and CPA won't support anything else. It's not because we don't care and it's not just because it violates our agreement. Also, it's not just because it creates a very dangerous precedent, but it is because it puts adult needs before our students needs. It forces our school leaders to take on new students or staff without the support that's necessary to support those students, build the teams, and create the culture of success that

031they deserve. We've not once talked about the resources that need to be in every school where our students will land to ensure that they are properly received, welcomed, and that communities are built around them. It tells principles once again to stabilize chaos while cutting them off from the very needs and tools that they need in place to do so. Principles must be allowed to build culture. They must be allowed to shape climate. They must be allowed to choose the staff who fit the needs of every student they serve. And that's not a preference. It is a requirement for our students success. This charter situation is a crisis. And we cannot tie the hands of the very people charged with leading schools through these crises. We do not solve harm by creating new harm. Not if

032we care about stability. Not if we care about student outcomes. and not if we actually care about true equity. Our students, whether they are CPS students, charter students, public school students, private students, they deserve schools that are led with care by people who shape every hallway, who support every staff member, who elevate community, and who always choose children first. So board members, we are asking you to consider your choices carefully. The precedent you set impacts every child, the child, the children that are in place now and those that we will be receiving. Thank you, >> President Harden. We are now ready to call registered speakers from the speakers list. We will begin with Rosemary Beega who will be joined who is here in person. Hello, my name is Rosemary Vega. I said I wasn't going

033to cry today. In 2013, under David Thally, Barbara Bird Bennett, and Ramen Emanuel, 50 schools were closed. That was a devastating hit to Chicago, especially to our black and brown communities. We saw after that closing what that did to our black and brown families. We lost so many childrens to CPS. We lost them at CPS. We to death to the suburbs to wherever, but we lost them because they didn't have the security of a board of a mayor backing them and protecting them. Today I stood here with CTU again. In 2013 I was strictly fighting against charter schools. But today I stood for them because what is happening to our black and brown children is not right. It's not their fault that they don't got stability. It's not their fault that adults making decisions are

034not making decisions in their best interest. So I'm here begging you guys. I know you guys understand when you make these decisions, please make these decisions with our children, with our black and brown children in your hearts. Because let me tell you something, every white parent that is in shy arts has a choice to take their children somewhere else. >> Our black and brown parents, our black and brown childrens don't have that choice. Don't have that option. So please, when you keep that in mind, when you make that vote, they travel for the conservatory. Please keep the conservatory. To hear staff at the school worried about their job, black staff worried and not knowing about their future is heartbreaking. And Revas, you said you were going to support us 100%. And God forbid if I

035hear that you don't, cuz I will move heaven and hell >> to make sure you don't contain in that seat. So I hope that this is not just >> Thank you for your comments. Please conclude. >> I am begging you. Shy arts need the funding. Our children need the investment. They deserve the investment because you will be a doing and disinvestment to the city of Chicago by removing anything from Shy Arts because the uniqueness of the school is what makes Shy Arts. Please, I am begging each and one of you keep your comments please. They deserve they travel to get there. Thank you. Our next speaker, speaker number three, Samantha Gonzalez, who's here in person. Hi everyone, I'm Samantha Gonzalez. I'm a junior musical theater major and student body president at Shy Arts. This school

036has changed my life and I want to take a moment to share just how much the school has impacted me for the better. I found my passion at the school. I've always loved performing, but it was a dream, something out of reach, whether that be because of cost or just lack of knowledge about arts education in my community. But then I found Shy Arts, a free program in arts education, and everything changed. I feel blessed to know that I have a school that gives me access to arts programming and opportunities that would normally cost too much. To know that's at risk breaks my heart. To know my staff here is at risk breaks it even more. I love this school so much because of the people inside of this building. So many people have put

037opportunities in my lap that seem almost impossible without them. I have been able to win a regional acting competition. I got I've worked with different theater companies such as Looking Glass Theater and Collabor Action. I got signed to a leading talent agency. And yes, it was because of this school. All the people who believe in me, mentored me, and connected me to other artists. It's because of the people in the school I'm able to pursue my dreams confidently. Our current teaching artists are a huge part of what makes Shy Arts Shy Arts. Our curriculum and teaching artists need to stay. They are the reason that so many students shy arts students here are fighting for our school. The teachers not only teach but inspire us. They treat us like family. And that's what Shy Arts

038is, a family. To know that majority black and brown students from all over the city will be deprived of arts education is sickening. And we cannot let this school go. Arts education for POC youth is a privilege to conclude. >> This school makes it accessible to every student. Every student in the city deserves this opportunity. We all deserve to create. Shy arts gave me and so many others a voice, a purpose, and a future. I'm here today because this school made me who I am, and I refuse to let it go. In order to save Shy Arts, we must save our teaching artists, our curriculum, because that's what Shy Arts is. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Our next speaker is Esmealda Delgado, speaker number four, who is joining us virtually. Please press star

039six to unmute. >> Good evening, members of the board and CPS leadership. My name is Ismealda Degado, and I'm here once again to speak on behalf of our school community, Esmeralda Santiago, regarding the building. We have a we have been asking CPS to purchase. I want to share an important update. The building is no longer on the market. We recently spoke directly with the realtor who had it listed. He explained that the arch dascese doesn't want to display students and is open to continue to lease the part of the property. The building was originally listed for sale under a misunderstanding, the assumption that the school had closed and that the students no longer needed the space. That was never the case. Our students are still there, still learning and still depending on the building every

040single day. Now that we know that the arch dascese is willing to continue leasing, we are asking CPS to contact them directly and take over the lease so that the resolution which was promised to us can finally be fulfilled. We waited patiently. We follow the process and continue to show up because we believe in CPS commitment and to keeping promises made to families. Please take this new step. work with our dascese to secure the lease and give our students what they deserve. Also, we want to let the leadership know that when the five schools began this journey, our goal was always to keep our principal and our beloved teachers together. We've been hearing that some teachers might be let go and that is hurting our heart. >> Seconds remain conclude. >> We don't want more

