It has been almost five weeks since the shocking announcement that the Old Town School plans to sell its historic home at 909 W. Armitage.  Because you signed our petition, you know that we see the decision to sell 909 -- and the lack of effort to engage the School’s larger community -- as a symptom of systemic problems at the School that MUST be addressed.

We have been heartened by the passionate support we’ve heard from those who love the School: almost 8,000 petition signatures, an inspiring Nov. 10 rally at 909, and vigorous conversations in the Save Old Town School group on Facebook. (Join the group if you haven’t already!)

Despite the outcry, the School’s leadership continues to move forward with cost-cutting measures that threaten our beloved Old Town School. Long-time staff members have been offered buyouts and threatened with layoffs if budget goals aren’t reached.  And nothing has been done to address the underlying problem -- a 28% decline in class enrollment from 2011 to 2017 -- or the administration’s decisions that have contributed to it.

Now we need your help.  Save Old Town School has just launched our “Write a Letter to the Board” campaign -- and we hope you’ll participate.  

The School’s Board of Directors are the people who truly hold the future of the Armitage building — and of the entire School — in their hands. We’re aiming to collect as many letters as we can, and we will make sure that ALL of the letters get to the individual board members.

If you’ve already written a letter, we ask that you forward a copy of your letter to us at: MyLetterSOTS@gmail.com.

And if you haven’t written yet, we’ve made it really easy for you to do so.  Complete instructions, ideas about what to say, and an online form where you can submit your letter with a click, are available at https://saveoldtownschool.org/letter-to-the-board/. (The online form is at the bottom of that page.)

If possible, please submit your letter by Tuesday, Nov. 27 so we can deliver a batch of them to the Board before its next meeting on Nov. 29.  If you can’t make that deadline, please submit whenever you are able -- we’ll make sure your letter gets to the Board!

Also: Keep an eye out for announcements about a #WhatOTSMeans video campaign and also a Save Old Town School Community Forum!

Other ways you can help

• Share a link to this petition with others: https://bit.ly/SOTSpetition
• Sign up for the Save Old Town School email list: https://bit.ly/SOTSemail
• Join the Old Town School Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/saveoldtownschoolcommunity/
• Follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/SaveOldTownSch1) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/saveoldtownschool/)
• If you have some time to help us, email our Community Outreach team at volunteersots@gmail.com. Some items we currently need help with:
  -- Helping with our #WhatOTSMeans video testimonials campaign
  -- Handing out flyers at OTS locations
  -- Contacting alumni, donors, and notable artists  (please let us know if you have any personal connections to musicians who have been associated with the School)
  -- Bringing flyers to local businesses
  -- Researching new marketing and revenue initiatives (to increase enrollment and improve building utilization)
  -- Reaching out to community organizations (i.e. Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society)

Save Old Town School in the News

We've rounded up news stories and coverage on our website. Some recent stories:

Nov. 20 (Block Club Chicago): Old Town School Of Folk Music Says Buyout Offers Have Nothing To Do With Sale Of Armitage Avenue Building
https://blockclubchicago.org/2018/11/20/old-town-school-of-folk-says-buyout-offers-have-nothing-to-do-with-sale-of-armitage-avenue-building

Nov. 18 (Chicago Tribune): Commentary: The 'magic' at Old Town School's Armitage building
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-flashback-old-town-school-folk-music-armitage-1118-20181115-story.html

Nov. 18 (14East): ‘At the Old Town School up on Armitage Street’: Remembering 50 years of music in one building
http://fourteeneastmag.com/index.php/2018/11/16/at-the-old-town-school-up-on-armitage-street-remembering-50-years-of-music-in-one-building/

Nov. 11 (Chicago Tribune): Protesters decry Old Town School decision
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-save-old-town-school-rally-20181109-story.html

Nov. 10 (ABC7 Chicago): Sale of Old Town School of Folk Music building sparks controversy
https://abc7chicago.com/business/sale-of-old-town-school-of-folk-music-building-sparks-controversy/4665400/

Nov. 11 (Block Club Chicago): Rally To Save Old Town School Of Folk’s Armitage Avenue Building Planned For Saturday
https://blockclubchicago.org/2018/11/09/rally-to-save-old-town-school-of-folks-armitage-avenue-building-planned-for-saturday/

Nov. 1 (Block Club Chicago): Old Town School Of Folk Teachers See ‘No Wisdom’ In Plan To Sell Armitage Avenue Building
https://blockclubchicago.org/2018/11/01/old-town-school-of-folk-teachers-see-no-wisdom-in-plan-to-sell-armitage-avenue-building/

Oct. 26 (Nonprofit Quarterly): A Good Nonprofit Decision Badly Made is No Good at All
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2018/10/26/a-good-nonprofit-decision-badly-made-is-no-good-at-all/