More Cuts Needed
We'd call this a "good start" except everyone laid off will be rehired shortly, probably with back pay:
Chicago Public Schools on Monday announced that it laid off 162 employees from its central office and citywide positions last week.
The layoffs come as CPS works to close a $732 million budget deficit for the upcoming academic year. The reductions are said to generate about $18 million in savings.
On Tuesday morning, members of the Chicago Teachers Union blamed some of the cuts on a chronic problem with property taxes.
Cook County property tax bills did not go out on time this summer, starting a chain reaction. A delay in collecting money causes a delay in doling out revenue, which causes a gap in funding.
CPS has been forced to fill that cash hole with a loan. Once the loan was taken out, interest payments then added even more costs to the district's balance sheets.
Someone had a shocking statistic the other day that claimed there are twice as many non-teaching positions in CPS than there are actual teachers. We don't know the actual numbers, but someone out there does.
Fully staffing these schools - and operating them - when they're only at 5% or 10% of capacity is an excellent place to begin real cuts to the bloated CPS system.
But we'll never see it.
Labels: money questions
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
43 Comments:
I can see a whole bunch of city departments laying off people
Those that can, do, those that can’t, teach, those that can’t teach, go to CTU and CPS.
I hope CPS can get word to all the vacationing employees who are off for their almost three month sojourn!
So the average salary across the 162 is $111,111? Seriously?! WTAF!
This is nothing new. The Board had 200 glaziers on the payroll in the early ‘70s and still had to call a glass company to fix broken windows.
They say the cutting a handful of people how many teaching positions could be cut a huge amount! Then they have the schools very few students but yet they have engineers, lunch, people principles, office staff, teachers, teachers, assistance, school, nurse, janitors, security, librarians, plus how many others? They could save literally hundreds of millions of dollars if they would put the fiscal house in order but the mayor of Brandon with the teachers Union using the money they get from the taxpayers to buy the mayor‘s office for him. They won’t do anything. Democrats do everything they can to fleece the taxpayers and they are not even teaching the kids many of them cannot even read. It’s a shame indoctrination to their alphabet nonsense. That is their number one focus
Three months what about the what is it two weeks off for Christmas week off for Thanksgiving week off for spring break plus how many holidays and so-called teachers Institute days? Plus a generous pension that they don’t even pay into. Never forget how many of them live outside of the city and nothing ever happens to them. If a copper tries that they will be terminated immediately and they hunt us down teachers they just do whatever.
CPS is a house of cards waiting to fall!
They make more than most police officers make, and are not expected to produce results. Don't have to worry about being Monday quarterbacked by a bunch of pansy lawyers who still live in mom's basement. Or thrown under the bus by Cuck Fopa!
Very close...
The public school systems nationwide have drastically added more non-teaching staff over the decades, teachers outnumber non-teaching positions at CPS. In the 2025–26 school year, CPS reported 23,979 teachers out of 46,451 total staff positions. This means teachers make up roughly 52% of the total headcount, leaving non-teaching personnel (such as administrators, aides, custodians, and counselors) as the minority.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2024/09/17/cps-employees-and-unions-faq/
Just keep cutting.
Think of the children, on second thought why bother.
Where is that federal oversight of monies from the gubmint for the “education” of the children? You know, the children who can’t read, write, or do any kind of math? California just got banged for their inequities in education- when is it Killinois turn? School enrollment DOWN- hiring UP- schools with 10-15% enrollment and 50% of those absent more than 50% of the time? Time for some tax revolts!
This city and depatment are good for shit.
Consolidate and close useless schools. Keep the good ones.
162 Layoffs Won't Solve CPS's Structural Problem
Chicago Public Schools announced the elimination of 162 central office and citywide positions, projecting $18 million in savings toward a $732 million FY2027 budget deficit.
While any reduction generates savings, the numbers show these cuts are relatively modest.
CPS budgets approximately 48,688 positions for FY2027. Eliminating 162 jobs represents just 0.33% of the workforce—roughly one out of every 300 positions. The savings also cover only about 2.5% of the district's projected budget shortfall, leaving the overwhelming majority of the deficit unresolved.
The larger issue is that staffing has continued to grow while student enrollment has generally declined over the past decade. Schools across the district are serving fewer students than they once did, raising questions about whether current staffing levels and facility usage remain aligned with today's enrollment.
The FY2027 position roster also shows:
23,075 teacher positions (47.4%)
25,613 non-teacher positions (52.6%)
This does not mean non-teaching positions are unnecessary—many are essential roles such as counselors, nurses, custodians, security staff, clerks, social workers, and administrators. However, it does highlight the need for a broader review of how the district allocates personnel as enrollment changes.
