CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Johnson administration says it will do what it can to help families affected by plans to close seven schools from the Acero Charter School network. The mayor, though, said Chicago Public Schools (CPS) should have done more.
The leadership of the Acero Charter Schools says their private, but publicly funded system is running a big deficit, so they must close half their schools.
Alderpersons said CPS has not been able to help parents as much as they should have. Mayor Brandon Johnson agrees.
“Look, I don’t want schools to close,” he said. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that these families experience real stability, and we have to continue to challenge these operators who are more interested in protecting their stakeholders — in terms of their financial stakeholders — than the families they were contracted to actually serve.”
This week, Johnson hosted a meeting with CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, alderpersons, school board members and other stakeholders to talk about the imminent closing of several Acero Charter Schools.
Ald. Julia Ramirez (12th) said parents have been hoping that CPS would have ideas to save the schools.
“CPS did not have an analysis about, financially, what it would look to save one school or save all of the schools, and I think that the families deserve that kind of information to figure out next steps,” Ramirez said.
Johnson fears these kinds of failures are starting to crop up with charter schools.
“CPS’ leadership has to put together contingency plans to ensure that this trend doesn’t become a part of the regular dynamic within our school district,” he said.
For now, Johnson said he will do what he can.
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