001President Harden, before you begin today's meeting, I would like to read a few announcements. >> Good morning. Welcome to the October 30th, 2025 special board meeting. Before we start the meeting, I would like to share a few safety points and next meeting announcements. Please note that the primary exit and entrance to the boardroom is the door which you use to enter this morning. If you're leaving the room, please use this door. The restrooms are outside the boardrooms to your left. During the meeting, we ask that you keep all aisles and exits clear. If you need any assistance during the meeting, please wave the attention of one of our security officers. Mark your calendars for the upcoming meetings. We will have a special board meeting that is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.
002Note that the November and December meetings are consolidated and will be held in December. The next ARC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 18th, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. The ARC and board meetings and special board meeting 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, cpsb.org. If you have any questions about registration or public public participation, please contact the board office for assistance. Thank you for joining us today. President Harden and we are now ready for you to begin the meeting. >> Good morning everyone. Welcome to the Chicago Board of
003Education special meeting. Today is October 30th, 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 CPS Loop office, 42 West Madison Street, Garden Level. I'd like to note that the board members and senior leadership are physically present in the boardroom. 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 Thursday, October 30th, 2025 is hereby called to order. Board secretary, please call the role. Thank you. Member Smith, >> present. >> Member Lopez, >> present. >> Member VeZ, >> present. >> Member Bole, >> here. >> Member Wallace, >> present. >> Member Kuster, >> present. >> Member Pope, >> here.
004>> Member Rosenfeld here. >> Member Rivas >> here. >> Member Brown here. Member Rio Sierra. Member Bannon >> present. >> Member Biggs >> present. >> Member Thorakura >> here. >> Member Blae >> present. >> Member Zachor >> here. >> Member Loausano. President Harden >> present. >> We have 18 members present. We do have a quorum. I'd also like I'm sorry member Gutierrez who's joining virtually via Zoom >> present. >> Thank you. 19 members present. We do have a quorum. I'd also like to recognize Libby Massie, managing deputy general counsel and Dr. Alfonso Carmona, chief education officer. >> The order of meeting will be as follows. We'll begin with cold session. We'll reconvene from coal session. We'll recess, reconvene from recess, go into public participation, discussion of public agenda items, vote on public agenda items, and
005then adjourn. We'll now move into executive session. Board member Blae, do you have motion? >> I sure do. I move for the passage of motion number 25-1030-1 and the commencement of a closed session to consider matters permitted under section 2C of the open meetings act subsection one as specified in the motion. >> Is there a second? >> I second the motion. >> Thank you. I'll proceed with a roll call. Member Loausano. >> Yes. >> Member Smith. >> I. >> Member Lopez. I >> member VeZ. >> Yes. >> Member Bole. >> Yes. >> Member Wallace. >> I member Kuster. >> I. >> Member Pope. >> Yes. >> Member Rosenfel. >> Yes. >> Member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Member Brown. >> Member Rio. >> Hi. >> Member Bannon. >> I. >> Member Gutierrez. >> Hi. >> Member
006Biggs. >> Yes. >> Member Thorakura. >> Yes. >> Member Blae. I. >> Member Zachor. >> Yes. 18 eyes, zero nazs. This motion is adopted by the board. >> This meeting will now go into close session. >> Good afternoon. The special board meeting of the board of education is reconvened. Board secretary, please proceed. >> President Harden Harden, I would like to note for the record that there are no items to vote on from executive session. >> Board member Kuster, do you have a motion to withdraw recess? I do. I make a motion to withdraw the recess from the agenda. >> Is there a second? >> So second. >> Thank you. I'll proceed with a roll call. Member Lozano. >> Present. >> Is that an I or a yes to withdraw? >> I'm sorry. Yes. >> Thank
007you. 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. >> Member Rio Sierra. >> I. >> Member Bannon. >> I. >> Vice President Bautista. >> Yes. >> Member Gutierrez. >> I. >> Member Biggs. >> I. >> Member Thorakura. >> Yes. >> Member Blae. >> I. >> Member Zachor. >> Yes. >> Member Deberry. >> I. >> 19 eyes's zero nazs. This motion is adopted by the board. 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 the portion of
008the board meeting or hearing that grants district stakeholders the opportunity to address the board with their concerns and comments. Note that public participation is the time for the board 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 provides us as board members as well as senior leadership an opportunity to listen to everyone who has signed to speak. The 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
009other spaces for authentic dialogue. For example, each and every one of the board members host board office hours so that we can have a conversation. Please use our website cpsb.org or if you want to meet with a board member during office hours. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to meet with board members outside of the board meeting. We thank you for your attention and consideration. And 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. Board Secretary, please share the rules of poll participation. >> Thank you, President Harden. Members of the public who registered to speak were given the option to intend attend in person or via electronic format. For
010those who prefer to attend via electronic format, they were given information to access this meeting by dialing a number and using their phone. We did this so that speakers with limited or no access to the internet or who may have weak internet connection could still participate using their phones. Also, members of the public may submit written comments for board of education meetings via the written comments form on the board's website at cpsb.org or mailed to 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 meeting will be submitted to the board and published within five business days on our website at cpsboe.org. Speakers, please listen while I provide directions for public participation. I will call your name and
011number when it is your turn to speak. For speakers joining us virtually, as a reminder to unmute, please enter star six. Once you hear your name, please state your name for the record. I will then start the two-minute timer. When there are 30 seconds remaining, I will inform you so that you can proceed to conclude your remarks to allow for the next speaker to begin. For anyone standing with the speaker, note that in order to comply with the city's fire code, please stand along the glass partitions on the mark spots to keep aisles clear. Thank you. And President Harden, before we begin calling speakers from the speakers list, we do have union reps who would like to address the board. We'll begin with Jen Conan, CTU Charter Division Chair, who is here in person. Good
012afternoon, members of the board. Today, you are being asked to vote on the closure of Epic Academy and on providing additional support to ensure Epic can successfully finish the school year. You have heard me advocate repeatedly for additional support to ensure EPIC has a successful end to the year. So, I'm glad to see that reflected in the amended board report that's on the agenda today. However, there seems to be no proposal for how CPS might recoup the additional funds provided or on how to hold Epic Academy responsible for their financial choices. There is a clear way to do this. It is to ensure that any funds or profit from the sale of EPIC's additional school property go back to the district. CPS funds provided to EPIC were used to purchase that property and those funds
013and any additional profit should go back to the district and ideally would follow Epic students. For example, if EP epic students and staff move to a new school together, those funds could provide additional resources to help with the transition and to ensure students have the support they need to succeed. This brings us to my second and even bigger concern. The proposal before you today is asking you to close a school with no plan for the future of those students or their school community. And these are CPS students. There has been no engagement by CPS with the epic school community. And let's not pretend that engagement is impossible because CPS has certainly engaged with families at Shy Arts on the other side of the city. Shyart's parents received three emails in the last week letting them
014know when the board would be voting on the future of the school and inviting them to a town hall afterwards. Epic parents have received zero communication from CPS since September 12th when CPS sent a letter saying that the school was closing and might even close midy year. And saying that public comment during these board meetings is sufficient is laughable. Most parents at Epic are working during this time and are not able to attend. And the ones who do have the ability to call in have not been chosen to speak. Not last week nor today. So I'm calling on this board to either vote down or significantly amend the proposal on Epic before you today. Ensure that the Epic community has a say in what happens next and ensure that there is a plan that provides
