Source – chicago.suntimes.com
Chicago Board of Education Budget Approval and Controversies
The Chicago Board of Education unanimously approved a contentious $9.9 billion budget, drawing criticism from various stakeholders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), a fiscal watchdog group, and some board members. The budget aimed to address a $505 million deficit through administrative cost reductions, central office staff layoffs, and the assumption that numerous vacancies would remain unfilled. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) leaders assured that these measures would not impact classroom resources, but the CTU vehemently opposed the budget, citing the detrimental effects of laying off hundreds of aides on student support.
Mayor Johnson, who had pledged to protect critical support staff from cuts, expressed dissatisfaction with the budget, signaling the need for revisions. A spokesperson for the mayor emphasized that while the budget made strides toward equitable funding for neighborhood schools, it fell short by excluding essential costs for teachers, principals, and pensioners. Despite these concerns, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez defended the budget, highlighting increased overall school funding and targeted support for high-need populations, such as special education students, English learners, and students in temporary living situations. Martinez praised the new funding formula that prioritizes student needs over enrollment numbers.
Divergent Views and Financial Challenges
The budget approval followed weeks of private and public disagreements among CPS, the mayor’s office, the CTU, and the board over addressing the district’s financial shortfall and securing additional state and federal funding. During the school board meeting, Mayor Johnson’s appointees commended the budget for preserving crucial student resources, introducing new ones, and eliminating a criticized funding formula. They stressed the need for more funding to address other concerns and affirmed their alignment with the mayor’s vision for the school system.
Chicago Board of Education’s Vice President Elizabeth Todd-Breland acknowledged the budget’s imperfections but noted its equitable distribution of available resources. However, the budget did not include a $175 million pension payment for non-teaching staff, a move that contradicted Mayor Johnson’s demands. Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot had previously transferred this expense from the city’s budget to CPS, a decision that faced significant criticism. In response to the exclusion of this payment, Mayor Johnson suggested CPS take on a short-term, high-interest loan to cover the pension costs and new union contracts. CPS officials and some board members opposed this idea, fearing it would jeopardize the district’s financial stability.
Union Reactions and Future Financial Planning
The budget’s approval did not quell concerns from the CTU and other stakeholders. Dozens of CTU members attended the board meeting, urging a rejection of the budget due to staff layoffs. Although CPS asserted that the new school year would start with more staff overall compared to the previous year, the union maintained that aides were essential for student success. CTU Vice President Jackson Potter suggested that the school board reconsider paying the $175 million pension, criticizing former Mayor Lightfoot for burdening CPS with this expense. Potter advocated for a stronger lobbying effort toward state and federal lawmakers to secure additional funding, especially with the upcoming Democratic National Convention in August.
The Civic Federation, a government finance watchdog, also expressed concerns about the budget’s lack of provisions for upcoming teacher and principal union contracts. Negotiations are ongoing, and anticipated salary increases and other contract provisions could exceed $100 million annually. The cost implications of a first-ever principals union contract remain uncertain. Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson criticized the budget for meeting legal requirements with “fuzzy math“ and failing to account for future operating costs. CPS officials acknowledged that midyear budget amendments are common practice once union contracts are finalized, but the
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