CTU calls Aspira closures 'chaos,' urges protections for seniors and staff at Shy Arts

Caroline Rutherford, CTU Charter Division vice chair, told the Chicago Board of Education on March 9 that the situation at Aspira Charter Schools was "nothing short of chaos," and accused CEO Edgar Lopez of saying schools would remain open only to notify staff hours later of layoffs and imminent school closures.

Rutherford said teachers and families received conflicting information and that, in the 24 hours before CPS convened a community meeting, "roughly about 15% of the students had already left." She said students and staff faced "massive confusion and stress" and outlined two immediate requests for CPS: that all 177 seniors affected be provided unified graduation and milestone events, and that CPS create clear pathways so "familiar, trusted adults" can transition with students to receiving schools to preserve relationships and reduce disruption.

Rutherford also pressed CPS for specific budget estimates and implementation details for any proposed alternative models, including how the district would fund an arts high-school model and whether labor agreements (she cited CPAA, CTU, and SEIU in her remarks) would present barriers. "We have proposals that could accomplish this, and we're willing to work with you all to ensure this for all 177 seniors," she said.

The CTU representative thanked CPS for holding a community meeting and acknowledged some initial steps by district leadership but said those measures "don't go far enough." She asked CPS to arrive at the next community meeting prepared with answers to parents' and staff's written questions, including estimated budgets for a limited-day model versus maintaining the conservatory program at Shy Arts and plans for fundraising or a "Friends of Shy Arts" group.

No formal response from CPS leadership is recorded in the public-comment segment beyond Rutherford's acknowledgement that the district had conducted a community meeting. Following public participation the board recessed into an executive session; no board action on the Aspira schools was recorded in the public portion of the meeting.