ASPIRA’s decision to close Haugan Middle School stems from declining enrollment and a significant budget deficit
Chicago: So, ASPIRA is shutting down Haugan Middle School. They’re facing a big drop in enrollment and a nearly million-dollar deficit. It’s a tough call, but they had to do it.
The school, located in Albany Park, only has 89 students this year. It’s set to close at the end of June after a unanimous vote from the board. ASPIRA’s CEO, Edgar Lopez, said it was a hard decision to make.
He pointed out that the school is running a huge deficit and criticized the funding model from the school district. He mentioned that a new union contract with teachers added more costs than the school could handle.
Lopez also said that the environment in Chicago isn’t really supportive of charter schools. They’ve tried different ways to recruit students, but it’s been tough with the current system.
ASPIRA has been around since 2003 and wants to keep its two high school campuses open. But their charter agreement is up for renewal soon, which adds more pressure.
Haugan Middle School opened in 2006 with over 500 students, but enrollment has been dropping since 2017. It’s a trend affecting many charter schools in the city.
Another charter network, Acero Schools, faced similar issues and tried to close several schools last year. The community was outraged, and the Board of Education stepped in to help save some of those schools.
In ASPIRA’s case, they informed the district about the closure plans back in December. The district explained that funding is tied to student enrollment, so fewer students mean less money.
Lopez mentioned he’s been talking with CPS about the closure and will continue those discussions. Charter operators can decide whether to keep their schools open, so CPS can’t force them to stay.
For the students, CPS said all eighth graders have applied to high schools for next fall. They’ll also help the remaining kids find new schools nearby.
There are options for the displaced students, including a nearby elementary school that has space for them. As for the teachers, most have the right licenses to work in other CPS schools and will get interviews to continue their careers.
Both CPS and ASPIRA are planning to hold sessions for parents and staff to discuss the changes.