015as much stability for the Epic community as possible. Whether that's taking over management of the school or moving students and staff together as a community to another school, school closures are devastating and this board has an opportunity and a responsibility to mitigate the damage. Finally, I want to talk to you about Aspira. Aspira schools are facing significantly decreased enrollment over the last couple years and an operating deficit for this year. And now Espira is planning significant cuts to staffing in the middle of quarter two. These cuts will likely further destabilize these schools. We have lots of questions about how Aspira got to this point. Like if enrollment and budgets were down, why weren't their layoffs considered over the summer? Why were these specific educators cut? For example, two out of four pair of professionals at
016a sphere of business and finance are being cut, meaning the school will no longer be able to provide all of the legally required services to students. So, why were they cut? The only full-time ESL teacher at ABF was originally slated to be cut as well. After we raised concerns about the school not being able to provide legally required ESL services, she was recalled. The haphazard nature of these cuts coming in the middle of a school year is very concerning. I also want to flag that the secretary of CTu's charter division has been singled out for layoff despite being one of the most senior members at Aspira and despite his role being essential. He is the credit recovery coordinator at Pentoha, an alternative high school. Credit recovery at alternative schools is essential, but Aspira plans to
017cut his role with no clear plan for how to provide services in the future. So, let's call this what it is. Retaliation for speaking out previously about concerns he had with how Aspiro is being managed. Given the destabilizing and haphazard nature of the cuts at Aspira and given the potential cuts to critical legally required services, we are calling on this board and CPS to step in and provide additional support and oversight. Please intervene to ensure stability schools communities and to ensure that these schools don't suffer more cuts that could lead to school closures. And again, I urge you today to be thoughtful about the board report on Epic before you. Please stand up for the students and the educators in that building. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. The next union rep is
018Vicky Cursillo, CTU recording secretary. Good afternoon. I am Vicki Kridlo, special education teacher on leave, serving as the recording secretary for the Chicago Teachers Union. I'm back again today to speak with you on behalf of our 30,000 CTU members and the students and families we all serve. These are critical times for those of us who are in position of public service in Chicago. Our city and our state are under attack by a federal administration determined to dehumanize and punish black le cities, black and brown communities and all who believe in a multi-racial democracy. And our children and our entire school communities, parents, neighbors, and school staff are in the crosshairs. As I said at last week's meeting, we must and we can do more in this moment to address the multiple threats facing our students.
019Whether it's school closures by charter operators, the pending loss of SNAP benefits, the trauma caused by ICE and federal agents terrorizing our communities, or the persistent refusal of some elected officials to fully fund our schools. We appreciate this week's engagement by the district and our other labor siblings on creating a more robust response to the impacts of the Trump administration's attacks on our neighborhoods and school families. And we need to do more. More to connect with schools hurting and trauma traumatized from ICE attacks. More is required from us to survey the families most impacted and determine their educational needs. And now with SNAP benefits being cut, how to ensure all of our students who depend on school lunch and breakfast will now need additional help. We must coordinate with city agencies, labor, and community outreach
020to maximize mutual aid in this moment, including, but not limited to ensuring our students most impacted are getting access to doortodoor transit when needed for our students and educators at Epic, Espira, and Chai Arts Charter Schools. I was here last meeting to request that this board take responsibility, increase oversight, and take care of keeping these CPS communities whole. You have to decide whether you are going to allow those charters, those charter operators to close schools, lay off teachers, and make cuts to students with no input from parents, students, or educators. Today, you vote on Epic. The district has the responsibility to see that Epic students receive the best option and a voice for their community. You have a responsibility to make sure the private operators who've ignored your constituents are not let off the hook
021and not sent on their way with even more district funds while they leave our students on the side of the road. You all heard from alderman before the CPS budget vote that they would provide the largest tiff surplus possible. Now our mayor is helping them keep their promise. They need to hear from all of us in one voice that we need the city council to keep their commitment. The alternative is midyear cuts. It's inevitable. We all know that that can't be allowed. We will be sending each of you a tool the union has developed that illustrates how many students and how many positions would be lost in your district schools if we don't advocate successfully together so that you can see the impact of the districts that you represent. I was heartened to see board
022members stand up for our district yesterday in Springfield. I loved standing shouldertosh shoulder with you. I hope we can do more of that partnership. Our future and our children's future depends on it. Are we going to allow the billionaires and the wealthiest corporations to drive the direction of our country and our state? You have 30 seconds remaining. Or are we going to work together to really lead in this moment and choose fully funded schools, parks, and libraries for our students, healthc care and transit for our families? Now is the time of crisis, but it doesn't have to be. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. The next union rep is Tummaine Reeves, SEIU Local 73 director for the CPS division. Good afternoon, President Harden, board members, Dr. King. Um, you know, kind of want
023to start off talking about the current climate, which is very, very awful with what's going on on how our communities are being terrorized. Uh but one of the bright spots in that is how the district is handling it within their scope of what they are able to do and keeping the schools safe. Uh grateful for the district to listening to the suggestion of creating an additional guideline of safety protocols when transitioning students from the buses to the schools and vice versa. Uh but realizing that there's only so much that the district can do. Um but there is a need to do more. One suggestion that we have for you is to take a look at the school code where there's currently a prohibition on firearms within so many feet of school grounds. Look at that
024language and we're asking for the district to create a policy to kind of mimic that and restricting the presence of ice also within that, you know, square foot or however distance from school grounds. That could be an additional way of providing protection for the students of the district. Another thing we want to speak on, we know that there's discussion on going to remote learning for the district. Um, while we are sensitive to this current climate and things that's going on, we ask that you just be just kind of more thoughtful. Don't be so reactive. We're asking that the district survey the parents to see how they would be impacted. See what kind of buyin that they have. What support do they need? Do they agree with that? Does it need to be a thing where
025only a certain percentage of the population needs to have the option or does it need to be everyone? But before you make that decision, we ask that parents be surveyed in that. Um, and the final thing I want to speak to is the IGA. um with the city. We're just asking that before any decisions are made that you just ask questions that you think things through. Think about the long-term impact. Many of you are coming into some inherited problems based on decisions that were made. And I believe everybody in your panel has the best of intentions. And so also think about the decisions that you make. You don't want someone coming behind you saying, "Oh, now we inherited this." So, just kind of ask questions on what precedent does it set if currently the law
026calls for whenever a tiff surplus is declared that Chicago public schools gets 52% of that t of that surplus uh before signing anything. What precedent are you now setting that could set up future restrictions for the quality of education of students? um also uh provide some answers to the public on these things on the impact that it has uh before making such decisions. You guys have not walked into an easy task at all. Uh this is been talking with our members. This has been the craziest school year so far with so much happening at one time. But just know that you know you have a partner in SEIU Local 73 and we encourage you to think things through. Don't be reactive. Even if you have the best of intentions, communicate with parents, communicate with staff,
