CPS BOARD PASSES BUDGET WITH $ 215 MILLION HOLE
The Chicago Board of Education approved an amended $ 5.5 billion operating budget for Chicago Public Schools on Wednesday but acknowledged more drastic changes could come next month after the governor blasted a $ 215 million hole in its budget.
Six of seven school board members present for the meeting also approved the contract reached in October with the Chicago Teachers Union, a deal that added $ 55 million in costs paid for with surplus tax increment financing money.
The school board has considered its budget balanced even though some $ 215 million for pension costs was never a guarantee from the state. And late last week, Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed legislation that would have provided it.
School board president Frank Clark said he remained “optimistic” but acknowledged for the first time that the cash- strapped CPS may have to make other plans.
“There’s approximately another month in the 99th General Assembly, and until that ends, I expect the state will fulfill its promise and keep its word, and provide the necessary funding for Chicago children,” Clark said. “If for whatever reason the unthinkable occurs, we are prepared to deal with another amended budget at our next regular board meeting in late January.”
The district wouldn’t discuss any possible cuts, saying they expect legislators to come through. CEO Forrest Claypool also renewed the possibility of filing a lawsuit he had prepared in June while waiting to see if legislators would approve hundreds of millions in state aid, including the pension money. The district isn’t in any kind of financial shape to be able to borrow the money.
“We expect them to treat children in Chicago like they treat children in every other part of the state of Illinois.” Clark continued, referring to the vastly larger amounts the state pays toward teacher pensions in every other public school district but Chicago’s.
Further cuts would devastate schools that have already felt the brunt of budget woes, from lower per- pupil funding rates that have spiked competition for students, especially as enrollment drops.
And now that CPS expects principals to figure out how to pay for special education services with money lumped in with general education money, some kids are getting shortchanged.
CPS withheld 4 percent of each school’s budget so it could move money around as special ed kids moved, or as schools appealed for special help. Of at least $ 18.9 million held back, only $ 2.8 million has gone back to 31 schools who had appeals granted, about half those that filed formal appeals, according to Liz Keenan, second in command in CPS’ special education department.