041changes. We want to stay together as the beautiful family we are. Also to board member Brown and other mom from our school follow the rules like the president asked for office hours with you and we send you an email and we send an email to the person you asked us to until this date we haven't gotten a reply. So we kindly ask you to please double check with us and give us an answer. Thank you for your time and your continued attention to this matter. Please save my >> Thank you for your comments. We will continue with speaker number five, Lisa Miranda, who's here in person. Good afternoon. I know with all the turmoil in Chicago in and across our country, it might seem small, even selfish to fight so hard for one school. But

042it isn't small. It's essential because the same leaders fighting to keep CPS families safe and fed must also fight to protect a place where young artists learn to imagine and build a better world. Art and activism can never be separated. At Shy Arts, scholar artists create work that make us laugh, bring us joy, and make us see each other, truly see each other. They also create art that shocks us, stirs righteous anger, and calls us to stand up to injustice wherever it exists. Good trouble is what shy arts does. It's what a commendable school does. It builds it trains truthtellers. It builds empathy. It produces artists who change the world. I've seen that transition up close. My daughter is a freshman at Shy Arts. In just two and a half months, I have watched her

043focus, her commitment, and her artistry deepen in breathtaking ways. Her teachers, working artists. >> You have 30 seconds remaining. Please make creative risks, explore new materials, and grow as a young professional. That is the conservatory model. Real artists teaching the next generation, nurturing their voices three hours a day, 15 hours a week. And I am not alone. Over 2600 people have signed the petition to save Sh arts and the conservatory. We stand united asking you to invest in our artist future. >> Thank you for your comments. >> Creative, courageous as our students. Find a way through every logistical, financial, and ideological challenge to protect the conservatory model and engage all stakeholders in transition process. Help our scholar artists shine truth and joy into a world that need both so desperately. >> Champion shy arts, the

044school and motto that turns motto that turns Chicago's young artists and activists into leaders. bold, visionary, and waiting to shape our future. Thank you. Our next speaker is speaker number six, Scott Stewart, who's here in person. >> [clears throat] >> My name is Scott Stewart and I have the privilege of teaching business and finance at a spirit of business and finance high school. When my principal invited me to teach at business at a spirit last year, uh I didn't want I didn't want to go. um honestly because I just knew the challenges that they were facing academically, spiritually, emotionally. But my principal believed in me and believed that uh we could face the challenges and that's what we've been doing together. We set to rebuild a culture, one where students want to come to school,

045want to learn, and want to lead. A place where education feels alive again. And every day we see progress. Small victories that whisper louder than statistics. Students showing up early. Students sa staying late. Students dreaming bigger. The work that we do over at Spir is sacred. It's the work of turning pain into purpose, struggle into strength, and classrooms into communities of hope. Right now, Aspir is, you know, as many of these other schools, experiencing significant financial challenges and staff reductions that threaten to to slow the momentum of what we've been doing over at the Spear. The hope, the pride, the belief, it's just too meaningful to lose and I'm too invested at this point. So, I'm here to ask the board to provide the support. >> You have seconds. Please conclude >> that will help

046us protect the progress that sustain our growth. The support that will give us what we need. Time. Time to finish what we started. Time to stabilize our foundation. Time to show what happens when you invest in not just programs, but invest in people because the true return on that investment isn't measured in numbers, it's measured in futures. Thank you for your comments. We will continue with speaker number seven, Grace Synindo, who's here in person. My name is Grace Syndico, a teaching artist in the theater conservatory at Shy Arts. My work has been shown at Stephenwolf Theater, Citadel Theater, the Beverly Arts Center, among many Chicago and New York theaters. I've had Tony winning producers work for me, and I've worked alongside Broadway professionals. But my proudest achievements are with my students. In the 2024 August

047Wilson Design Competition, a student I coached in the elements of theatrical design placed first in the nation. Using the same techniques, I've mentored Shy Arts students that have earned acceptances at Carnegie Melon and Northwestern. These accomplishments are a direct result of the Shy Arts Conservatory model. I also attended a performing arts high school where a single teacher ran an entire theater program. It was never enough. As thespian president, I saw firsthand how students suffer without proper uh support or in-depth education. At Shy Arts, we do things differently. Our students thrive because working artists, though most not certified, develop and teach teach specialized professionally leveled curriculum. Though we may not fit the mold of mold of a traditional teacher, we are still educators in our own right, leading rehearsals, creating theory, and redefining our craft. Without

048the fair pay that we currently earn, Shy Arts will lose these artists and the unique training that keeps our scholar artists nationally competitive. When they walk into those collegic and professional arts spaces, they are prepared. They match and exceed expectations. In my class, for example, students train in Suzuki physical training and physical text analysis, a rare college level technique that to my knowledge no other high schools in the country offer. In fact, I am one of the few artists in Chicago with the training technique. At Shy Arts, students receive a level of training otherwise gatekept by expensive tuition and private programs. Teaching artists are what keeps our students and this program extraordinary. Please maintain the arts conservatory model and find a way to continue employing even non-teer certified working artists like myself. Thank you. >>

049Thank you for your comments. We will continue with our next speaker, Christian Helm. Speaker number eight, who's here in person. >> Good afternoon, members of the board. My name is Christian Helm and not only am I a proud alum of Shy Arts, but I'm also a current teaching artist there and I've been there for eight years. I was also part of Shy Arts first class in 2009. And if anyone remembers that, we didn't have an address until about a month before school started. Talk about risk. At Shyards, I was taught the value of a good ensemble. And if you don't know what an ensemble is, it is a group of people, a group of artists collaborating, connecting, taking risks together, sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding, but always returning back. And when I started there, I knew