027communicate with your labor partners. Uh make this a collaborative effort. Um but thank you all for all that you do. >> Thank you for your comments, President Harden. We are now ready to call speakers from the speakers list and we will begin with cell UR number eight who's joining us virtually. Please enter star six to unmute. Good afternoon doctors and board members. I am so sorry that interamerican community must must once again return to you with the same concerns. But please tell us what else can we do? We consider we consider ourselves partners with you in supporting our students and and for over a year we have respectfully and consistently asking the removal of principal Juan Carlos. This this request has not been made lightly. We have taken every step required by CPS protocols, an
028LSC vote of no confidence, a form more charges and months of waiting for resolution. Yet here we are still in a limbo, astonished by the ongoing in inaction from CBS. Now as a as our as our city faces unpresidential unpredictment emergency, our school community remains without leadership it urgently needs. Families and students do not feel safe. CPS continues to say that schools are the safest places for children. But how can that be true when our school leader refuses to meet with the sanctuary team or commu communicate with families during crisis? We have no doubt that CPS We have no doubt the CPS legal department has already found charges the charges be valid. No, no parent would devote their time months after months to raise false allegations. We are simply asking that CPS to act on
029the evidence gathered or already gathered. Please do not allow this situation to continue. Our students and families are paying a high price every day. This leader remains in place. Thank you, Dr. Oh, Dr. King. The investig investigation concludes months ago. unacceptable unacceptable solutions persist because this is not the right leader for our school. We urge you to make the recommendation to remove principal Juan Carlos from Interamerican and provide our community with leadership that can be restored safely, trust and stability. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. The next speaker is uh Tomas Castrahan, speaker number three. Good afternoon members. My name is Tomas Caseron and I'm an ESL teacher at Aspir Early College High School. Just alone this year, I have one student in a detention center, a student seeking help to find their
030uncle who has been kidnapped over this weekend. another student who boarded a bus to Mexico on Monday because their father was kidnapped as well and countless students who fear leaving their homes due to the current climate in Chicago. Today, my students had their schedules changed and I had to explain layoffs and fiscal responsibility because my students fear another charter closure due to association. These layoffs have not stopped the Aspir College body from being active and early college students started a petition to keep their counselor so they have a point of contact when applying to colleges and scholarships for the first time in a new country and a new language. As for myself, I've had to make new connections to help my students navigate the broken immigration system. Miss Gordonado and I created ICE protocols and
031Miss Bondi and I canvas our neighborhoods to distribute recruitment flyers to increase enrollment. This is what teachers do because we care for every student. As a CPS graduate of immigrant parents, I stand in front of my students to say cis. Unfortunately, these words are no longer possible when a spir is in red and cannot assure my students what their safe haven may exist in the future. This coupled with three Aspir board meetings where not enough members have attended to have a quorum or simply canceled make me question their dedication to Aspira. My ask for you is to have more oversight over Aspira to ensure transparency when dealing with our school's future because our students see our schools as a safe haven, not just a school. >> Thank you for your comments. The next speaker is
032Claude Holmes, speaker number 10. Good afternoon to the board. We the Aspir educators and parents are here today because we are deeply concerned about upcoming mid-carter layoffs and the serious impact that they will have on our schools. Cutting staff during the middle of the semester not only disrupts instruction but leaves some big unanswered questions like who will teach ESL to newcomer students once their teacher is gone or like my role as credit recovery coordinator which is essential to Pantoa's high school graduation rate and credit attainment. How will students make up their credits once I am gone? The spear is moving forward without a clear plan and thereby risks its students ability to graduate. Now, instead of waiting until the end of semester 1, giving time to improve students recruitment efforts and allowing staff to complete
033their curriculum, Aspir has chosen to cut now. This short-sighted decision will likely hurt student outcomes and drive enrollment even lower. And to make matters worse, we've been told that there may be even more layoffs ahead with no transparent timeline. Now, let's be clear. We are in this position because of a failure of leadership. Aspira must have known that there were budget and enrollment concerns this summer, but they waited until weeks into the school year to make those cuts, creating more harm, not less. A spear has also not implemented an effective recruiting or fundraising plan, and we do not have confidence in the current network strategy. Now, I know that all schools, charter, and district alike, need more funding. And just yesterday, I attended lobby day with my union siblings. >> You have 30 seconds. where
034it was a fantastic opportunity to reach out to politicians in an effort to fight for such funding and I do encourage more people to take part in it as it was a pleasure a pleasure to see a few board members do so as well. Now position aside though I'm appreciative as to what I've accomplished during my 14 years of tenure with Aspira. I feel that there is much more needed to do especially given the federal uh climate that we're going through and our educators at Aspira love our schools. We want our schools and students to have a stable and secure future, but Aspira seems unable to do that on their own, which is why we're asking the CPS board to step in and to pro provide additional support and oversight. And whether or not my
035employment is recalled with this spirit network, I intend to commit my time to making sure that Dr. Antonio Pantoas dream of creating educational and economic opportunities for the Puerto Rican community, the city of Chicago, and beyond is fulfilled. And I mean just that. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. The next speaker is Iola Shawala, speaker number five. Good afternoon members of the board. My name is Ayola Shiala and I have proudly served as a diverse learner teacher for over 15 years. In that time, I've worked with hundreds of students who have overcome challenges and achieved success because of the supports, structure, and commitment provided by their teachers. And Epic Academy stands as a shining example of that dedication. At Epic Academy, my colleagues and I strived every single day to create a safe,
036nurturing, and inclusive environment where students not only feel supported, but generally valued. Our classrooms are built on trust, consistency, and high expectations. The foundation our students need to reach their potential. Many of our graduates return to the school not because they have to but because they want to. They come back to thank their teachers to say that encouragement, that patience and belief we had in them all made the difference in their success. These moments are living proof that the work being done at EP Academy is transforming lives. Our diverse learner population is making progress because of the specialized services, individualized instruction, and emotional support we provide on a daily basis. These students are meeting goals and in some cases they're even exceeding seconds remaining. >> Preparing for college, careers, and life beyond high school. To
037discont to discontinue funding for Epic Academy would mean disrupting a safe space and has sorry disrupting a safe space that has proven results and deeply impact student growth. I urge you to continue funding Epic Academy through the 202526 school year so we can continue to provide highquality education, compassion, and consistency that our students and community deserve. Thank you for your time and consideration and your vote to keep Epic Academy open for the remainder of the year. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. The last speaker is Andrew Escalante, speaker number nine. Good afternoon. My name is Andrew Escalante. I'm a social studies teacher and boy soccer coach at Epic Academy. Epic is a community. It's seeing fellow staff pull into the lot at 7 a.m. It's our principal greeting students as they walk through
