CPS Begins Layoffs

By aaroncynic in News on Jul 22, 2010 6:40PM

Chicago Public Schools began their first round of layoffs this week, axing 400 teachers and 200 support staff. The layoffs are part of an attempt to close a $370 million budget gap. The Sun-Times reports this is the first of at least two rounds of layoffs, with the total number of people finding themselves out of job projected to be as high as 2,000. Budget talks are scheduled to begin Friday with CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union. CPS Chief Ron Huberman has said the layoffs might have been avoided if the CTU agreed to concessions, but CTU President Karen Lewis disagreed. Lewis pointed out that the 26,000 member union already took a hit via pension concessions and said that lawmakers in Springfield need to do a better job of paying their bills.