050finally that in a worldclass city like Chicago, where art is thriving, performance is around the corner, that I had found a piece of that right there in my classroom for free, three hours a day, 5 days a week. And if not for Shy Arts Conservatory, I often wonder to myself, where would the young artists of Chicago go? Where would they find a space to not only collaborate in a world that needs collaboration, that needs connection, and in a country where the freedom of speech hangs in the balance? Where will they go? Where will the young student with ESL learning We have 30 seconds remaining. Please conclude. >> Where will the young black man from the from the southside who wants to not only be a ballet dancer but a choreographer? Where will they go? Where

051will the young artist of Chicago regardless of economic status, immigration status or background go if not for Shy Arts? We are done with an executive director or foundations and boards. We are looking for an ensemble member with CPS. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Our next speaker is Maya Davis, who's speaker number nine, who's here in person. >> Good afternoon, members of the board. My name is Maya Davis. I'm student body treasurer and I'm a senior acting major at the Chicago High School for the Arts. We students go through a 9-hour school day, academics from 8 to 1:15 and arts from 2:00 to 5:00. While it is demanding and often tiring, we wouldn't have it any other way. In addition to being a scholar artist, I'm also a signed and working actor. I remember

052a day my freshman year. I woke up at 4:00 a.m. to arrive at a commercial shoot at 500 a.m. Then I went to school for 9 hours. excuse me, and performed in our winter showcase till 9:00 p.m. [snorts] This is the dedication we scholar artists demonstrate every day. Since then, I've worked for organizations like Nike, UIC, and the Chicago Blackhawks. A PBS episode I started was recently nominated for a Chicago Emmy. I state these accolades not to boast, but to show what Shy makes possible. The foundation sharts has built for me, the rigorous training, the support from my teachers, and the collaboration with my peers have shaped me into the artist I am today. And I would not be the actor or person I am without this school. Shy Arts is a hub, a hive

053that hums with vigor and fosters creativity. We encourage boldness. A mantra I learned my freshman year from my wonderful teacher, Mrs. As Lauren Wells man was, Leap and the net will appear. So I and the entirety of Shy Arts are leaping together, imploring you to take a chance on us. >> You have 30 seconds for me. >> You hold something special in your hands. >> You hold the livelihoods of more than 60 arts teachers. You hold the sanctuary, the sanctuary over 600 arts students run toward in a world that frequently tells us we aren't necessary. Let it be the haven I've experienced it to be. Let it become the institution I know it can be. Because art is an eternal flame. Our students passion is the fuel. Our teachers guidance is the wind that wafts.

054It's a burning fire that lives in me. And if you look closely enough, you can feel that warmth in yourself. >> You just have to be willing to embrace it >> and be brave enough to fight for it. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Jada Love Ramos, speaker number 10, who's joining us virtually. Please press star six to unmute. >> Hello, my name is Shada Lamos and I am a vocalist at Shy Arts and a freshman. I would like to start off by reading a poem that board member Pope taught my mother when she was my age at Carl Shur High School. First, they came for the socialist and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionist and I did not speak out because

055I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me. I would like to thank every board member for coming to save our school on behalf of all the students at Shyarts and for not abandoning us in our time of need like Tina Boyer Brown who should be held accountable for not informing anyone in her decision not to sign a renewal contract for the school. Thank you for coming to visit Shy Arts and seeing how Shy Arts work. Thank you. Thank you for your comments, President Harden. This concludes public participation. We'll now open the floor for comments on the items of public agenda. Are there any comments

056or questions from the board? >> Dr. Smith. >> Thank [clears throat] you, Mr. President. Uh after hearing some of the comments today and working with the families and leaders at Epic Academy, there is a resolution today coming before the board that I want to address both in process and principle. Uh Epic Academy is in the 10th district that I was elected to represent. I visited Epic multiple times and I've reviewed its data on the five essentials. Epic has no negative ratings in any category, not one. And in fact, it's strongest in families that are involved. This means that the parents are fully engaged, invested, and parents are working alongside teachers and leadership to support the students of Epic Academy. When families show up, it's our job to show up with them and not pull the

057rug from under them. Yet today, we will be we will be discussing this school's future without hearing directly from its leadership or consulting the board member who was elected to represent its community. On October 7th, I sent a written request to the office of the deputy chief of staff asking for EPIC's executive director to brief this board directly to explain their situation, their transition plan, and the student impact. There was no response from CPS leadership. Though the school's director, Dr. Leandra Khan, did reply immediately. Still no response from the deputy chief of staff of CPS. Now, we're being asked to vote on a resolution written in part with outside political actors that have determined where these students will go next. And we keep hearing the the name Southshore, which is also in my district. Uh,

058and I wasn't consulted about. Uh, that is paternalistic. It denies agencies to families who have already shown that they value their voice, choice, and partnership. and it would still be wrong even if we were sending all of those students to Whitney Young. According to the board bylaws 1 through 4, our primary obligation is to serve as key advocates on behalf of students and our community schools and to act collectively, not unilaterally. Introducing a resolution about a school without the participation of its district representative violates both the letter and the spirit of our commitment. If EPIC is running out of funding, our immediate obligation is stewardship. I urge this board to appropriate emergency funds so that EPIC can complete this school year with dignity while we open a transparent collaborative process that includes families, staff, and

059leadership. When the several schools came up for a vote and I wasn't sure, I consulted with member Lopez who knew the impact it would make in her district. When I didn't understand the funding structure of Lane Tech, I visited that school with member Rosenfeld to gain a better understanding. I pray that in these times we can be self-aware enough to turn our ideologies into curiosities. Governance is not control. It's care. It's data. It's collaboration. I am asking this board to show goodwill to the families of Epic and reject this re resolution in favor of a process that our students deserve. Thank you, >> Member Rivas. >> Uh thank you, Mr. President. Uh thanks everyone um who has come out today for public comment. Obviously, this is a very uh difficult situation uh with these school