038the doors. It's the soccer team stopping by your class in between periods just to annoy you and to show they care. It's staff bringing in donuts for each other. It's students anxious about a math test and excited for the weekend. We are people and as people, we deserve honesty, stability, and a voice in what happens to us. Since the email that went out on September 12th, the Epic community has heard nothing from CPS. No followup, no plan, no conversation. The silence has been maddening. We're trying to teach, to coach, to hold our school together. And at the same time, we cannot tell families with 100% certainty that we'll make it to the end of the year. I'm grateful that CPS is at least proposing committing the resources needed to ensure we finish the school year
039because closing mid year would be devastating. Our seniors deserve to cross the stage surrounded by the people that help them get there. But currently CPS is proposing no plan for students, no plan for families, no plan for staff, no effort to keep the community together. And it's frustrating to see other schools like Shy Arts be included in conversations about their future while epic families have been left out completely. >> We haven't received a single email. We haven't heard from the chief portfolio officer or the board member who represents our district asking us what we want to have happen next. I'm not asking you to not approve the language CPS is proposing today. Instead, I'm asking you to demand more. Demand a plan that protects this community, whether that means CPS take over management or allows
040our students and staff to move together as one. Because our students deserve more than just CPS co-signing on the closure of the school. Because Epic isn't just a school building. It's people. It's relationships. It's families. And families deserve a future. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments, >> President Harden. This concludes public participation. >> And I do want to note for the record that Elizabeth Barton, acting general counsel, Dr. Alonso Carmona, acting chief education officer, and Charles Mayfield, chief operating officer, all joined the ME meeting at 3:45 p.m. Think we're ready to proceed with the vote on the public agenda item unless there are some questions or comments. or secretary, please proceed. >> Oh, I have a >> you do. >> Yeah, I have a comment. >> Please. >> I just want to make
041a few comments around the IG and our decision to sign an IG right now >> because I wanted to be clear that this is not around is not without real Sacrifices that direct directly will affect our students. It absolutely takes dollars away from the classrooms and school communities who need our support now more than ever. Um, in recent months, we have heard from families and educators across our district. Families from Acero, Epic, Shy Arts have come to us and pleaded to keep their schools open. Custodial staff have asked us to preserve their jobs after positions were cut. Parents have asked us to restore ESL tutoring programs for their children. and families across the city have called for more safe passage support as immigration enforcement and custom border patrol activities have left many afraid to even
042go to school. We've also heard fears about crossing guard positions that were eliminated, positions that are critical to student safety. I am concerned that we're doing this without having a concrete plan from the city detailing how it will disentangle its operations from Chicago public schools moving forward. So, while I'll support this agreement to honor the commitments made, I want the record to reflect that I am doing this at a time when our students and our families need every possible dollar of support. >> Member Lopez. >> Thank you, board president. Um, I also just want to confirm for the record that I am understanding correctly what I'm voting on. Uh this agreement is just applies for this fiscal year. Correct. >> That is correct. >> Okay. Um and also if CPS does not receive the $8
043million from the federal government, then that can be subtracted if we were to receive more than 379 from the city. >> Can you restate that again? Um, so if CPS does not receive the 8 million in federal magnet school assistance programs, we can reduce the reimbursement to the city by that same amount. >> That's correct. >> Okay. And then uh just to be clear, the reduction only applies to the magnet school program funding. So if CPS were to experience any other reductions in the federal programs, for example, Title One, English learners, or special education, this will not apply. and will not decrease the reimbursement. >> That is also correct. >> Um I also want to state, you know, this is something that as a board we voted on and it's important that we keep our
044award um since we voted on this budget. Um that this is for this year, but we need to have a longer conversation with among all of us in the board and also with the city to see what the long-term plan is regarding the reimbursement moving forward after this year. And the other is also as a board and board uh board president Sean Harden has mentioned this, how do we um are able to keep and add more sustainable long-term funding for our district. Uh thank you to all those board members that have engaged in conversations whether it be locally with their city council members, but also that have gone to Springfield to advocate. And as we are being faced with our pretty much the entire city being under attack and needing more support, uh it's a
045conversation that even now we it's more important than ever that we ask for that support. And thank you to Dr. King, her team who have already engaged in those conversations with the mayor's office. Thank you. >> Member Blaze. Um, I just want to underscore once again my appreciation to um, Mayor Brandon Johnson for um, giving us a record or proposing a record tiff surplus. Um, previous administrations have given CPS $90 million, hund00 million. Um but with a billion dollars in TIFF surplus, um CPS is is set up to fill the budget gap that we had for at least $379 million. [clears throat] And to board member Lopez's point, um, in during our negotiations, we brought up that the magnet school um, money could become an issue and, um, the mayor's office and his team were
046very receptive to helping us fill that hole. So, I I've said it before and I'll say it again. I think this IGA goes to us being good partners. We have a partner that wants to work with us. We have a partner who's willing to listen to us. We have a partner who is willing um to set his whole budget based on making sure that we have what we need. And so I'm proud of us um the folks that went and had a conversation. I'm proud of us, the folks that went down to state and we're asking for money. Um because we're all we're trying to be good partners across the board. We're trying to make friends. We're trying um we're trying to make sure that we bring home the bacon for CPS. We're trying to
047listen to community and incorporate them in the conversation. And this is an important step. As we all know, the past couple of years, the previous administration promised to give the city back money and they haven't. That's the only reason we have to do an IGA now because um we have shown ourselves to be a little a little bit funky in our path. So, I'm hoping that this reaffirms the commitment and the partnership between the city and CPS, and I hope that we can go forward together and and um talk to the state and that when if we do get um additional cuts from the federal government that we can reach out to our partners and that we'll have established a relationship that makes sure that we're all taken care of. So, thank you. >> Member
048Paul. >> Yes. I'd like to address the uh Epic uh situation. Uh and my concern is of course we have to give Epic money now. We cannot have schools closing and children tossed out midyear. Of course, we have to do that. I feel that it's very important though for us to go beyond just giving Epic stop gap money for this year. We need to work with the parents, work with the community, develop a plan for the students at Epic. I've heard things about possible transition to Southshore, various things. But we should be having something in and we should be holding meetings with these parents and with the community to see what is actually going to work out rather than just voting on a bailout >> thank you. Um, as we move to approve the intergovernmental
049agreement between CPS and the city, I just want to take a moment to highlight a couple of important points for the record. I want to highlight the fact that we're standing by the commitment that we made when we passed CPS's budget in August. This agreement codifies that we will provide additional funding that we receive over the 379 million back to the city of Chicago if the city council approves the 1 billion in TIFF surplus. I can't emphasize enough that we're making this decision in an incredibly difficult environment when there are countless programs and supports that our families need, many of which we've heard about today and could be supported with the money that will give back to the city. I've heard statements that the state owes CPS over a billion dollars and still were being
050asked to transfer $175 million back to the city of Chicago, not to help balance their budget, but as stated in recent budget hearings to allow the city to maintain a surplus. We as board members have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers to ensure CPS's budget is balanced. Our duty is to our students, our staff, and our schools. And so, while I'll vote in line with this commitment I made when voting to pass the budget in August, I'll also do that with really significant concern that we are not able to use these funds to support the myriad of things that our students and our schools so rightfully deserve. >> I'd like to give a opportunity for Chief Carmona to respond to some of the uh epic comments specifically. Uh thank you President Harden and uh first
