IL House speaker says he never promised $150 million for CPS as CTU remains hopeful on state funding

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Public Schools teachers and students are set to return to classrooms amid ongoing uncertainty over the district's budget, including a disputed assumption that $150 million in additional state funding could be secured.

Last week, the Chicago Board of Education passed what CPS officials consider an unbalanced budget because it includes $150 million in state funding that has not been approved. The issue has drawn attention following comments made by Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch before the board's budget vote.

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A day before the vote, Welch spoke to Chicago Teachers Union members who had received layoff notices. The union later circulated video of his remarks. CTU-backed school board members subsequently voted against the district's balanced budget proposal and supported a budget that included the additional $150 million in anticipated state funding.

In an interview with ABC7, Welch said he never specified an amount of funding or guaranteed that additional money would be provided to CPS.

"$150 million. I don't know where that number came from. I made a commitment to fight for funding for schools," Welch said.

Welch said his remarks were intended to reflect his broader support for school funding throughout Illinois, not a commitment directed specifically at CPS.

"I have fought for school funding for school districts all across the state, not just CPS, for schools in Proviso, where I'm from," Welch said.

Any effort to increase state funding for CPS would require support from three-fifths of state lawmakers, including many legislators from downstate Illinois.

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Despite Welch's clarification, CTU leaders said they remain optimistic that additional funding could be secured.

"Lot of politicians go out and say niceties about how we need better education for funding. But I think the Speaker of the House is an intelligent man. I think he sees the news out here. He understands the scrutiny that's going on around the school budget," said Matthew Luskin, the union's campaign director.

CPS officials have warned that if additional funding does not materialize, the district could face midyear budget cuts.

Some school board members who opposed relying on the anticipated state funding said efforts to seek more money from Springfield are worthwhile but should not be incorporated into the budget until funding is actually approved.

"In order to pass our budget, we need to work with what we actually have, not what we hope is going to come," school board member Jennifer Custer said.

As the budget debate continues, CPS teachers are scheduled to return to classrooms Aug. 17, while students are set to return Aug. 24.

CPS officials are scheduled to hold a virtual budget presentation for parents and the broader CPS community at 6 p.m. Thursday.