060actions and unfortunately we have to make uh choices this month because we have until December 1st uh to be make make announcements related to school actions. Um as I've said to um the dozens and dozens and dozens of folks that I've met with that I've talked with um you know on on the issue with uh Shy Arts uh which is in my district. Uh it's I don't think that it's ever been on the table for anyone on this board that that school would close. Uh right now it's just thinking thinking through um what is what is it going to look like uh next year after the trans with a transition plan considering all of the obligations we have um once it's a district managed school. There are rules, there are policies. Um everyone who's met

061with me, who I've talked to um about it, I've been very honest and transparent about those things. Um, and I'll continue to be open, transparent, and talk to anyone who wants to talk to me about it. Uh, because that's what my what my community elected me for. Um, and, uh, I'm really happy that I have been open, transparent, and meeting with our shards families, meeting with our Santiago families because, uh, the school is not in my district, but it's in my community uh, related to uh, those issues there. So, um, always feel free to email, contact us, uh, use the board office hours, uh, form to be able to meet with us, uh, because we are here to represent, uh, the needs of the schools in our districts, uh, to represent the families, um, in

062our district. So, thanks, >> member Boy. Um, I just wanted to say thanks to board member Smith for co for reiterating a lot of the things that member Brown were saying last week when you were unavailable. Um, there is a great deal of concern and and the one thing board member Brown said that really resonates with me is how do we keep this school together and how do we make sure that the kids go to another school that is better? Typically, when a school closes, students are pushed around to schools that have openings, then they might not be as good as the other schools. So, I'm glad you're both on the same page with actually helping students to make sure that they're getting to where they need to be. And for Shy Arts folks, thank

063you so much for coming again and showing up for yourselves as you always do. Um, there's going to be lots of questions. As you know, you are the unique, beautiful school that you are, and we're going to have to unravel all those pieces and figure things out. But the conservatory is important to I think to a person on this board. It's it's important to all of us. Um and we've got to make sure that we get this right. So, thank you all for coming. >> Did you have another comment? Member Smith? >> Yes. I just want to briefly say I uh thank you uh member Blae. I I do wish we were on the same page. Uh I contacted member Brown September 8th to ask him for collaboration. I never received a response. I think

064the same page is when we do actually talk and visit the schools and talk to the families together, not just when we make comments in separate silos. There are other great schools in that district, not just one. uh and the families deserve the opportunity to explore those schools, not just to be told where their children will be going through proxy and policy uh and through outside entities helping to write resolutions that decide that I'm I'm speaking. I'm done right now. But I think true collaboration is more than just us talking here. True collaboration is when members respond to other members and visit their schools and families with them. Thank you. River Brown. >> Yeah. Um, first I want to apologize to the families from Aspir, from Sha Arts, from Epic. Um, it hurts me to

065see people have to beg for their survival in a district where we all pay taxes and um, we should be thinking about how to improve education, not just how to how to survive. For me personally, that's traumatic. I'll also say, now I apologize to board member Smith if I if I did not respond. I have had the same number since prime code and have never ran from a conversation. So I apologize if but there is time to time that I may get a call and miss it but there's never any intent not to talk to anybody on this board and if anybody knows me I run to the smoke not away from it. So, I apologize again if that was not the case. But what I will say is when we were sitting here last

066week and that vote was getting ready to happen, I didn't hear any resistance to what was getting ready to happen to those epic families. So, yes, it is not in my district. But what I will say is by I'm far from perfect. But what anybody in in this city knows is that I have stood with families when it has not been popular. And I have put my body on the line. Not just in the case of Diet High School and not just with Rahm Emanuel, but before Rahm Emanuel even thought about being a mayor when read Mayor Daly was shutting down the projects. I was on the front lines with families. So what I offer is not an opinion. I actually offer wisdom on the issue. And so when I hear families struggling, I can't

067I can't compartmentalize it as well, we have to make tough decisions because often those tough the people making those tough decisions don't have to suffer through the impact of those decisions. And not on my watch. I don't care what district it's in. Not on my watch. I'm going to always stand up for families. And so, again, I apologize, brother, if I missed your call, but and and I'm it's kind of dope that you like called that out here in the board meeting. But what I will say is I have never intentionally ignored anybody's call on this board. And if I missed it, you know, blame blame the head, not the heart. And that's it. River pole. So >> you went public over a text, brother. >> Come on, black man. Come on, brother. >> Well,

068stay focused. >> Oh, come on, man. We better than that. We better. Yes, we should. >> Sant's waiting, too. >> No, we love each other. >> Uh, okay. In regard to Epic, I think that nobody is suggesting that anybody wants to corral and force anybody to go to Southshore High School. I think that's important to understand. Of course, parents and their students have agency and have the ability and the right to go wherever they want to to school. So, I think that that is not an argument that pertains to this. I think what we are hoping to have is the opportunity for a community that loves one another, has built bonds, has built confidence, has built trust to stay together to the maximum extent possible. Of course, someone can opt out of that if that

069doesn't meet their needs or the needs of their children. But what we're looking for in this is to have the teaching community and the student community that have bonded and worked together over the years stay together to the maximum extent that they choose to do so. >> Yeah. I just want to make sure um I I un I wanted to respond to the comments um made by CPAA today because um you know I'm a longtime union member and I respect both my former union which I had to resign from after 40 years in order to sit here in this chair and I'm also respecting the CBA that the CPA has um just finished negotiating. Thank you. There being no more comments from the board, we'll proceed with the vote on public agenda item. Sister board