051I wanted to clarify a couple of pieces. Uh there were uh three letters that were sent to Chai Arts regarding a town hall meeting that is coming up and there may be a discrepancy with the letters that we sent Epic. We sent more letters to Chai Arts because the date for the vote was changed. So we needed to ensure families were aware that the date of the vote was changed as well as the date of the town hall. So that's the reason why the families receive three letters. When it comes to charts, the families receive a letter on October the 20th. Uh it seems to me and we gave these letters to the epic leadership to pass those letters to the staff, but if the staff did not receive those letters, I'm going to apologize
052and you will receive those letters before this meeting ends. Um when it comes to uh a town hall meeting, we have a scheduled town hall meeting with Epic families on November the 4th in which we have all of the options available. We had look at all of the options. We included the option of Southshore. We have uh 168 students, I believe, that will have to transition uh from Epic, removing, of course, all of the 12th graders that we expect to graduate. And we have plenty of seats available in many of our schools. There's eight schools attending the high school fair. Uh and we have plenty of seats available uh in our schools for students to transition uh to those schools. Thank you, Chief. Maybe we can, as we talked about before, uh, post some of
053this some of these updates on our website. Member Brown. Uh, thank you, uh, President Harden. I'm concerned about um a school closing where um I know that there you know the University of Chicago many years ago said that every time a school closes a child loses 6 months to a year in academic growth. Despite that, this district went on a manic school closing frenzy. Um and we know that there are a few thousand young people that we still can't find today. So I think that if we are different um then there needs to be guarantees that children and families are going to be made whole. Arie Duncan introduced the turnaround schools as a response to the fight back against school closings. But then research showed that the the turnarounds were also a closing because if
054you replace the staff, the young people still have to adjust to that new staff. So we have to stop hustling with our children around these school closing issues. And I think what my concern I I know I'm not prepared to support a proposal un and I you know I have some language I like to propose but there needs to be a guarantee that these children and families are made whole that educators to the best degree possible can follow those children and then also that this charter operator cannot run off with the money. I just think it's it's responsible for us to have that position and we can't say that it won't happen because it's happened before and I I do think there's intent here to do right. So I I I would I'm just really
055concerned about that in regards to the impact that it has on communities. Um so I just want to offer that. That was it. >> Thank you. We now proceed with the vote on public agenda item. Board secretary, please proceed. >> Thank you, President Harden. I will proceed with the items on the public agenda. Read the board report number and title. These items do require a vote. EX1. EX1. Amend renewal of the Epic Academy Charter High School Agreement with President Harden. This amendment is necessary for the termination of the charter at the end of the 2526 school year as the school will cease operations and voluntarily return to return his charter on July 1st, 2026 with 1,400,000 in additional FY26 funding allocated to ensure successful windown and completion of the academic year. Additionally, for the record,
056this item was posted as a draft on agenda, and the item had an administrative error on page two in the renewal term section, third sentence, which should read, "The charter for this school shall be returned to the board effective as of July 1st, 2026. The final report will be included in the agenda of action. This item does require a vote." >> Is there a motion? So, moved. So, we have an amendment. >> Point of order. I'm I'm not I'm sorry. Um, can the motion be repeated? that and followed. >> It's been motioned and seconded. >> I'm I'm sorry. The proposal, can it be repeated? >> The amendment to the uh report that's being voted on? Is that what you want to report? Repeat it. Okay. This amendment is necessary for the termination of the charter
057at the end of the 2526 school year as the school will cease operations and voluntarily return his charter on July 1st, 2026 with 1,400,000 in additional FY26 funding allocated to ensure a successful windown and completion of the academic year. Additionally, for the record, this item was posted as draft on agenda and the item had an administrative error on page two in the renewal term section third sentence which should read, "The charter for this school shall be returned to the board effective as of July 1st, 2026. The final report will be included in the agenda of action and this item does require a vote." Um, chair, I want to move to make them an amendment to the proposal. >> Did a board member move the motion for the item? >> So, board member Rivas moved for
058the item and the second was board member >> and there's still space for discussion after a second. Is that accurate? You said you wanted to make a a motion to amend the report as it was posted. >> Yes. >> Is that my understanding? Yes. >> So, you're doing an intervening motion? >> Yes. >> So, board member Brown is motioning to amend the language by >> You got to say what you're >> I'm sorry. Say that again. You're making a motion to amend the language. And what is the amended language? >> Insert language. >> You wanted to insert language. And so what is the language? >> Yes, ma'am. At the conclusion of the where it says add the charter renewal proposal after it says July 1st, 2026. I would like to add the chief portfolio officer
059of the office of portfolio management will prepare the winddown plan in consultation with epic students, families, and staff. The windown plan will provide an opportunity to maximize stability and continuity of the school community to EPIC families and qualified EPIC staff, including but not limited to offers of enrollment to EPIC students at a high-erforming district-run school and corresponding offers of employment to qualified EPIC staff to follow the EPIC students to such a receiving school. The windown plan will be presented with the chief executive officer's recommendation to the board of education for consideration no later than December 3rd, 2025. And then I would also like to add language to the financial off uh to the financial section after the language all required activities for the 2526 academic year. I would like to add provided Epic Academy shall
060be required by December 31st, 2026 to repay the district from sources including but not limited to any proceeds from the sale of Epic Academy properties for the additional funding provided and all charter agreements between the date of this amendment and July 1st, 2026 or the repayment of the additional funds provided whichever is later. The district shall monitor the financial operations of Epic Academy, including but not limited to twice monthly reports from Epic Academy to the chief portfolio officer or their designate of all revenues and expenses and that would be the totality of the amendment. >> Did I need that? >> So, [clears throat] um I did not get all that as you read through it. I'm assuming I'm assuming >> I'm sorry. Assistant Secretary Speedw writer speed typer has caught it all. >> Oh, >>
061gratitude. Gratitude. >> I mean, salute. >> If you give us a minute, we're cleaning it up so that we can read it into record. >> Absolutely. Yeah. Can can uh >> do you have a folks who wrote this actually just send it around so we all see it? >> Do you have it electronically or do you have a hard copy of it? Board member Brown. >> I have it. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. So, we can make copies of it. >> Can you take it off of this? Oh, absolutely. >> Okay. While we wait, I did had a question of something was brought up in the public comment. I'm not sure if someone will have uh be able to provide a response. Uh, someone suggested regarding the epic um building if it gets sold. I'm now
062curious to hear more about that possibility. What does it look like? Can the district receive that money? Are there restrictions in place that prevent the district from receiving money from those sales? >> Uh, it's already in the agreement. Any unspent public funds must be returned to the district. So, if they sell the the building, uh, we'll have to I have to check with general counselor because I'm clear about the the if they sell the building, of course, we recoup the funding. I'm not not clear about if they don't sell the building, can we take ownership of the deed of the property? So, that's a piece I have to check with council. >> Exa. Thank you. That's what I was thinking. Once the school year wraps up and if the building is still unsold, what happens?
