For the last several months, thousands of students, parents, teachers and community members from across the Southwest side have stood united in opposition to charter school expansion that drains resources from community schools. However, despite immense opposition, the Chicago Board of Education voted unanimously today to open a new Noble Street Charter Network high school in Brighton Park. This new school will inevitably make it more difficult for Kelly High School to continue providing excellent opportunities and programs to its students in the coming years.
While BPNC is horrified by the Board’s disregard for the future of neighborhood high schools, We are inspired by the courageous elementary and high school students and their parents who have fought and will continue to fight for their schools and the incredible teachers and administrators who support them. Thank you so much for your bravery in speaking out against the systematic privatization of education that is disenfranchising communities of their right to quality neighborhood schools.
Community schools on the Southwest side cannot continue to be undermined by needless charter expansion that destabilizes communities. BPNC remains committed to building sustainable neighborhood high schools and is launching a new campaign for equitable education on the Southwest side. We demand progressive revenue solutions to the current budget crisis, adequate per pupil allotment to schools, and an elected, representative school board that is accountable to students and their families.
Even though the voices of thousands of community members were ignored today, historic actions have been taken and together we will continue to demand equitable funding for our schools. For more information, please contact Olivia Abrecht at oabrecht@bpncchicago.org or at 773-523-7110.
For months, BPNC has been fighting against efforts to open
a new Noble Charter high school in Brighton Park that would drain funding from
existing neighborhood community schools. On September 30th, BPNC held a press
conference and rally outside the CPS central office before a scheduled CBOE
hearing. Community members and students attended the hearing to discuss Nobel's
proposal and ask the CPS Board to vote NO on the proposal. Only 13 residents
were allowed into the hearing, but many students and staff from Noble Muchin
College Prep, which is located one block away from the CPS central office, were
allowed in. Nevertheless, hundreds of students and parents from Brighton Park
rallied outside, chanting "fund our schools." BPNC also brought 6,500
letters of support from students and parents in Brighton Park and neighboring
southwest side community schools opposing charter expansion.
The city of Chicago and CPS are in financial crisis. The
school district has already announced hundreds of layoffs this year and could
potentially cut an additional 5,000 teachers by Thanksgiving due to the budget
deficit. CPS has also had to borrow a billion dollars to cover overdue pension
payments, and operating costs. The district simply cannot afford to build new
schools that are not necessary in communities that have plenty of options. The
potential school site is located less than a mile from both Kelly High School,
and Back of the Yards College Prep High School. For these reasons, many elected
officials including House Speaker Madigan, Alderman Lopez (15th Ward),
Representative Tabares, Senator Sandoval, Commissioner Garcia, and others are
against the charter expansion. The Neighborhood Advisory Council, created by
CPS to review charter school proposals also announced its opposition to the
proposed new school.
Nevertheless, the Board of Education will take a final vote
on the proposal on October 28th. BPNC and supporting organizations are
demanding that current CBOE President Frank Clark, recuse himself from this
vote and all future votes regarding charters because of his close political and
financial connections to the charter industry. Frank Clark and his family
donated $200,000 to Nobel Street Charter Network to open the Rowe-Clark Math
and Science Academy. The Board's connections to the charter industry go beyond
Clark's history with Noble and are a clear indication of the need for an
elected representative school board in Chicago.
The indictment of former CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett is
another reminder of the lack of accountability within CPS and the Board of
Education. Katelyn Johnson, the executive director of Action Now recently
stated at a press conference, “The time is now for Mayor Emanuel to support an
elected representative school board. It is clear that he does not have the
management skills to run this district and an Elected Representative School
Board will provide the necessary checks and balances to bring transparency to
CPS.”
As demands for accountability have grown, state and city
legislators have responded. Representative Martwick has introduced legislation
in Springfield which would call for every Chicago Board of Education member to
be elected by the voters of the city, rather than appointed by the Mayor. In
the city council, 42 out of 50 Aldermen support a moratorium on charter
expansion. However, Alderman Will Burns, Chairman of the Education Committee
and a recipient of political contributions from pro-charter organizations, is
blocking the legislation from moving forward.
On October 26th, students, parents, teachers, and community
will join together for a historic march in Brighton Park to fight for our
neighborhood community schools. Please join us to tell the city and the school
district that they must stop charter expansion and that an elected
representative school board is needed now. Thank you for your support.
Please help support the Kelly High School marching band by purchasing your tickets for the Comedy Jam this Friday October 16th. Tickets can be purchased in the main office at Kelly High School or at the door the day of the event. Adults $20 - Students $10. Thank you for your support.
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