CPS Announces Job Cuts, Paints Dire Budget Outlook Produced by Linda Lutton on Thursday, February 25, 2010 Chicago Public Schools is announcing today it’s cutting 500 employees. And district officials warned CPS will not be able to avoid “devastating consequences” without concessions from unions.
The layoffs will begin in mid-March, and will affect central office staff and citywide workers. Budget officials say the district faces a $700 million shortfall next year, but that could hit $1 billion.
HUBERMAN: We’re in the midst of 500 layoffs now. It is our sincere desire to avoid further layoffs, but it’s not up to us. It’s up to Springfield, and it’s up to our unions partnering with us. And we certainly hope they’ll do that.
District chief Ron Huberman wants the state to pay a bigger portion of Chicago’s pension obligation. He also wants limits on how much the district’s pension tab can increase from year to year. The unions opposed a similar effort last year.
CPS says local revenues are down and pension obligations have doubled two years in a row. The district is paying teachers more as well.