063Thank you. That's correct. We're having the intervening motion language printed out so that everybody has a copy of it and you can um review that before we move on. So the motion on the floor is to amend the language in the charter renewal proposal prop I'm sorry add to the charter renewal proposal. Is it the both sections? >> Yes, those two. >> So, this is already in the report and this is being added. >> Yes. >> So, the language that's being added that's uh on the floor is the two sections in red. First section is chief portfolio officer of the office of port portfolio management will prepare the windown plan in cons consultation with epic students families and staff. The windown plan will provide an opportunity to maximize stability and continuity of the school community
064to Epic families and qualified Epic staff, including but not limited to offers of enrollment to Epic students at a high performing district-run school and corresponding offers of employment to qualified EPIC staff to follow Epic students to such a receiving to such a receiving school. The windown plan will be presented with the chief executive officer's recommendation to the board of education for consideration no later than December 3rd, 2025. That is in section. Yeah. Okay. That's on page two in the charter renewal proposal section. The newest language is being added after the office of portfolio management um recommends paragraph in the financial section adding provided Epic Academy shall be required by December 31st, 2026 to repay the district from sources including but not limited to any proceeds from the sale of Epic Academy properties for the additional
065funding provided and all other district funding Epic Academy has received. but not spent in accordance with the term of its charter agreement. Between the date of this amendment and July 1st, 2026 or the repayment of the additional additional funds provided, whichever is later, the district may shall monitor the financial operations of Epic Academy, including but not limited to twice monthly reports from Epic Academy to the chief portfolio officer or their design of all revenues and expenses. And to be clear, it's in the fi that language is being added to the financial section after the within the paragraph of the authorization to wind down. I do want to note that board member Smith has joined the meeting at 4:46 p.m. Is there a second to the motion to amend the language of Epic Academy? >> Second.
066>> Courtney. President Harden, the floor um is open to discussion for the amended language. >> Thank you, board president. Um, we love being surprised with amendments. And so I guess um my my one question is has legal reviewed this and are we even specifically speaking to the financial section? Are we you know allowed to put terms like this in some kind of amendment? I mean I I have a lot of questions about um you know what we're allowed to put. I mean, the word we're giving them the money provided that they do something that we may not necessarily have control of. And I'm just curious if legal has had the opportunity to review it and and if this is a recommendation that we should make moving forward. No, I have not reviewed this. >> Member
067thor >> I think member Rivas was um before me. Is your mic on? Speak. >> I'm sorry. I'm I'm going by my >> got the list. >> Okay. Okay, I will go. Um I think that uh the concerns that were brought up during the public comment are addressed in the the language that Bormer Brown is um proposing and it's in line with some of the challenges that we've seen with previous um charter self-closure specifically around the need for a transition plan where we know where students are going and where staff is going as well. So I I would love to hear um Chief Carmona's feedback on that section of the language. Uh so this is the first amendment. So when it comes to offers of enrollment uh to EPIC students a high performing district run
068schools uh this is something that is actually required by the state and let me clarify when the district is not renewing a charter school. So when our we made the decision meaning the district in this case the board of education made the decision of not renewing a charter school. The district is required to transition those students to a schools that are considered high performing uh based on the index um and and this and the data from the state. That's not the case here. This is a self-closure of a charter school. So the district is not required to transition students to a high performing school. However, as district officials and what we're trying to do is to secure seats for students uh in a schools that are schools that are performing at high levels. We don't
069have a definition from that perspective as we used to have in SQRP, but we use the definition and the um the definition by the state when it comes to that. So, our goal is that's what I mentioned. we have a high school fair on November the 4th to have a students and options for students to register to some of those schools. So, uh from the perspective of how it's written, I don't see much of a problem, but I think it could open the door for potential issues in the future because if any situation like this happens again, the definition of high performing district run school could change uh in the future. So that's that's what I'm having an issue with. Um I think I think I don't have any problem with the idea of of
070collaborating with families. That's what we're doing once you take a vote uh on this item. When it comes to um employment and uh let me see corresponding offers of employment to qualify EPIC staff to follow EPIC students to such a receiving school. Uh I will have to ask council on this because I think this will be contradictory to an agreement that we have with CPIA in which principles have the autonomy to hire uh the staff uh when new positions are open. So if new positions are open because the students are transferring to those schools um the the principal's um union has a clause in their contract that establish that the principles have the autonomy to hire that staff. So that could be also contradictory uh to the spirit of an agreement that we have uh
071with uh a union. >> Thank you, Chief Carmon. I really appreciate um that insight cut off on the spot. Didn't mean to put you on the spot there, but appreciate it. And I think because the language is written with a focus on Epic and it is more about having a windown plan, not like a windown guarantee with each of these having to be 100% met. Um I'm comfortable with this language because again the goal is that we have a plan with this in mind and that we receive um a report in December. So thank you >> member Rivas. >> So you have four weeks to produce that report. Well I guess Chief Timbers now. Um thank you uh Mr. President. Um uh just echoing what member Kuster said. It's it's not great when we're surprised
072with amendments at the very last moment. Um, and I I'd also really >> It's all right. It's all right. Be cool. >> The uh So, I I very much could support something like this uh if we just had the opportunity to review it. Our general counsel had the opportunity to review it. Um getting advice from the, you know, very smart people that we hire to be able to provide that. Um, and the other thing that I'm get I'm really really concerned about um is that I I get increasingly uncomfortable um being up here and having to listen to the members next to me make really nasty comments about charter schools all the time. These are all of our students. Um obviously this is really devastating for any school community. Um and we don't want this
073for any for any child to go through this, right? Um and so there there's lots of issues related to um these actions like we're dealing with Santiago, like we're dealing with uh with Shy Arts that we need to make sure we're taking into consideration all the agreements that we have in place like what's going to happen once you're a district-run school and what does that mean for our CBAs and um what hiring looks like. All those things are are things that need to be taken into consideration and just leaving us to the last moment um in a in a an amendment uh is really concerning. Um and frankly I I was trying to listen and I just have to listen to these folks being really nasty about our chartered community and I really dislike it
074a ton and I can't do anything about it because this is my seat and I don't get to move. >> Okay. Member Bole, >> I think my question [sighs] I uh Alonso answered about the the students at a high performing school part, but I'm I'm looking at the corresponding offers of employment to qualified EPIC staff who would follow the students. I guess it's an maybe HR question. Um like like what if they selected a multitude of schools like what if >> okay >> seven students chose this school and three students chose this school like how would we guarantee moving the staff with those students that's the part I I don't I'm not following don't know if >> yeah our current school budget model closing allow us to do that necessarily because the model is not