10-year period (2015–16 to 2025–26) enrollment decline:
2015–16 enrollment: ~392,000 students
2025–26 enrollment: 316,224 students
Total decline: approximately 76,000 students (about 19%)
If CPS is serious about addressing a $732 million deficit, eliminating 162 positions is only a small first step. Long-term fiscal stability will likely require a comprehensive evaluation of staffing levels, administrative structures, underutilized buildings, and operational efficiency—not just limited reductions at central office.
I’ve been doing this for the better part of two decades. I’ve worked in districts and specialized units, and I can say without hesitation that the police department is just another version of adult day care. In today’s world, it’s never been more obvious and prevalent.
Outside of the people actually answering calls and pushing beat cars in 003, 006, 007, 010, 011, and 015, the job isn’t nearly as intense as people pretend it is. I know cops who haven’t seen the street since probation. I’ve watched women get pregnant, land in a commander’s office, and practically disappear. Everyone knows how the game works. Stop pretending otherwise. And it’s not just CPD. Every city department has figured out its own hustle. That’s the dirty little secret nobody wants to admit. It’s also exactly why these jobs are so sought after.
Drive around any weekday between 2:00 and 3:00. You’ll see city employees parked in their personal car’s outside libraries, firehouses, police stations, just waiting to swipe out. Everyone who’s worked for the city or pays attention has seen it.
CFD has one of the best work schedules in America. That’s just a fact. They get paid to sleep, eat, work out, watch TV, and wait for the bell. If that sounds like jealousy, fine. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t. Talk about scamming.
This isn’t whistleblowing. It isn’t exposing some massive conspiracy. It’s reality. Anyone who’s worked for the City of Chicago already knows exactly what I’m talking about. CPD, CFD, CPS, Water, CDOT, Streets and San, Forestry, Finance, Park District. If you’ve got one of those jobs, you know you’ve hit the lottery compared to most of the private sector.
So to everyone sitting on the sidelines acting jealous or taking shots at city workers, especially decent, normal CPS teachers, keep chasing that rainbow. Most of you’d fill out an application tomorrow if you thought you had a chance.
CPS might be serious but CTU isn't and they call the shots.
You nailed it
Teaching is a difficult, thankless, but sometimes rewarding public service job. Sounds familiar
This is all called SMOKE and MIRRORS to make the public think that they are really trying to accomplish something...I call it bullshit.
HEY TEACHER leave them kids alone.
Anyone born and raised in Chicago understands this comment and agrees with it. Anyone who grew up in 008, 016, 022 with city workers in their families know the truth.
To the person commenting on how much time off CPS Teachers get, you could have chosen a different profession. Jealousy is ugly
The leaders at the CTU and SEIU are hot garbage. But wake up. Is John Catanzara any different? Any word from him lately? Has the FOP figured out how to get paid double time for involuntary canceled days off? Have they figured out a real, functional way to switch with a partner to get a day off like CFD has?has catanzara opened up the books? That’s literally the tip of the ice berg. But yea, the FOP is totally legit.
Thanks Paul Vallas
100% true
It’s hilarious when coppers act as if they had someone put a gun to their head to take this job
Has anyone looked around at the cops at roll call? Or the desk? Or the hallway? All I see are miserable, defeated people. It doesn’t matter what kind of spot you have today. The misery and depression is like a fog in the air in my district
All the CPS Teachers I know are pretty happy.
You right, you right
Those that can, work at the academy, those that can’t work at the academy go on the medical
Nah. Life is too good for them.
Sounds pretty good to make that kind of money and not work in the most toxic environment in the United States.
Close any schools with less than 59% filled , have a principal be administer for 4 schools, lay off nurses. Use FaceTime for nurse to cover more than one school. Many schools don’t need full time librarian, school counselors.
Sell off school property and develop low income housing on land.get our homeless into a housing program.
Why are CPS employees allowed to live outside city limits?
Well said.
Multiply these cuts by 10000 and we have a beginning
To all the cps/ctu trolls and spouses STFU GTFO & GFY,,,when it’s all said over and over the CPD & CFD are the only respected gubmint J.O.B.s outside of cook co. So when you look at your stupid face putting on your cheap ass Walgreens make up,,,,nobody fucn cares that you are an absolute failure which is why you won’t stop saying “u signed up 4it” “ don’t b jelly” #udumbfatbitch!
Signed: Mark Thompson
In the 70s every Spring CPS bought 1000 snowblowers and every November not one could be found. The City that works.
Fuck CPS teachers. Drunk lazy fools who work 5 months a year and live in suburbs. Still collect pension and get drunk every night on their wine. What a scam.
And cutting. And cutting......
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