070secretary, please proceed. >> Thank you, President Harden. I will proceed with items of the public agenda. Red I'll read the board report number and title. These items do require a vote. EX1, amend board report 24-0125-EX4 authorized the renewal of the Chicago High School for the Arts Agreement with conditions. President Harden, this amendment is necessary for termination of the existing contract school agreement with the Chicago High School for the Arts at the end of the 2025 2026 school year, resulting in the school windown and seizing operations effective July 1st, 2026. Additionally, for the record, this item was posted as draft on agenda and final will be included in the agenda of action. This item does require a vote. >> Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? motion right now. >> I

071second. >> Thank you. I will proceed with a oracle call. >> Okay, I'm going to pause for a second. >> This is for EX1. And the next one will be uh the next one will be a motion for EX2 and that's where we do the journey. Correct. >> This is just for EX1. >> Yeah, this is GX1. >> Yes. >> I will proceed with the roll call one now. >> Yes, please proceed. >> Board member Losano. >> Yes. >> Board member Smith. >> Hi. >> Board member Lopez. >> Hi. Board member, >> yes. >> Board member Boy, >> yes. >> Board member Wallace, >> I. >> Board member Kuster, >> hi. >> Board member Pope, >> yes. >> Board member Rivas, >> yes. >> Board member Rosenthal, >> yes. >> Board member Brown, >> yes.

072>> Board member Rio Sierra, I. Board member Bannon. >> Hi. >> Vice President Bautista. >> Yes. >> Board member Gutierrez. >> Hi. >> Board member Biggs. >> Yes. >> Board member Dorakora. >> Yes. >> Board member Blae. >> I. >> Board member Sakor. >> Yes. >> Board member Dberry. I. 20 I zero nays zero abstensions. This motion is adopted by the board. My for the record this matter is adopted by the board not motion. I will proceed with ex2 establish establish Chicago high school for the arts as a district managed fine and performing arts school. Okay. Uh, President Harden, I would like to make a motion to amend the board report as read earlier by the assistant board secretary. The amendment is as follows. For EX2, established Chicago High School for the Arts as a

073district- managed fine arts and performing arts school in the financial section one. I motion to strike out should the conservatory up into and quote and expansion close quote and add quote the district is committed to preserving the conservatory to the greatest extent practicable. The district will explore alternative financial strategies and partnerships to sustain and preserve the school's conservatory model to promote continued access to highquality fine and performing arts education for students. Additional time will allow the district to engage in broader public engagement process. The district will endeavor to revisit the conservatory funding by the January board meeting following the completion of the public engagement efforts and the consideration of available financial options. >> Is there a second to move the amended language to the floor? >> I second. >> It's been moved to the four

074board members. Are there any questions? >> Member Paul. >> Oh, no. >> Okay. Just to uh Can I >> Sure. Just to provide clarity for those in the room, this is uh to to allow us to do more community engagement. We want to be able to keep the conservatory as is for the children of Shy Arts, which is what I've overwhelmingly heard from the hundreds of families. I'm looking right at you, Rosemary. We met two weeks ago. >> I'm looking right at you, Rosemary. We've met. We talked I've met and talked to hundreds of folks. This is what I've heard overwhelmingly from families from Shy Arts. This is what we're voting for right now uh to give us time so we can do more community engagement to ensure that we're providing this amazing model >>

075and figure out more funding. >> Thank you for the clarity, member Rivas. Member Lozano. The floor is yours. Member Guano, >> member Blaze. >> And just to underscore what board member Rivas said once again, lots to unravel. There are artists pay that are out of whack with what CPS is accustomed to. So, we've got to have those conversations, right? We've got to um again to underscore what board member Pope is saying un we have to figure out the funding model and we have to figure out who's in charge of that. Is that something we want to leave with CPS or is that something that the administration at Shy Arts should have? Is it should it stand by itself as it has been which maybe didn't work last time. So um again there is lots and

076lots to talk about. this conversation will continue, but we can't do it with just these folks. You've seen how we get along. Um, we have to go and see you guys and and come to the community and make sure that all the voices are included. Our labor partners, our teaching artists, our INI folks, like everybody's got to get on the same page and and get you guys sorted out. So, um th this is a little wonky in how this is moving in terms of the language, but we're here for you and and um we looked really hard. We don't see any um flim flam going on underneath um and and uh we'll get you sorted out. Stay tuned for more community events. >> Are there any other comments or questions? member de >> thank you

077so much shy community for coming together and being so persistent that you're saved you're done with us now we need you to help us find partners that fit you well that keep you in the shape that you're that you love and want to keep right because 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. Okay. Thank you so much for your persistence. But finally that this board is completely supportive of Shy Arts. I don't think there's any question of that. The challenge becomes where we'll work together is to figure out how we identify the resources to preserve the conservatory and that's the commitment you have from the board. >> Assist the secretary, please take the role. Um, just for

078clarity for the board, I am going to take the roll call for the motion that's on the table, and that is to add that language. >> Board member Losano, >> I. >> Board member Smith, >> I. >> Board member Lopez, >> I. >> Board member, >> yes. >> Board member Bole, >> yes. >> Board member Wallace, >> I. Board member Kuster. >> Hi. >> Board member Pope. >> Yes. >> Board member Rosenfeld. >> Yes. >> Board member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Board member Brown. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Board member Rio. >> Hi. >> Board member Bannon. >> Hi. >> Vice President Bautista. >> Yes. >> Board member Gutierrez. >> I. >> Board member Biggs. >> Yes. Board member Thorakora. >> Yes. >> Board member Blae. >> I. >> Board member Sakor. >> Yes. >> Board

079member Dberry. >> I. >> 20 A's, Z Naz. This motion is adopted by the board. President Harden and board members. We will now vote on board 25104 ex2 establish Chicago high school for the arts as a district managed fine and performing arts school with the amended language. >> Is there a motion? >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second this one. >> I will proceed with a roll call vote. >> Member Losano >> I. Member Smith. >> I. >> Member Lopez. >> I. >> Member. >> Yes. >> Member Bole. >> Yes. >> Member Wallace. >> I. >> Member Kuster. >> I. >> Member Pope. >> Yes. >> Member Rosenfeld. >> Yes. >> Member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Member Brown. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Member Rio Sierra. >> I. >> Member Bannon. I.

