The Acero Charter School Network in Chicago has announced planned school closures for the 2025 school year.
The schools are:
-Casas Elementary School
-Cisneros Elementary School
-Fuentes Elementary School
-Paz Elementary School
-Santiago Elementary School
-Tamayo Elementary School
-Cruz K-12 School
The affected schools are in the Avondale, Brighton Park, West Town, Little Village, Pilsen and West Ridge neighborhoods.
Santiago Elementary parents and teachers are very upset after learning the school may shut down next year.
Some had not even heard the news Thursday morning. Parents described the school as a family that could be ripped apart.
"This is not a school," said Reyna Rodriguez, president of the Santiago Parents Committee. "I don't even want to call this a school. This is my second home, my family."
Emotions ran high during morning drop-off outside Santiago Elementary School on West Cortez Street in the city's West Town neighborhood.
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"It's going to add a lot of stress because now we have to figure out where we're going to school the kids now," Santiago parent Alicia Vivar said.
Parents and teachers are now coming to grips with the reality that these sweet early morning moments with their kiddos may be numbered at Santiago.
"This is very unfortunate for a lot of parents," one parent said. "You have everyone living around the neighborhood."
Other parents learned the news Thursday afternoon during pick-up.
"What the heck, like, where is my kid gonna go? All four of my kids have gone to this school since it opened," parent Jacqueline Colon said.
Students put up signs on the front of Santiago Elementary Thursday, showing their love for the school and the desire to keep it open.
Parents from Santiago Elementary said the school has led many of their children to prestigious higher-education institutions over the years.
"The attendance rate: We have the highest in the Acero network. Santiago has the highest with a 96.4 percent," parent Reyna Rodriguez said.
Acero Charter School district leaders announced Wednesday night that the seven Acero schools may close next June.
Acero officials cited financial troubles as part of the reason for the potential school closures.
"This decision is not made lightly," said Richard L. Rodriguez, president and CEO of Acero Schools. "After years of population decline in the city and weighing federal and state funding inequity against our firm commitment to educational equity, Acero Schools needs to consolidate operations to continue serving scholars, families and our communities justly."
"This school is a family," Santiago teacher Chelsea Bashore said. "We've had generations go through here. I moved out of state to come teach here."
Bashore is a Santiago fourth- and fifth-grade teacher. She said the move to possibly close the school is harmful to the mental health of students, teachers and parents.
"We've already had trauma from COVID, trauma from gun violence in our neighborhood and now this?" Bashore said.
The Chicago Teachers Union also released a statement saying the closures will rattle families and neighborhoods.
"The CTU unequivocally condemns this move," the statement said. "If Acero is allowed to move forward with this reckless plan, it will destabilize countless school communities."
Acero Schools launched a website for families affected by the transition to help provide support and any updates to the closure process.
Acero leaders said the eight remaining schools will intake students affected by the closures as space allows.
Close to 2,000 students and 270 staff members could be affected if the seven schools close.
"How do you explain something like this to your daughter?" Rodriguez said. "It was really hard. I don't have any words."
Acero leaders said there will be town hall meetings in the future to discuss the proposed changes and the impact it will have on families and communities.
Full CTU statement:
"Teachers, parents, and students reacted with shock and dismay today as the Acero Charter Schools Board of Directors (formerly UNO) voted unanimously to close seven schools, nearly half the entire network, impacting more than 2,000 students and at least 270 educators and school-related staff. "The CTU unequivocally condemns this move. If Acero is allowed to move forward with this reckless plan, it will destabilize countless school communities. After committing to communicate with the union and partner to avoid school closings during negotiations over the summer, the charter management company has turned its back on its students and the entire educational community.
"The proposed closures come on the heels of Chicago Public Schools CEO, Pedro Martinez, promising no school closures in the district. Additionally, due to past union negotiations, Acero has invested more than nearly any other charter network in supporting our students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and social emotional learning. This move threatens to upend and undermine all of the progress made by educators to improve student supports and educational outcomes.
"This disheartening decision seems to be prioritizing disgraced former CEO Juan Rangel's outstanding investor debts and real estate opportunities over stability and student success, similar to its past scandals.
"Failed charter advocates and out-of-state billionaires took hold in CPS claiming they can do 'better for less.' What they didn't say was the scheme was better for investors and terrible for students and their families," CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said. "We will not allow taxpayer money and CPS funds to continue to be funneled to pay off the debts Juan Rangel incurred when he was defrauding the federal government. Meanwhile, he is freely raising money to buy school board seats via super PACs and independent expenditures. There are questions here that Acero and CPS need to answer. No student should see their education interrupted."
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