Chicago Public Faculties knowledgeable dad and mom Friday that Epic Academy, a small Southeast Aspect constitution highschool, plans to shut and may not even final by this college 12 months.
Epic Constitution College in South Chicago with about 250 college students knowledgeable CPS on Aug. 21 that it was dealing with “persistent enrollment declines and rising operational prices,” in response to the district. The board of the privately managed, publicly funded college is predicted to formally vote on the closure at its assembly Wednesday.
“Whereas CPS shouldn’t be making this choice, we’re deeply dedicated to supporting Epic college students, households and workers all through any transition,” district officers stated in a press release.
Epic instructor Andrew Escalante stated the college was a tight-knit neighborhood the place lecturers keep for a very long time and are deeply dedicated to serving the scholars and neighborhood.
College students in a hallway after college at Epic Academy on the South Aspect on Monday. Epic was began in 2009 by former lecturers who noticed the constitution college motion as a chance to create a powerful college in an space that didn’t have many. Three years in the past, it purchased an previous Catholic college that it deliberate to renovate and develop.
Candace Dane Chambers/Solar-Instances
“Employees have been positively actually unhappy to listen to this information,” he stated. “College students have been additionally shocked. Total, positively a way of disappointment and disappointment.”
A number of constitution faculties have closed lately, however, if it occurred, this might be the primary mid-year closure lately, perhaps ever.
“That might be extremely detrimental to college students and households and to the workers,” stated Jen Conant, who runs the constitution division for the Chicago Academics Union, which represents Epic lecturers. “Are you able to think about the chaos?”
The Chicago college board voted in Might to resume Epic’s contract for 2 years. Conant and others are bewildered that the college district wasn’t made conscious that Epic was in hassle throughout the renewal course of.
However CPS stated in a press release that its evaluation course of makes use of audits to look at previous monetary actions and doesn’t “assess the longer term well being of a company utilizing predictions concerning bills and income.”
Epic was began in 2009 by former lecturers who noticed the constitution college motion as a chance to create a powerful college in an space that didn’t have many. Three years in the past, it purchased an previous Catholic college that it deliberate to renovate and develop.
But its enrollment has been declining for the reason that pandemic. CPS funds constitution faculties primarily based on what number of college students they enroll.
CPS officers stated Epic leaders thought they might hold the college open till 2027 by promoting the constructing, however Epic has been “unable to materialize a sale of the property throughout the anticipated time-frame.”
Epic operations director Victor Taylor stated the college struggled when the district carried out a brand new highschool task system in 2017, which he stated prioritized district-run faculties over constitution faculties.
As a single-site constitution college confronted with enrollment declines, it has turn out to be an increasing number of troublesome to stability its books, stated Taylor, who has labored there for 12 years.
“So the funding is unfair, and the system itself is unfair,” he stated.
Mother and father, he stated, select the college as a result of it persistently has higher commencement and faculty enrollment than close by excessive faculties. Taylor stated juniors and seniors have been planning to attend the board assembly Wednesday to attempt to stop its closure.
Sarah Karp covers training for WBEZ. Comply with her on X @WBEZeducation and @sskedreporter.
