Introduction to the Chicago School Board’s Budget Amendment Vote
The Chicago school board has postponed a high-stakes vote on whether to amend its budget and make a pension payment that has pitted the district against the mayor’s office. In the minutes before the start of the board’s monthly meeting, Chicago Board of Education President Sean Harden pulled the amendment from the agenda, along with a separate resolution that would have committed the district to pay the city $175 million toward a municipal pension fund both this year and next.
The Reason Behind the Postponement
A number of school board members had signaled they would not support the amendment, and putting off the vote allowed Harden to avoid an embarrassing failure to whip up the necessary votes. Budget-related items require two-thirds vote — or 14 members — to pass. The delay came on a day when both the district and the Chicago Teachers Union reported they were on the cusp of reaching a deal in contentious contract talks that have stretched on for almost a year.
The Budget Amendment and Its Implications
The budget amendment would have also covered the cost of that contract and one for the principals union that’s also under negotiation. Harden said he was shelving the amendment vote because CPS and the union were “extremely, extremely” close to landing a tentative agreement. He suggested the board would revisit the amendment shortly, after the contract and its cost were locked in. District officials had presented the board with a budget amendment that added in an extra $139 million in property tax dollars that CPS received from the city this past winter.
The Pension Payment Dispute
The amendment also says the district could use the money to pay for the contracts and reimburse the city for the $175 million payment to the pension fund, which covers some non-teaching staff. But it did not spell out how the district would swing both expenditures. In recent weeks, the city has stepped up pressure on the district to pay up. During a public hearing on the amendment last week, city officials and some aldermen threatened that the city could withhold future tax revenue from CPS if the district doesn’t reimburse the payment.
The Union’s Stance on the Pension Payment
But district leaders and some elected board members have continued to insist that the district just simply doesn’t have a good way of scrounging up the money for the payment, which by law remains the responsibility of the city. A report by the consulting firm Baker Tilly released this week seemed to validate that stance: It noted that restructuring the district’s debt — an option the mayor’s office has championed recently — is uncertain and likely won’t give the heavily indebted CPS much bang for its buck. The Chicago Teachers Union has shifted its position on the pension payment, with leaders now supporting the payment as a way to ensure the financial stability of the district.
Contract Talks and Outstanding Issues
The continued logjam at the bargaining table with the teachers union also loomed over the Thursday night meeting. Dozens of teachers packed the board meeting to call for a quick resolution to the contract talks. The two sides are stuck on how much preparation time elementary school teachers should have. The union initially asked for 90 minutes — returning 30 minutes that were cut a decade ago in order to lengthen the school day. The union reduced their ask to 80 minutes and the district has moved to 70 minutes, up from the hour these teachers currently have.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Chicago school board’s decision to postpone the budget amendment vote has significant implications for the district’s finances and its relationship with the city. The board’s ability to reach a deal with the teachers union and find a solution to the pension payment dispute will be crucial in determining the future of the district. As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that the board and the union are working towards a resolution, but the path forward remains uncertain.
FAQs
- What is the Chicago school board’s budget amendment vote about?
The budget amendment vote is about whether to amend the district’s budget to make a pension payment to the city and cover the cost of new contracts with the teachers union and principals union. - Why was the vote postponed?
The vote was postponed because a number of school board members had signaled they would not support the amendment, and the board president wanted to avoid an embarrassing failure to whip up the necessary votes. - What is the dispute between the district and the city about?
The dispute is about whether the district should pay $175 million to the city’s pension fund, which covers some non-teaching staff. The district says it doesn’t have the money, while the city says the district is responsible for making the payment. - What are the outstanding issues in the contract talks between the district and the teachers union?
The outstanding issues include how much preparation time elementary school teachers should have, how much veteran teachers are paid, and how frequently highly-rated teachers are evaluated by principals.