075necessarily a per pupil model any anymore. So if five six students go into a particular school that doesn't necessarily mean that a position is open as a result of those students transferring to that particular school. So yes it's a good point that you raised in the sense that the funding follows the student but don't doesn't necessarily implies additional positions for that particular school. >> Okay. Thank you. What? One more quick thing. I'm sorry. So, but this is just like in a in a what we're voting on is a plan to consider some of these items. It's not necessarily in stone that it's going to happen. Okay. >> Lopez. >> Thank you, board president. Um some also reading the language and some of the questions have already been answered. Uh one of them here it says
076December 3rd 2025 2025 uh for this to be produced. Um are there any potential um red flags with having this particular date? Is there does it conflict with any other policies that we have in place? >> Uh it it could I haven't had a chance. I haven't seen this amendment until now. So I don't I don't know if the December 3rd deadline will be feasible. Um if the December 3rd deadline was referencing meeting with families uh and starting the plan and start planning the transitions of students, uh that is possible. In fact, we have a meeting with families next week to start that process. But families may take several weeks to make decisions about which schools they're going to decide to go to. So, um, yeah, I will have to check to see if there
077are any policies or anything that could conflict with this. Again, I'm seeing one related to, um, the, uh, transferring of the staff or offers of employment to qualify staff. Again, that would be, in my opinion, I have to check with council. uh this is conflicting with uh current policies or not policies in this case but previous agreements uh with uh our labor partners uh as it relates to the autonomy of the principal to hire the staff. >> Thank you. And while I definitely am always in support of engaging the community and having them being part of the process, um so glad to see that language there and also uh given how do we hold in this case the charter accountable for the additional funding that they're going to be getting and you know potentially if
078they sell that building um that we can get that money back. Uh I agree with that language um to the board um and individuals that proposed the language. Is there any flexibility on even the date being a little bit of rewriting that part and just in case if uh because I don't want to put ourselves in a particular situation if we're not able to meet that deadline because of certain policies. Um the other one it's even some my recommendation and I don't know what the word will be of uh the language regarding of uh the staff following the students but yes ideally we want to keep you know the whole ski school community together. Um I just I'm a little bit worried that it might be a potential violation of any of our labor contracts.
079Is there any type of language or anything that you will be open? >> Just show up. She's asking me a question. Should I? >> Yeah. Are you finished with your question? Okay. Let me let me come back to you. >> Okay. Yes, sir. >> Member Blaze. >> Um, so based on this language, I think there's a general consensus that this is important language. I think a number of members have some concerns that it was last minute. Um, but I think this just speaks to as these charter schools seem to be closing, um, we just have to be ready and we have to make sure um that we're doing our due diligence, that we're keeping community informed, that we are talking with um, our labor partners, that we are and and we might have to do
080it a little more quickly than we have in the past. And I know this is hard, but hopefully we're learning from each one of these closings and [clears throat] as as other folks may perhaps opt out, um we'll be we'll be ready. I know this is a lot for the portfolio office and they're juggling a number of different schools that are all in different places. Um but we have to make sure to put community first. I think we also have to make sure that board members have time to talk about these things. Um and and and I I just want to underscore that part about repaying the money. I think there's a number of us that are really concerned that um when some of these charter schools close, if they've been paid for the students
081for the whole year, does that money go with those students to whatever school they're going to next? if if if say there's a midterm closing, um the money the money component is is important, particularly when we're all up here trying to figure out um our budget at all times. So, >> I think these are good points. I think um that these are good things that we need to think about as we move forward um with the additional with in in other situations as well. That's all. Thanks, >> Member Rosenfeld. >> To board member Blae. That's exactly why I'm excited we have a committee now to talk about charter schools because everything that you say there is so important and we're going to get to all of that. And again, I'm excited to be on that
082committee. Um to board member Brown, I have a question. This feels like a gotcha. It feels like another us versus them. We're not unifying as a whole board. Why bring it up here now and spend the next hour debating it when you yourself said I just want to get out of here. So it feels like a I'm gonna get you there and nobody has time to think about it to general counsel. What about the employment? How do you define high quality? Why December 3rd? So why now? Why here? Why like that? Why not share it early? I don't understand. >> So I'm I'm I'm going respond to that. If I understand things correctly, two things. one. I was driving back from Springfield yesterday and I'm having conversations about the vote we have to have today
083and I'm hearing I'm not hearing the protections that should be in place when a school closes because since 2004 there's been a consistent history of schools closing and the district can't find the children or schools closing and the young or or or turnarounds happening and the young people or and Phillips had to turn around their own turnaround twice because it it had the impact of a school closing. So yes, I'm not playing these me versus y'all games. I'm I'm I'm not playing those games. What I'm saying is, and I've said it since the moment I jumped on this board, that one of the most sensitive issues to me is how black communities have been treated. Cuz I've lived it. And so I'm going I'm going to gladiate on behalf of any young person, black, brown,
084or white, that is subjected to that type of treatment because I've seen the damage of it. And so that's why I've So I'm talking it through with two. I'm I'mma be keep it 100. I'm talking it through with Advancement Project and I'm talking it through with Chicago Teachers Union. What should the language look like? I have no I have no shame saying that those are friends of mine. I got a lot more in common with a teacher than a hedge funer. So, I'm talking to them and I'm talking to this civil rights organization saying, "How can we protect children?" Cuz some of us would have been okay with making that vote and then if they would have bounced with the money, what would we have done? or no no no. What would we have done
085if these children are spread all over the southside? Research also says that when schools close, children don't go to better schools. There's no history of that in this city, public school or charter school. So, I want to protect our babies. That's it. That's all. Yet I apologize that I was driving on 55 making and them listen to my old school hip hop and and we're talking about it. That is honestly how it came up. But what I want to challenge us with how many how are you okay I mean like it it's making my skin crawl. Are you okay making a decision to close a school and not guaranteeing that [clears throat] the harm that has been done, the harm that's been done in OUR COMMUNITIES, MAMAS PASSING OUT OF SCHOOL CLOSING HEARINGS, YOUNG PEOPLE
086GETTING SHOT AT BUS STOPS, you should be we should be united and saying that will never happen again. And forgive my emotion, but you know all this gotcha. I ain't playing no and I'm not and I I will say this right. I will say this too. I'M NOT AGAINST charter schools. I am against the charter industry. My my sister-in-law is the principal, one of the best ones in the city, and I know there's some good ones. But I am against the industry. I do know what the industry has done in black communities. And instead of us TAKING THESE PARTISAN POSITIONS, TALK to me about it. HOW DO YOU HOW WOULD YOU feel in your neighborhood if Andrew is in your neighborhood advocating for the closure of your school so that he can get the building?
