The Chicago Board of Education has rejected the budget drawn by CPS leaders, instead approving a plan that reverses more than 1,000 layoffs.
The 11-7 vote saw members appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and aligned with the Chicago Teachers Union voting for it, while Jennifer Custer and other elected members opposing it.
“This amendment completely fabricates revenue that’s not even based on any real good-faith estimates, let alone actual revenues. And it’s really just pure hallucination” Custer said during Thursday night’s meeting.
The $10B budget plan assumes the district will get an additional $150M from the state beyond what CPS leaders have projected.
The vote came despite warnings from CPS CEO Macquline King and the district’s acting chief budget officer that if state lawmakers don’t come through soon, the district would have to make cuts in the middle of the school year.
The Civic Federation accused the board of increasing the district's financial risk and “creating a needless crisis and chaos for what appears to be political objectives.”
Meanwhile, the Chicago Teachers Union praised the budget as one that holds the governor accountable for what he owes, instead of what it says is punishing children for the inaction of those in power.
