Chicago Public School officials announced Thursday night that it will layoff over 2,000 staffers, including over 1,000 teachers.
According to NBC Chicago, the third largest public school system in the country will hand out pink slips to 1,036 teachers and 1,077 non-teachers. That brings the system’s layoff total to 3,000 in two months.
“As a former principal and teacher, I share the frustration felt by many of our principals, teachers, and parents about the difficult decisions our schools are being forced to make because of the historic $1 billion deficit facing our district,” schools chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett said Thursday. “Driven by the lack of reform in Springfield, the pension crisis has arrived at our schools.”
The Chicago Tribune reports that CPS spokeswoman Becky Carroll said that they had made budget cuts elsewhere before deciding on the layoffs, but noted “We're not going to be able to cut our way out of this crisis. Our revenues are simply not keeping in line with our spending increases.”
Chicago Teachers President Karen Lewis criticized the move, calling it “unnecessary and shameful for a system that prides itself on providing a high-quality education for our students.”
The news comes as Chicago is in the process of closing 50 schools in the city. According to The Associated Press, officials testified before a federal court hearing that the move was not influenced by race. CPS’ budget director said the move would save $40 million, which the system could then use to help the displaced students at their new schools. A planning official also said that space at these schools have gone unused.