CPS eyes changes to ChiArts conservatory model, upsetting parents who want more arts during school day

The unique conservatory model at the Chicago High School for the Arts will likely change when the district takes over management of the school later this year, a possibility that’s upsetting parents and students who hoped the arts program would remain as is.

Right now, ChiArts is privately managed and students spend three hours every afternoon in a conservatory where they focus on an arts discipline, such as dance, visual arts or theater. They also take five hours of academic classes.

But under the potential new structure, there would be 30 minutes less of conservatory instruction and those lessons would be embedded throughout the day. Chicago Public Schools officials say they have to shorten the school’s day to comply with union agreements, but students will have the opportunity to participate in up to 100 minutes of additional arts instruction after school.

“In order to make it sustainable and to have the program be part of the CPS family of fine and performing arts schools, there are certain guardrails and things that need to be changed,” Conrad Timbers-Ausar, CPS’ acting chief portfolio officer, said during a virtual community meeting about the transition Wednesday evening.

CPS did not permit reporters for the Sun-Times and WBEZ to attend the meeting, but we obtained an audio recording of it.

Parents and teachers expressed frustration at that explanation, saying the district hadn’t been creative enough in looking for ways to maintain the current conservatory model.

“Making it an after-school program does not keep it ChiArts,” one parent said during the meeting.

The school board voted to absorb ChiArts in November after the private manager of the contract school, which is similar to a charter school, decided it could no longer run it, citing financial deficits. More than 530 students attend the school from across the city. Students audition to get in.

In an interview with the Sun-Times, Timbers-Ausar said the presentation wasn't a firm plan but rather an outline for how to maintain the instructional time afforded by the conservatory model while abiding by state law, district policies and other limitations.

It also takes into account the district's own financial troubles as it faces a deficit of more than $500 million headed into next school year, he said. The district plans to seek more feedback before coming up with a concrete plan.

How students are taught through the conservatory is also likely to shift. The school hires professional artists to instruct students in their disciplines. But when CPS runs the school, a state-certified teacher needs to oversee the classes.

The district is recommending that licensed teachers pair up with teaching artists to satisfy graduation requirements. Timbers-Ausar said the district is working to help teaching artists stay on at the new school. As the new school begins to hire staff, current teachers and teaching artists will be first in line for interviews, he added.

Earlier this week, Casey Fuess was introduced as the school’s incoming principal.

Fuess is a former choir director at Lindblom Math & Science Academy who spent the last five years as an assistant principal at CPS’ virtual academy, according to his LinkedIn profile.

When CPS runs the school, it will be funded like the district’s other 72 fine and performing arts schools. Currently, CPS pays for the academic portion of a student's day, while the money for ChiArts’ conservatory program comes from private donors.

The name of the school will likely have to change due to trademark issues, Timbers-Ausar said.

Parent Isabela Cabrera said in an interview that the conservatory model has provided emotional stability for her daughter, who is a freshman at ChiArts. She travels to the school in Humboldt Park from the South Shore neighborhood, but said the program makes the long commute worth it.

“You see the kids coming out of school very happy, enjoying life,” she said.

Cabrera and other parents said they will continue to advocate to keep the conservatory program unchanged by organizing protests and pushing state legislators to allow the school to have longer hours.

A group of parents, students and staff plans to demonstrate outside the school on March 3 to call on the district to work with the school community to preserve the current conservatory model.

“We have to keep fighting for this,” Cabrera said.