087That's a colonizer. So if I understand things correctly, I'mma finish. I'm I'mma finish brother. I'mma finish. >> And so if I point of order, but that's the impact. >> Forgive me. That is an action that feels like colonization. So if if you all have the a I want you to be as concerned about that. I want you to be as concerned about what that feels like. You mad cuz I said a word, but you're not mad at the at the at the carnage that we presiding. >> You don't know what I'm mad at. Quit. >> I'm not talking to you. I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU. >> This is not your personal state. >> I'm not talking to this personal state. >> And I'm trying to make it a stage, but I'm addressing what you said.
088>> You are. You are taking control of the stage. We are members of the >> I'm raising an issue. >> Board member Brown over Dooby. >> I've raised my issue. I'm good. >> So the back and forth there's no space for that. >> I I agree. >> I do want to interject that I heard um question by board member Lopez if the language could be changed, if the date could be changed. I I want to reiterate that the motion on the floor is the amended language that board member Brown motioned >> and that board member Zachor seconded. So the language cannot be changed at this point. >> Before we go forward, I would like General Counsel Liz Barton just to make a comment. I' I'd like to motion to recess so that General Pencil can
089review. >> Move for a 10-minute recess. >> I'd like to make a motion uh to recess so that legal counsel can review. >> I just made a motion for a 10-minute recess. >> Thank you. So, board member Biggs motioned and board member Pope seconded the motion to a 10-minute mot. Uh we'll take I'll proceed with a roll call. Member Lozano. >> Yes. >> Member Smith. >> I. >> Member Lopez. >> I. >> Member VeZ. >> Abstain. >> Member Bole. >> Yes. >> Member Wallace. >> Abstain. >> Member Kuster. >> I. >> Member Pope. [clears throat] >> Yes. >> Member Rosenfeld. >> Yes. >> Member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Member Brown. I'm staying. >> Member Rio Sierra >> I. >> Member Bannon. >> I. >> Vice President Bautista. >> Yes. >> Member Gutierrez. >> I. >>
090Member Biggs. >> Yes. >> Member Thorakura. >> Yes. >> Member Blaze. >> Yes. >> Member Zachor. >> Yes. >> Member Deberry. >> Yes. >> 17 eyes, three abstension. Three abstensions. This motion is adopted by the board. We'll take a 10-minute recess. >> Okay. The best the special board meeting of the board of education is reconvene. Before we go forward though, you know, spirits tend to get high and emotions flare. It's a it's a byproduct of how much this board cares. But before we go forward, I want to offer uh G2 Brown a moment uh to respond. Yes, sir. Um, I appreciate that, Mr. President. I want to send a public apology for referring to anybody, in particular Andrew Broy, as a colonizer. That was a motion. That was not uh language that I should have
091used. Um, and so I want to issue a public apology for that uh statement. >> Thank you, brother Brown. Let's proceed. So, the motion on the floor is MO3 and it was the intervening motion to add additional language to EX1 as it was posted on the um public agenda. We're ready to take a vote on that amended language. Member Lozano. >> Yes. >> Member Smith. >> No. Member Lopez, >> abstain. >> Member VeZ, >> yes. >> Member Bole, >> no. >> Member Wallace, >> abstain. >> Member Kuster, >> no. >> Member Pope. >> Member Rosenfeld. >> No. >> Member Rivas, >> no. >> Member Brown. >> Abstain. Member Rio >> abstain. >> Member Bannon. >> Vice President Bautista. >> Abstain. >> Member. Member Biggs. >> No. >> Member Thor. >> Abstain. >> Member Blaze. >>
092Abstain. >> Member Zachor. Abstain. >> Member Deberry. >> Abstain. >> Uh, Mr. President, can I change my vote to an abstension? >> The vote has been changed for member Pope to pop to abstain. We have two eyes, six nazs, 11 abstensions. This motion is failed of adoption. I'm going to move to table this um the EPIC um board report till our next meeting on Tuesday. >> I second the motion. >> So the motion on the floor is to lay over EX1 as it was posted on the public agenda. Vice President Bautista moved and uh board member Pope seconded that motion to um table the item. I'll proceed with a roll call. Member Lozano. >> Yes. >> Member Smith. >> I >> member Lopez. >> I. >> Member. >> Yes. >> Member Bole. >> Yes. >>
093Member Wallace. >> Hi. >> Member Kuster. >> I. Member Pope. >> Yes. >> Member Rosenfeld. >> Yes. >> Member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Member Brown. >> Yes. >> Member Rio Sierra. >> Hi. >> Member Bannon. >> Hi. >> Vice President Bautista. >> Yes. >> Member Biggs. >> Yes. >> Member Thodicura. >> Yes. >> Member Blae. >> Yes. >> Member Zachor. >> Yes. >> Member Deberry. >> I. >> 19 I zero naz. This item is adopted by the board to table EX1. Uh proceed with EX2. Ratify the fourth renewal and amend the intergovernmental agreement with the city of Chicago for the municipal employees annuity and benefit fund. President Harden, this agreement is necessary to authorize a payment not to exceed 175 million for the municipal employees annuity and benefit fund with the payment contingent upon the
094board's receipt of the 2025 TIFF surplus exceeding 379 million during calendar year 2026. Additionally, for the record, this item was posted as a draft on the agenda and the final will be included in the agenda of action. This item does require a vote. >> Is there a motion? So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. I'll proceed with a roll call vote. Member Lozano. >> Yes. >> Member Smith. >> Hi. >> Member Lopez. >> I. >> Member VeZ. >> Yes. >> Member Bole. >> Yes. >> Member Wallace. >> I. >> Member Kuster. >> Hi. >> Member Pope. >> Yes. >> Member Rosenfeld. >> Yes. >> Member Rivas. >> Yes. >> Member Brown. >> Yes. >> Member Rio Sierra. >> Hi. >> Member Bannon. >> Hi. >> Vice President Bautista. >> I.
095Member Biggs, >> yes. >> Member Thodicura, >> yes. >> Member Blae, >> I. >> Member Zachor, >> yes. >> Member Deberry, >> I'm sorry. Uh, board member Gutierrez is online now. We're taking the vote on EX2, the IGA agreement. Member Gutier, >> I have I on that vote. I I >> 20 eyes, zero nazs. This matter is adopted by the board. President Harden, there are no further items on the public agenda. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to adjurnn? So move. >> Is there a second? Seconded. All >> in favor? I. We are journ. Thank you. >> Hey board members, don't throw your papers in the trash.