080>> Vice President Bautista. >> Yes. Member Gutierrez, >> I. >> Member Biggs, >> yes. >> Member Dora, >> yes. >> Member Blae, >> I. >> Member Sakor, >> yes. >> Member Dberry, >> I. >> 20 A's, zero Naz, zero abstensions. This motion is adopted by the board. Um, for the record, the final will be included in the fi in the agenda of action. H your mic. >> We'll now open the floor for questions or comments on the unfinished business item from October 30th of 2025. I'd like to note that the following unfinished business item from from October 30th, uh 25-1030-ex1 amendment board report 25-0424-EX7 authoriz academy charter high school agreement with conditions. We'll now proceed with the vote on unfinished business. Assistant Board Secretary, please call the role. Please proceed. I'm sorry. >> President Harden,

081we will now proceed with the unfinished business items from October 30th, 2025. I will read the board report number and brief title. This item does require a vote. 25-1030-ex1. Amend board report 25-0424-EX7. Authorized renewal of the Epic Academy Charter High School agreement with conditions. President Harden, this amendment is necessary for termination of the charter at the end of the 2025 2026 school year as the school will cease operations and voluntarily returns its charter on July 1st, 2026 with 1,400,000 in additional FY26 funding allocated to ensure successful windown and completion of the academic year. >> President Harter. >> Yes, sir. I would like to motion to amend the board report as read earlier by the assistant board secretary. The amendment >> point of order. I think we have to motion and second the first motion before

082you can make your amendment. Board member Brown. Yes. >> Okay. >> And then you can >> Yes. >> So I will I will make a motion um for EX1 amend board report for the renewal of Epic Charter um high school agreement with conditions. >> Thank you board. M Kuster, do we have a second? Second. >> It's okay to go now. >> Cool. All right. All right. So, President Harden, I would like to to motion to amend the board report as read earlier by the assistant board secretary. The amendment is as follows. For 25-1030X1, amend board report 25-0424EX7. Authorize renewal of the Epic Academy Charter High School agreement with conditions. I'm sorry. Wait one second. Okay. I motion to add after the fourth paragraph in charter renewal proposal section. The chief portfolio officer of the office

083of portfolio management will prepare the transition plan in consultation with Epic students, families, and staff. The transition plan will provide opportunities to maximize stability and continuity for Epic families and qualified staff, including but not limited to allowing maintenance of the school community by offering enrollment to all Epic students at a high performant district-run school and corresponding opportunities for employment for qualified EPIC staff in open positions at such receiving school. Additionally, the transition plan will include providing all available options to EPIC students for enrollment within districtrun schools and assisting interested EPIC staff by identifying and sharing information about open positions within CPS for which they may be eligible to apply. consistent with district hiring procedures and requirements, including identifying which schools are receiving Epic students. The chief portfolio officer shall report to the board of education

084on the implementation of the transition plan and the status of the EPIC student enrollment, staff retention, and support activities no later than December 19th, 202025. And in the financial section after the second paragraph, to the extent possible, the district will monitor Epic Academyy's use of any additional FY26 funds provided. Epic Academy shall be required to return to the district any unspent public funds and or property or assets purchased with public funds. In accordance with the terms of his charter agreement, the district will investigate and make all reasonable efforts to ensure recovery of any such unused funds, property, or assets, including but not limited to real estate owned by Epic Academy. >> Is there a second to move the language to the floor? >> Second. >> I'd like I'd like to make a motion. All right.

085I would like to make a motion to amend the amendment. I believe that's what it is. I second. Okay. So, >> um I guess it's an intervening motion ask for advice. >> Board member Bole. What I wanted to do um I wanted to motion to divide the question. >> Can you just be um be specific about what specifically you're trying to divide? >> Sure. I wanted to divide the part um the the first part that talks about the transition plan from the part that talks about allocating the financials so that the school can continue to operate you know for the rest of this time right now like I wanted to get the financial part. board member Bo just to clarify for everyone is asking that we divide the motion into two sections. It would be

086a roll call vote. There's no discussion because there was a second. I would take a roll call vote and then after that roll call vote if it does pass that means those two amendments will be voted on separately. So we would move first do the first section which is the the charter renewal proposal section and then the second section that we will vote on you all will vote on is the financial section. Um so you're voting on two different amendments if the divide to question is passed by majority of the board. So I will take a roll call vote for um your motion to divide the question. >> Can I have a point of clarification? >> Yes. >> Do you care to explain why you're opposing this? >> Yeah. I I'm concerned that the top

087part violates our um contractual agreement with CPAA and I I need to study that part more. So, I'm okay with allocating the money to Epic right now so that they may continue to um you know operate. They need they need the funds, but I am not in agreement with all of the stuff on the top. So, I'd like to be able to approve the money piece separately. So, you you'll get a chance to vote on each. Right. Right. >> Thank you. Appreciate the clarification. >> Okay. I will continue with a roll call vote for division of question. So, board member Losano >> I. >> Board member Smith, >> I'd like to be clear. Uh, what exactly? >> Yes. So, >> yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I >> board member Lopez. >> I board member. >> Nay. >>

088Board member Boy. >> Yes. >> Board member Wallace. >> Abstain. Board member Cluster. >> I member Pope abstain. >> Board member Rosenfeld. >> Yes. >> Board member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Board member Brown. >> No. >> Board member Rio. >> Nay. >> Board member Bannon. No >> vice president Bautista. >> No. >> Board member Gutierrez. >> I >> board member Biggs. >> Yes. >> Board member Thorakora. >> No. >> Board member Blae. >> No. >> Board member Zakor. >> No. >> Board member the Berry. >> No. Um, we do have a ties 992. So, President Harden, we would need you to cast a vote for division of question. >> No, >> it's nine A's, 10 Nazs, two abstensions. This motion has failed of adoption. We will go back to the motion on the table which

