Chicago School Board Faces Budget Amendment Debate

As a major vote approaches, school board members affiliated with the Chicago Teachers Union are deliberating a budget amendment. This amendment seeks to increase the district’s expected state revenue and reverse cuts at the school level. However, Macquline King, CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS), has criticized the proposal.

In a statement, King warned that the amendment could leave CPS short on funds later in the year. She said the district is “on the knife’s edge” financially. “We will continue to work with our government partners to secure the funding our students need,” King stated. She added that attempting to balance the budget based on unsecured state revenue now could have severe consequences.

The state’s budget passed in June without extra CPS funding, and district officials have not been assured of additional funds. The proposed budget of $9.96 billion includes staff layoffs, department cuts, and a midyear spending hiatus. The amendment does not specify how much new money it would count on or where these funds would come from, given the state’s $2.2 billion deficit.

Despite this, CTU keeps urging intervention from Springfield. The union made progress recently when Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch expressed support for more CPS funding during the fall veto session, pledging his backing to CTU.

“You’ve got my support 110%,” Welch told CTU members.

Earlier, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates called for the rejection of the current budget proposal. She termed it a “first draft” and warned it would inflict lasting damage on students.

The school board needs a simple majority of its 21 members to pass the 2026-27 CPS budget, while a two-thirds vote is necessary for a budget amendment. CTU-aligned members hold a majority due to appointments by Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former teacher and union organizer.

The district increased projected revenue from special taxing areas recently to avoid furloughs under union pressure. The last time CPS banked on uncertain state revenue was in 2017, which led to challenging cuts when the expected funds did not materialize.

King, who was a CPS principal during that period, had to adjust her budget and reduce staff. She noted, “All of this is avoidable,” and emphasized the importance of avoiding such instability again.

CPS is urging the board to pass the budget swiftly to secure short-term borrowing and relieve cash-flow challenges. Failure to approve it could jeopardize September’s payroll.

New School Board Appointment

In related news, Mayor Johnson appointed Connie Anderson to a vacant school board seat. Although this appointment occurred ahead of the vote, Anderson won’t participate in this decision. She is a real estate tax paralegal and high school robotics coach.

Anderson’s appointment is Mayor Johnson’s second pre-budget vote selection, following the appointment of Angel Velez the previous year. Anderson is recognized for her advocacy for students and educators and replaces Olga Bautista, who stepped down after receiving a sabbatical award.

The timing of the appointment means Anderson will officially join the board at a future meeting. Board spokespersons confirmed her swearing-in is yet to be scheduled.