CPS Balanced Budget Passes without High Interest Loan

The Chicago Public Schools Board of Education voted to pass Interim CEO Dr. Macqueline King’s balanced budget without a high-interest loan.

“We thank the 12 CPS Board of Education members who stood with the workers and the students by voting for this balanced budget which promised no more layoffs,” said Dian Palmer, President of SEIU Local 73. “We continue to join our sister union SEIU Local 1 in calling for the return to full employment of the 1,200 custodians that are slated for layoff. We will continue to fight for them regardless of age, regardless of residency, regardless of education. We will fight with everything we have including our vote.”

“We also want to thank the 30 City Council members who called on the Board to pass Dr. King’s balanced budget and for a just transition for the custodians. Their willingness to support TIF surplus funds to balance the city and CPS budgets sent a clear message to the Board that we are all in this together,” added Palmer.

The fight against short staffing continues. Layoffs over the summer will negatively impact students education and the fight to fully fund our schools will take us from the fifth floor in City Hall to the capitol in Springfield and the halls of Congress in Washington, D.C.

“We remain committed to working closely with Dr. King, the Board of Education, Mayor Johnson, Chicago City Council, Governor Pritzker, and the Illinois State Legislature to secure sustainable funding for Chicago’s children—without compromising our members’ livelihoods. Together, we can uphold our shared responsibility to advance the future of public education in our city,” said Palmer.