089board member Brown did. >> There's an opportunity for discussion. >> Yes. Um so as a former principal um I know how critical it is that our school leaders have both the opportunity um and also the challenge of hiring their team. Um it's a really delicate balance to be able to ensure that um your school uh represents the needs of your students and your families. And so I am concerned by the single sentence or the single portion of a sentence in this amendment that suggests that there would be corresponding opportunities for employment for qualified EPIC staff in open positions at such receiving schools uh without the discretion of the school leader. And so for that reason, because that statement still exists in the amendment, I cannot support it. >> Member Bann um correct me if I'm

090wrong, but this amendment was reviewed by legal. Um, yes, board member Bannon, we did review it uh today and I sent um a communication to board members this afternoon which contained um privilege communications regarding the legal risks associated with the amendment. >> Thank you, >> member Gopez. >> Thank you, board president. I'm just um reading here the language before me. And the way that I'm reading it, it states uh identifying and sharing information about open positions within CPS for which they may be eligible to apply consistent with district hiring procedures and requirements, including identifying which schools are receiving EPIC students. This the way I read it, it does not guarantee any positions. Just letting them know what is available, going them through the process of applying. That's it. >> Mr. President, >> hold on one

091second. Member [clears throat] Boys, I want to Yes. >> Um, board member Lopez just said what I was going to say. I think it's um I think it's important that we acknowledge and respect principal discretion and and it's important that we are sensitive to that and that we maybe we need to check in language and so forth with you. But also I think the um the heart of of of this um the heart of this language is in an effort to try to keep Epic School and their teachers together. So if there's a place where a lot of kids go, we hope that some of the teachers will be able to be hired. Um, so once again, I thank board member Brown for bringing this last week when when nobody was talking about Epic at

092all where it was just going to pass and roll through. I appreciate you for stopping and making sure that we have a conversation about it. And I love in fact all the engagement that is happening as a result of your introjection into last week's board meeting when Epic was just going to sail through unnoticed. So I appreciate you for that and um thank you uh board uh President Kia for making sure that we remember the principles. >> Member Zach. Yeah, I just want to expand on that a little bit. Um, so right now um principles uh interview displaced teachers as part of the um process of hiring someone new. They're not required to hire a given displaced teacher, but they do offer them an interview. I think this is really very similar, right? they are

093they are going to offer an interview to um teachers that are from uh Epic or from another school in a similar situation. It doesn't require them to hire that person, but we want them to have those opportunities and that is what is stated in this um resolution. So I think it says opportunities, it says available positions, it doesn't um offer any sort of requirement. Um, so I I think you know, good to raise the concerns, but I don't I I think that this meets those concerns. Liz, can I ask you to offer your interpretation on the language if it is being directive in that requiring that principles hire the way that it's written? >> So, I don't want to provide any sort of legal advice on the record, um, President Harden. Um, but I'm happy

094to do so outside of the public realm. Um, only because I don't want to wave uh attorney client privilege. >> Understood. >> Member Kuster. >> I'd like to make a motion for a fivem minute recess so that board members can read their email um and seek counsel. >> I second. I will proceed with a roll call vote. >> For member Losano, >> no. >> Board member Smith. >> Hi. >> Board member Lopez. >> I. >> Board member. >> No. >> Board member Bole. >> Yes. >> Board member Wallace. >> No. >> Board member Kuster. Yes. For member Pope. >> For member Rosenfeld, >> yes. >> Or member Rivas, >> yes. >> Or member Brown, >> no. >> Board member Rio Sierra, >> no. >> Board member Bannon, >> yes. Vice President Bautista. >> No. >>

095Or member Gutierrez. >> I member Biggs. >> Yes. >> Or member Dodakora. >> No. >> Or member Blae. >> No. >> Or member Zachor. >> No. >> Or member the Berry. >> No. President Harden, it is 10 A Z Naz. You would have to cast a vote. >> We'll take a fivem minute recess. >> This motion has is adopted. We will now be take a recess. Can you please strike your gavl? The special board meeting of the board of education is reconvened. President Harden, um the floor is still open up for discussion from the last motion to amend from board member Brown. I would like to make a motion. Am I recognized? >> The motion is it to amend the amendment? >> Yes. To amend um board member Brown's amendment. >> Can I am I

096recognize? Okay. Um striking the words higherforming and corresponding. >> And this is on the charter renewal proposal. >> Yes. Um the second paragraph just for everyone it's after to all Epic students at district run school and opportunities for employment. Is there a second? >> We have a second. >> I second. C can we clarify? Are we just striking those particular words and then can we read it as proposed with that amendment because I don't think it'll make sense if we just strike those words. >> Um okay. striking. Um, yeah, it does add. So the that sentence would read, "The transition plan will provide opportunities to maximize stability and continuity for Epic families and qualified staff, including but not limited to allowing maintenance of the school community by offering enrollment to all Epic students at a

097district-run school and opportunities for Epic or opportunities for opportunities for um employment for qualified EPIC staff and open positions at such a receiving school. >> Thank you. I will President Harden um this amend this motion can be discussed if not I can take a roll call vote. >> Is there any discussion on this? >> You can take a you can take a vote. Thank you. >> Just to clarify I am taking a vote to remove high performing and corresponding from the pre previous amendment for member Losano. Just want to say thank you. Um, so as I'm listening to it, I'm just wondering if my fellow board members are hearing what I'm hearing. >> I I I can support if this will get us to a resolution, I can support it. But historically, 88% of the

