Chicago Public Schools officials presented a new plan to potentially absorb seven Acero schools slated for closure at a late school board meeting Thursday evening that began with a surprise development and then dragged on for hours.

The charter network said in October it would close several schools due to a $40 million budget shortfall. Families and teachers have pleaded for them to stay open.

Acero charter school leadership said nothing Wednesday evening to a crowd of parents, teachers, students and city officials asking them to keep open several schools slated for closure. At a packed board meeting in Idar Elementary gym in Gage Park,

Hundreds packed an Acero board meeting in Gage Park to vent their anger directly at leadership to persuade them to reverse course on a plan to shutter seven schools at the end of the current school year.