The Chicago Board of Education approved a budget for the upcoming school year on Thursday, following weeks of tension and opposition, including pushback from the mayor’s office. However, this budget is expected to be revised once the district concludes negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union and the newly formed principal’s union, as it does not currently account for potential salary increases for teachers.
The $9.9 billion budget increases overall funding for schools but includes cuts to central staff and administrative costs to help close a roughly half-billion-dollar deficit. It also features a $611 million capital budget primarily aimed at repairs and updates to school facilities.
While the district plans to freeze about 200 positions and cut 45 other roles, it will add 800 school-based staff positions, with just over 60% of those being teaching roles. Approximately half of these new positions are designated for serving students with disabilities, according to Mike Sitkowski, CPS’s budget director.
Sitkowski noted that the deficit is projected to be at least $500 million by the next fiscal year, starting July 1, 2025, not accounting for the costs of union agreements.
Board members, while praising the budget plan, also expressed concerns about the need for increased funding in the future and acknowledged the community’s concerns about losing staff. “Is this budget perfect? No, but in my time here, it is the budget that has most equitably distributed the funds that we do have,” said Vice President Elizabeth Todd Breland, who also served on the Board of Education under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
School communities received their staff allocations about a month ago and are preparing for tighter budgets this fall. The new budget includes a revised funding formula that prioritizes student needs over enrollment numbers. According to a Chalkbeat analysis, this new formula has resulted in fewer overall positions at at least 150 schools, while many others have gained positions.
Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed rare opposition to the district’s budget. While he supported efforts to address the deficit, he did not agree with staff cuts. At one point, Johnson’s office suggested the Board of Education borrow up to $300 million to cover union agreements and pension costs that had been shifted to the district a few years ago. However, CPS opposed this suggestion, arguing that such a move would result in a high-interest, short-term loan that could further damage the district’s bond rating.
Read More: https://theeducationview.com/