098vict the people that have been impacted by school closings have been black students. Mo the overwhelming majority of those students did not go to a better school. Now, if we want to strike the word high performing, I get it. But I'm I'm raising this with this body. How do we make sure that a child doesn't go from one school that's that's that's closing his doors in the middle of the night and then they end up at a school that's going to be in discussions for school closings the next year. This has happened over and over and over and over again and and you know so this is this is the concern. Now, if if that's acceptable, then say that. But if what I just shared with you is not acceptable, then what we're asking the

099district for is by December 19th, what is the strategy? What is the plan to make sure that that does not happen? So, if this language moves forward, there is a date of December 19th on this resolution. Where is the commitment to make sure that that doesn't happen? And then we just go on like, you know, we're really putting children first except for the melanated babies. That's not acceptable. And so, if I understand thing correctly, that's what I'm raising. And I'm I'm looking at our superintendent because, you know, um I know that you you you know, you are a person that can actualize kind of what we talking about, sis. But that's the concern that I'm raising. like I don't see anything that's going to stop this practice that has happened over and over again. And

100so I can agree to this if by December 19th there's a plan that could come to us that clearly says that just like we heard those those child arts babies and a lot of those folks look like us but a lot of them didn't. What are we going to say to those epic families that that says that they are just as valued, just as heard, where they can get up and they can applaud at the end of our conversation and that's it. So, Mama Lozano, I can I can agree to this. If the December 19th date is a day that we'll have a concrete plan on how this will happen, I can I can go with it. That's in the uh resol. It's in the language >> to the amendment of the other. >> I

101think we're on my amendment striking high performing and corresponding. And I I I can speak to like why that is because I I 100% board member Brown. That's like the history. At the same time, high performing insinuates that there's schools that are not high performing, that we are disadvantaging. Well, we as a board have all um made efforts to look at the root causes of why schools are not quotequote, >> why they struggling. Yeah. >> So, that is the intention of um striking the language based on some of the concerns that were brought up. Um but I agree with you 100% on we need to recognize that when there is a closure, it is it is not fair for kids to be sent to schools um that do not provide them with the same opportunities.

102And I hope that this plan will account for that. Mr. President. >> Yes. >> Uh yeah, I just want to reiterate what uh member Dr. Kora brought up and respond that you know parents choose different schools for different reasons. What one person may consider high performing may be subjective to another person. I speak with parents who send their children to a school because it's the safest school in the district for their kid to go to even though another school may have better academics. I perceive uh our job as stewards of the system to make all schools high performing if a school is not meeting uh the standards it needs to meet. That is why now elected board members collaborate with communities and prayerful prayerfully more so with one another. Uh so that's my objection. It's

103not that we want a child to go to a bad school. We want a child to go to the school their parent wants them to go to. And as CPS, we we are governors now. We're not just activists. We are advocates and we are stewards. It is our job to read the data and ensure with the district that all schools perform well. Thank you. >> You have any other comments? >> I will proceed with a roll call vote. >> Please do. >> And this will be just to clarify the amendment that board member Dodakora did. So, board member Losano, >> I. >> Board member Smith, >> I. >> Board member Lopez, >> I. >> Board member, >> I. >> Board member Boy, >> yes. >> Board member Wallace, >> I. >> Board member Kuster, >>

104I. >> Board member Pope, >> yes. >> Board member Rosenthal, >> yes. Board member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Board member Brown. >> Ma'am. >> Board member Rio. >> I. >> Board member Bannon. >> I. >> Vice President Bautista. >> Yes. >> Board member Gutierrez. >> I. >> Board member Biggs. >> Yes. >> Board member Thora. >> Yes. >> Board member Blae. >> I. >> Board member Zack. Yes. >> Or member Dberry >> I. >> 20 A's zero A zero abstension. This motion is adopted by the board. Now the floor is back open with the amend with the amendment that board member Brown did, but it removes high performing and corresponding. If you're ready for a roll call vote, I will take a roll. >> Yes, please move forward with the roll call vote >> for

105the amendment. Okay. >> Board member Losano. >> Yes. >> Board member Smith. >> I. >> Board member Lopez. >> I. >> Board member. >> Yes. >> Bo member Bole. >> Yes. >> Board member Wallace. I >> board member Kuster. I >> board member Pope. >> Yes. >> Board member Rosenfeld. >> Yes. >> For member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Board member Brown. >> For member Rio, >> I >> member Bannon. >> Hi. >> Vice President Bautista. >> Yes. >> Board member Gutierrez. >> Hi. >> Board member Biggs. >> Yes. >> Board member Thorakora. >> Yes. >> Board member Blae. >> I. or member Sakor. >> Yes. >> Or member Dberry >> I. >> 20 A's, zero nays, zero abstensions. This motion is adopted by the board. Um, now I will take a roll call vote with

106the amended language. So we will now vote on 251030 EX1 amended board report 2550424-EX7 authorized renewal of Epic Academy Charter High School agreement with with conditions with the amended language. I will proceed with a roll call vote. >> Board member Losano. >> Yes. >> Board member Smith. >> I. >> Board member Lopez. >> I. >> Board member. >> Yes. >> Board member Boy. >> Yes. >> Board member Wallace. >> Hi. >> Board member Kuster. >> Hi. >> Board member Pope. >> Yes. Board member Rosenfeld. >> Yes. >> Board member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Board member Brown. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Board member Rioa. >> I. >> Board member Bannon. >> I. >> Vice President Bautista. >> Yes. >> Can you repeat that again, please? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Member. >> I. >> For

107member Vigs. >> Yes. >> For member Toakora. Yes. >> Bo member Blae. >> I board member Sakor. >> Yes. >> Board member Dberry. >> 200 Z. Nay. Zero abstensions. This motions adopted by the board. For the record, the final will be included in the agenda of action. >> President Harden, there are no further items on the public agenda. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to adjurnn? So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I. We arejourn. Thank you everyone. >> Bye.