In a cost-cutting move to plug a $734 million shortfall, Chicago Public Schools officials on Friday said they laid off dozens of workers in the district’s central office and citywide staff.
In all, CPS laid off 161 employees, according to district officials.
The cuts come after interim schools chief Macquline King told the Chicago Board of Education at a meeting Thursday that the district faces a budget deficit that’s $201 million more than officials previously cited. Though the budget is typically released in June, district officials have yet to finalize a spending plan — or say how they plan to address the now $730 million shortfall.
Before Thursday’s meeting, the Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Local 73, which represents public service workers in schools, held a news conference urging district officials to prevent additional cuts. Under the blazing sun, scores of parents, teachers, and school staff members gathered, holding signs and wearing union T-shirts.
Among those hit by the layoffs were 87 members of SEIU Local 73, nearly all of whom were crossing guards, district officials said. Seven CTU employees and 67 employees across the district’s central office and network offices were also affected, officials said. Reductions only affected central office and citywide staff who are not assigned to schools, officials said.
In a statement to the Tribune Friday night, SEIU Local 73 President Dian Palmer said it was aware that CPS “has begun issuing layoff notices to staff” but that “we do not yet have numbers on how many have or will be impacted.”
“We believe that laying off any of these essential workers would be a significant blow to our education system,” Palmer said. “Our union will work to mitigate the impact of any layoffs and continues to call on the City of Chicago and the Board of Education to urgently explore other alternatives that will not directly harm students’ education.”
CTU officials in a statement to their website Friday said the union was gathering information about the details of the layoffs and “working to make sure that impacted members are able to exercise the rights we have won in our contract.”
CTU members ratified a new contract with CPS in April.
“These layoffs disrupt the whole school community and undermine the hard work our school staff devote to students every day,” CTU officials stated.
Officials also eliminated 209 open positions across the offices.
“Chicago Public Schools remains committed to using every available dollar to support student learning and school communities, despite the district’s ongoing and well-documented funding challenges,” district officials said in a statement. “In continuing preparation of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, CPS is taking a careful and strategic approach to reduce spending while minimizing the impact on classrooms.”
Officials said that over the past several months, while under the leadership of previous CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, the district’s talent team has been “working closely with the Budget Office and department leaders to take a thoughtful look at how we operate.” Together, they’ve been “identifying ways to be more efficient and find cost savings across our central offices and administrative functions,” officials said.
Employees affected by the central office actions were notified Friday, officials said. Union partners were notified earlier this week.
Officials said the district “acknowledges the thoughtful and difficult work undertaken by teams across the organization to ensure these decisions have the least possible impact on students.”
District officials also stated the district remains “focused on transparency and fiscal responsibility and will continue to work closely with city leaders, labor partners, and community stakeholders to address the long-standing structural underfunding of public education in Chicago,” adding that ensuring “students receive the high-quality education they deserve remains the District’s top priority.”
tkenny@chicagotribune.com
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