Solutions differ for Chicago Public Schools’ potential $1B deficit

(The Center Square) – The Chicago Teachers Union says the city’s public schools could face a $1 billion budget deficit if Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Democrats don’t provide more funding, but the union also said more tax increment financing dollars from the city could help.

A Chicago Public Schools parent and former Republican candidate for Congress says the districts needs to cut spending.

The Chicago Board of Education said this week that Chicago Public Schools are looking at a $732.5 million deficit next school year. Attendees at the board’s Agenda Review Committee meeting on Wednesday said schools were considering teacher, staff and service cuts.

Several board members said more state funding was needed and reiterated their desire for what they referred to as progressive revenue.

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates said the CPS budget as announced on Tuesday is “unsatisfactory and dead on arrival.”

Gates called out the school board for not allowing...