Education
CPS CEO Macquline King on Revised $10 Billion Budget Proposal, Upcoming Board Vote
The Chicago Board of Education is expected to vote on a revised $10 billion budget proposal Thursday.
The new Chicago Public Schools budget avoids staff furloughs by raising the district’s expected TIF funding from the city from $200 million to $286 million.
CPS says it must pass the budget before the end of July to make payroll, but it still includes about 1,600 layoffs, including 759 teachers, 801 education support personnel and 41 assistant principals.
The Chicago Teachers Union and some school board members want to wait until the Aug. 29 deadline to see if more funding comes from the state or Cook County.
CPS CEO Macquline King joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss her revised budget and why she thinks board members should pass it.
On why changes to the budget were necessary:
“We removed furlough days, and we increased the TIF assumption to $285 million from $280 million. I felt that was important because we entered into the two-week hearing period of the initial proposed budget. But after hearing from the community about the layoffs and the instability and the potential of the budget not passing. We decided that it was best to move forward with removing the furlough days in order to pass the budget.”
On whether the $285 million TIF assumption is likely to materialize:
“The 10-year trend data shows that the last two years CPS received well over $300 million. Even prior to that $285 million is still below what the district historically had received.”
On why the board needs to pass a budget by the end of July:
“This year the situation is a little different. The cash flow for the district is different. In order for CPS to make payroll, we have to secure a short-term loan, and that application is due. We’re expected to close Sept. 2 in order for a payroll on Sept. 4.
On whether CPS is talking with the county on receiving delayed property tax funds:
“We are working with that office, and over the past several weeks it has been a concern that we’ve raised as well. We’re looking to receive a payment as early as next week.”
On how student-to-teacher ratios will change:
“CPS has a different allocation of student-to-teacher ratio for elementary school and for high school. We adjusted each by one, but still within the confines of the agreement (with CTU). So we did not violate the agreement. We are still within class size. So we did achieve some savings with that reduction.”
On Milwaukee Public Schools holding a job fair in Chicago for teachers expecting to be laid off:
“I’m not surprised. Chicago public school teachers are talented. If I were Milwaukee, I would probably use the same strategy. However, I know that the opportunities abound in Chicago. I know that, as in years past, we retained 65%-85% of those teachers, and I feel confident that we’ll do the same this year.”
On whether the district spent temporary COVID-relief funding on permanent needs:
“I believe the administration saw a need during the pandemic. And during the recovery and shortly after students returned to schools, I believe the district made decisions that were best for students. And so you saw some of the gains as a result of how the ESSER dollars were utilized. I believe those dollars were well spent, because our students are now at a place — not quite returned to pre-pandemic levels — but we’re getting there.”
