CHICAGO — The Chicago Teachers Union members staged a walk-in Monday at several schools to push for more federal funds for schools.
CTU said they wanted to focus on schools that desperately need resources.
Chicago Public Schools is in the midst of a financial crisis. The district is trying to find a way to address a massive budget hole for next school year. It is trying to find a way to pay for a new CTU contract, all of this with federal COVID-relief funds expiring Monday.
A walk-in and show-and-tell for the CTU. One teacher is teaching students in four grades at Mollison Elementary in the Bronzeville neighborhood.
“It is a challenge, it’s like an uphill battle. As soon as you take two step forward, you take three steps backwards. So we just need a lot of support,” said teacher, Kelly Crawford.
Another walk-in took place at Benito Juarez High School in Pilsen, the alma mater of CPS Chief Pedro Martinez.
“We’re here demanding that leadership, like CEO Pedro Martinez, get up everyday just like our parents, strap on his boots, get to work and fully fund our schools. Because if he is not knocking on the door of the state, the feds, and demanding the money that we need to fully fund our schools, then he is not doing his job and he must step aside,” said teacher, Hilario Dominguez.
Under the Federal American Rescue Plan, CPS received nearly $3 billion to help students recover from the pandemic. It used that money to pay salaries, to save schools from cuts, and to start new programs.
“It was perhaps the greatest infusion of funding that we have seen in public schools throughout this country. We are saying, more of that please,” said CTU President Stacy Davis Gates.
The Board of Education approved a nearly $10 billion budget for next school year, with a projected shortfall of $500 million. That budget will be amended once there’s a new CTU contract.
Martinez rejected Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposal to take out a loan to help pay for the contract and other costs.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported last week, CPS is considering staff furloughs and programming cuts.
While CTU leaders called on Gov. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders to find ways to adequately fund schools, Martinez visited a Rogers Park school for an event marking the final day of National Literacy Month.
Johnson has asked Martinez to resign, but Martinez has made it clear — he’s not leaving.