Chicago Public Schools Announces Nearly 1000 'Normal' Layoffs

By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 5, 2016 6:16PM

Brentano Academy in Chicago / Photo: Tim Boyle / Getty Images

Chicago Public Schools is laying off more almost 1000 teachers and school-based personnel, the district announced on Friday.

Nearly 500 educators (302 high-school teachers and 192 elementary-school teachers) and nearly 500 support staffers (352 from high schools and 140 from elementary) will be terminated. CPS expects most of those impacted will be hired back in other positions, among some 1,000 current openings, according to a statement sent to Chicagoist.

"Today’s staffing changes are part of the normal process of school planning, and there are more vacant positions in the District than staff who will be impacted today, with roughly 1,000 teaching vacancies to be filled," spokeswoman Emily Bittner said in the statement. Roughly 60 percent of layoffs in recent years have been rehired in full-time roles and another 26 percent found work as substitutes, CPS said.

A total of 280 schools will not be affected by cuts, according to CPS. Teacher career fairs are planned for Aug. 10, 11 and 17.

But in a statement sent to Chicagoist, the Chicago Teachers Union said such measures would not have been necessary had the Chicago Board of Education and the City of Chicago executed “progressive revenue strategies,” including a declaration of TIF surplus and a corporate head tax.

CTU’s highly critical statement reads in full:

“CPS continues to inflict damage on our school district by implementing layoffs, cutting special education services and other programs that help students excel. The gutting of experienced educators and other school employees only weakens schools and puts children at a disadvantage. This is no way to run a 21st century school district. This latest round of layoffs come when Mayor Emanuel is seeking more tax hikes from Chicago’s working families while he continues to ignore demands that he go after wealthy developers and others who enrich themselves at the public’s expense. If the City and Board exhibited leadership by implementing progressive revenue strategies, such as declaring a TIF surplus and reinstating a corporate head tax, these layoffs could have been avoided.“

The teachers union published a blog post on their website on Friday morning reminding teachers of their rights in such a circumstance.