THE LOOP (WBBM Newsradio) -- Leaders in Chicago's public school system are working on two fronts this week to get a boost in education funding from Springfield, but it's not clear whether that public and private pressure will bring change in time for the start of classes next month.
Several members of the Chicago Board of Education gathered outside CPS headquarters, 42 W. Madison St., Wednesday morning to call on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to bring lawmakers back to the state Capitol for a special session to approve additional funding for public education.
"This is a demand for the investment of our children," Chicago Deputy Mayor for Education Kahari Humphries told reporters as he talked about what he described as "billions of dollars in progressive revenue" that was "left on the table."
"Hope is not a plan," he said.
Board member and community organizer Jitu Brown said the state had some "get-right" to do for Chicago and children across Illinois: "Instead of doing a megadeal for the Bears, and you're talking to a rabid Chicago Bears fan, it's important to do a megadeal for Illinois school children."
Lawmakers approved a new funding formula for Illinois public school districts nearly a decade ago, but it's estimated that getting all districts in the state to 90% of that formula would take another three billion dollars. Gov. Pritzker has touted increases in education funding for every year he's been in office, but has said the state doesn't yet have the money to bring the state to what's considered "full" funding.
But as Brown and other board members spoke, Schools Superintendent and CEO Dr. Macquline King was meeting with legislative leaders to talk about education funding. Brown insisted his appearance was not intended to undermine the superintendent: "It shouldn't even have gotten to this point."
A district spokesperson has not provided a statement about Dr. King's meeting, or whether she supports the call for a special session. And despite talk of unity among board members, more than 75% of the board did not join the press conference, with one member suggesting delayed property tax revenue from Cook County was a more pressing financial concern. Brown shrugged off the absence of his colleagues.
"Democracy isn't supposed to be clean," he said. "It's messy."
Schools CEO also meeting with lawmakers
Schools CEO also meeting with lawmakers
