Chicago School Board members split on CPS budget proposal that includes teacher layoffs, furloughs

CHICAGO (WLS) -- As Chicago Public Schools seeks approval of an almost $10 billion budget by July 30, some members of the Chicago Board of Education are voicing opposition to a proposal that includes staff cuts, furlough days and a midyear spending freeze.

The district is attempting to close a $732 million budget gap before the start of the new school year. At Kedzie Elementary, a marquee already announces that students will return Aug. 24, and CPS aims to have a balanced budget in place by then.

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School board member Jitu Brown, who represents District 5A, said he could not support the budget in its current form.

"In its current state, I would say no. It's very harmful. I just talked to a principal at a West Side school that's losing 15 positions," Brown said.

Brown and other board members supported by the Chicago Teachers Union oppose a budget that includes teacher layoffs and furloughs. Mayor Brandon Johnson has also criticized balancing the budget through workforce reductions.

"This idea or notion that the way to balance budgets is off the backs of working people and our students is not sustainable," Johnson said.

According to CPS, the proposed budget includes hundreds of teacher and teacher aide cuts, five furlough days during the second half of the school year on days when students are not in attendance, and a midyear spending freeze.

Brown called for a broader effort to secure additional state funding.

"It's time for all interested parties, labor, the city of Chicago, community organizations and CPS to make a collective call to the state of Illinois for an emergency session," he said.

Brown, Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union have all called on the state to fully fund schools. However, an emergency legislative session before the start of the school year appears unlikely.

Some board members who oppose the cuts nevertheless say they see few immediate alternatives. School board member Angel Gutierrez, who represents District 8A, said he is against cuts and furloughs but plans to support the budget as currently proposed.

"Furloughs, if they don't happen, it means an additional 750 to 800 more jobs, and I don't think that we want to go down that path," Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said he hopes additional funding from the city or state could prevent furloughs and the spending freeze later in the year.

"That allows us six months to work with our federal partners, our state and city partners to come together to avoid some of these cuts," he said.

If the school board approves the budget on July 30, CPS CEO Macquline King said furloughs would be the first measure reconsidered if additional funding becomes available from the city.