Gov. Rauner's Office Sent A Letter Home To CPS Parents, Too
By Emma G. Gallegos in News on Feb 8, 2017 8:25PM
Chicago Public Schools parents have received a flurry of letters from government officials sent home with their kids this week, each blaming one another for a shortfall that has led to the district freezing $46 million.
On Monday, students brought a letter home to their parents from CPS CEO Forrest Claypool that accused the governor of holding back $215 million in promised funding for the district. The letter says, "Governor Bruce Rauner, just like President Trump, has decided to attack those who need the most help."
The district has been trying to figure out what to do about a financial shortfall, given that it can no longer dip into its dwindling reserves or rely on credit, according to the Chicago Tribune. The district froze $46 million in nonpersonnel spending, which includes funds for things like textbooks, field trips and instruction materials. They have also imposed four unpaid furlough days on employees—a move that the district said will save $35 million and that also prompted the teacher's union to call for Claypool's resignation.
The Governor's office sent out a letter in response to Claypool's letter the next day, accusing the district of being mismanaged and "arbitrarily [creating] a crisis." Beth Purvis, Secretary of Education said that the state is happy to provide the money CPS needs for its schools—as long as they agree to Rauner's program of pension reform.
Here is the letter from Claypool:
And here is the Governor's response:
Governor's letter home to parents
Related:
CPS Announces Another Wave Of Cuts, Blames Rauner & Budget Impasse