@CHIdocumenters The meeting began on time at 10:30, however there was a microphone malfunction so calling of the roll has been delayed.

@CHIdocumenters Roll call - There is a quorum. This will be a long meeting so settle in.

@CHIdocumenters Honorary Student Board minute speaks. Historic Occasion - first time Chicago has hybrid board with 10 members elected by residents of Chicago, 10,and President, appointed by Mayor

@CHIdocumenters Honoring Excellence - CIDT Transparency Committee. Clarifies Districts approach to school data, make sure indicators of CPS evaluating school quality aligned with values of CPS.

@CHIdocumenters Continuous Improvement and Data Transparency (CIDT) link cps.edu/strategic-init…

@CHIdocumenters CEO Remarks - Pedro Martinez: Transition to new Admin. Hold on all fed funding. Shouldn't effect CPS funding for this year.

@CHIdocumenters Martinez: Immigration - Homeland Sec Agents at Sside school. School kept students, staff safe by denying entry. Chicago won't share info with ICE, won't allow entry unless have fed warrant. Have team of lawyers to help protect schools. Asks parents to send send children to school

@CHIdocumenters Martinez: Contract negotiations. Independent fact finder will evaluate both sides & issues report for final contract. CPS has barely any reserves and rising deficits. CPS & CTU agree on many issues. Closer than have ever been before. Doubts will have strike.

@CHIdocumenters Martinez: Student transportation - If can't provide gives money per day to pay for other transportation. Prioritize students farthest from opportunity, creating Hubstops at different schools.

@CHIdocumenters Lopez: Update on timeline 7 schools on closing with 5 coming to CPS. Martinez: Negotiation going on, briefing for board in next few weeks.

@CHIdocumenters Lozano: Has fear, trauma from Fed Agents at school affected school attendance? Was there a call before they showed. Biggest declines after 4 day weekend w/ uptick after agent visit. No advance notice with Fed agents. No coordination. Didn't leave cards for contact.

@CHIdocumenters Question - Guidelines, protocols for when dropoff and pickup students, parents afraid will be arrested? Community partners with Chicago Police, others, working directly with families. Never ask for immigration status of families.

@CHIdocumenters Martinez: Martinez said he was undoc student. Some students didn't know they were undoc. so is a very sensitive issue.

@CHIdocumenters Pole: Talked to some Venezuelan immigrant families who are TPR, they are terrified, won't bring children to schools. Set up community groups to walk children to schools, bring them home.

@CHIdocumenters Student Recommendations: Newcomers to schools need sociocultural support. Thrive when taught in own language. Include student involvement when choosing language related classes. Expand cultural in all schools.

@CHIdocumenters Student Recs: Expand def. of success beyond 4 yr Universities. Need more post-secondary opportunities starting early. Amplify neighborhood schools successes to increase families valuing of them using current students and Alumni.

@CHIdocumenters Student Recs: Support culture of inclusivity and diversity through collaborations for students with disabilities.

@CHIdocumenters Public comment: Union reps start with five minutes each. Members of the public follow for 2 minutes each. Elected public officials follow with five minutes each.

@CHIdocumenters Pres. Chicago Teacher's Union Stacey Davis Gates: Need to expedite negotiations as families don't know what to expect next year. With new admin. students need team that cont. to put sanctuary language into agreements. Challenged Martinez to come to contract agreement tomorrow.

@CHIdocumenters CTU Charter Divis. Chair Jen Conant: Charter school operators shouldn't be able to close schools with no warning. Need to find jobs for educators, schools for students, return reserve funds.

@CHIdocumenters Conant: Spend lots of money on things that don't benefit students including fighting teachers so don't unionize, investments in other cities, defending CEO.

@CHIdocumenters Conant: Haven't trained charter schools how to deal with Fed. Agents let them operate independently. Need to establish procedure and policy for charter schools so know how to handle ICE visits.

@CHIdocumenters SCIU Exec Vice Pres. Stacia Scott Kennedy: Spec. needs classroom assistants. Assistants pulled from classrooms, students not getting required minutes, to do other tasks. Union contract proposal ensures this.

@CHIdocumenters Kia Banks Chic. Principals Admin Assoc. Students must come 1st. System is broken. Working conditions of school leaders translate into ed conditions of students. Need fairness over politics. Decision must be made with students put 1st. Board must have courage to do what's right.

@CHIdocumenters Public Comment: Representatives from the various Acero Charter Schools, scheduled to be closed, made cases for renewal. If there aren't renewal contracts by the end of Feb. there will be no further opportunity and the schools will close. aceroschools.org

@CHIdocumenters The meeting is currently in recess. When they return I will pick up the coverage.

@CHIdocumenters The meeting has reconvened. First monthly update on CPS Strategic Plan Together We Rise. Laying out clear goals for every student, every school, the district and every community.

@CHIdocumenters Next step for Feb. Indicator data for teacher leader development, academic & socioemotional development and how rigorous the instruction is for each school.

@CHIdocumenters Chronic absence continues to be a problem. Their goal is to develop better interventions and support, actionable data sets & for youth with a break in enrollment, help them to reconnect and graduate

@CHIdocumenters Question: Where does Black Student Success Plan fit? Ans: Are waiting for to kick it off in Feb.. It will have it's own metrics, interventions, supports. Every measure of success needs to look at how each student group performs.

@CHIdocumenters Question: How do you address anti-Black sentiment that's grown around Chicago? If talking Black student ed success must rebuild Black communities that have been destroyed. We stand with those affected by ICE, but need people to stand with us. Must address wrongs done?

@CHIdocumenters Answer: That's why we are developing Black Success Plan. But board must be committed.

@CHIdocumenters Board Member: When was Black Success Plan conceived of and when did research begin. What's the funding for it. Ans: Oct. 2023. Martinez: Just approved in Sept. Now in resourcing and implementation as part of overall plan.

@CHIdocumenters President asks if there are questions about public agenda? Board member asks President about appointment to Public Bld. Commission. Time consuming. How serve effectively on 2 boards? Wants more time to learn about it. Ans: Customary for President to serve on com. Time not a prob

@CHIdocumenters General Council for Board of Ed: Requirement for Members of the Board of Ed to serve on 2 committees. Must appoint 2 people to the Chicago Teacher's Pension Fund & 1 person to the Public Building Commission. Board President has say in appointments.

@CHIdocumenters Elected Board Members asked to establish a process to make appointments since all three recommended appointments are elected members.

@CHIdocumenters Vote on public agenda. Roll call vote. Unanimously approved.

@CHIdocumenters Vote on appointing President Sean B. Harden to Pubic Building Commission. 15 yays 3 Nays 1 abstained. Appointment passes. Vote on rest of public agenda resolution items.

@CHIdocumenters Committee has gone into closed session. I will pick up coverage when they return.

@CHIdocumenters Chicago Board of Education is still in closed session.

@CHIdocumenters As the board members haven't come out of closed session at this point I'm going to end coverage here. The next meeting of the Chicago Board of Education is Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 10:30 AM. For more meeting coverage, be sure to check out . documenters.org