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Chicago's Board of Education unanimously approves $9.9B budget despite CTU's opposition

By FOX 32 News
Updated  July 25, 2024 5:18pm CDT
Chicago Teachers Union
FOX 32 Chicago

CTU criticizes CPS budget proposal, seeks state support for Chicago Public Schools

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is rallying against Chicago Public Schools and their proposed budget for the upcoming year.

CHICAGO - Chicago's Board of Education unanimously passed a $9.9 billion budget this week despite opposition from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU).

On Thursday, the CTU rallied against Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and their proposed budget for the upcoming year. 

The union said the budget from CPS CEO Pedro Martinez will have a negative impact on schools on the South and West sides of Chicago. They also said the proposed budget doesn't do enough to address the needs of students in the school district.

"If I'm not there when school starts back, it would hurt the parents and the students at the school. If I'm not there when school starts back, the progress I've made with these students would be lost, and it would cause a strain on the community," said one CTU member.

The spending plan that was approved raises property taxes by the legal limit of $193 million. It also includes a new school safety framework that ends the use of full-time police officers in high schools. 

Changes to the budget are expected since the CTU is still negotiating. 

CPS released the following statement in response to the rally from CTU:

"CPS will present a balanced budget to our Board of Education that calls for a $500 million increase, primarily due to a capital budget to address vital facility repairs, while also closing a $500 million deficit. The District’s intentional budgeting strategy, coupled with strong recruitment and hiring initiatives, allocates additional teacher and staff positions while making adjustments across the District for faculty and support staff in line with the District's priorities. The District has budgeted for a total of 45,965 full-time employees (FTE), an increase of 805 FTE from FY24 across all categories, with allocations that include an additional:

  • 513 teachers, driven by the District’s need-based school funding model, growth in special education teachers, and bilingual teachers;
  • 337 school support staff primarily driven by additional paraprofessionals, restorative justice coordinators, and other school-based personnel."