Maya Ruiz, a teacher at Fairfield Elementary, said the shortfall is already affecting staffing at her school.
"Fairfield Academy has lost three teaching positions for the next school year requiring reassignments within our staff. My library position was closed and I have been reassigned to 5th grade," said Ruiz.
The Chicago Teachers Union says the district is at risk of cutting thousands of teacher and staff positions. The union also points to aging school buildings and a growing population of students with special needs as additional pressures on the system.
"Our students deserve more not less. Our school communities have had enough of cuts year after year," said Pavlyn Jankov, Director of Research at the Chicago Teachers Union.
The Chicago Public School Board met Wednesday to discuss the budget. District leaders said they are considering all options to preserve as many student resources as possible. CTU is urging state lawmakers to call a special session to address school funding.
At a separate event, Gov. JB Pritzker responded to concerns raised by the union but did not say whether he would call a special session.
"We still need more it's true. And I'm on their side, we need more and I have tried very hard as you know in very tight budget circumstances," Pritzker said.
CPS leadership plans to bring a budget proposal to the Board of Education for a vote in July. The district must approve a final budget by Aug. 29.