Chicago Public School District Announces More Layoffs

Chicago Public School District Announces More Layoffs

According to NBC Chicago, the Chicago Public School District (CPS) announced on Feb. 29, 2016, that there will be more teachers being laid off in March, in order to comply with recent budget cuts.

One month ago, the district’s central office employees received layoff notices. Over 220 district employees and administrative staff members were laid off, and it was because of this that the CPS was able to save an annual spending cost of $45.1 million.

During this next round of layoffs, 62 CPS employees will be let go with 43 of those employees being employed full-time. These layoffs will affect 17 teachers, and CPS will save $85 million.

The Governor of Illinois, Bruce Rauner, and other Republican lawmakers proposed a plan that would allow the state to have full control over the schools. This plan would allow the district to claim bankruptcy in hopes of giving the district a financial “lifeline,” according to House Minority Leader Jim Durkin and Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno.

Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPS CEO Forrest Claypool opposed the plan. Claypool has expressed that the extremity of Rauner’s layoff plans discriminates against children of minority and low-income households.

By Tricia Manalansan
Edited by Cathy Milne

Sources:
NBC Chicago: CPS Announces Another Round of Layoffs Amid Contract Stalemate
Image Courtesy of Ken Douglas’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

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