{"id":2324464,"date":"2024-08-14T14:08:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T18:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-public-schools-accuses-teachers-union-of-trying-to-tank-district-financially-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-14T14:14:08","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T18:14:08","slug":"chicago-public-schools-accuses-teachers-union-of-trying-to-tank-district-financially-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-public-schools-accuses-teachers-union-of-trying-to-tank-district-financially-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Public Schools accuses teachers union of trying to tank district financially &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchicago-public-schools-accuses-teachers-union-of-trying-to-tank-district-financially-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2324464&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) are in conflict with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) over a series of \u2062contract proposals that \u2062the district claims could result in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supplements-can-help-with-hair-loss-according-to-new-study\/\" title=\"Supplements Can Help With Hair Loss According To New Study\">substantial financial burden<\/a>. CPS asserts that the union&#8217;s proposals, \u200dwhich include \u2062significant salary increases and additional staffing, could \u200cinflate the district&#8217;s\u200c projected deficit from $509\u200b million next year to $4 \u200dbillion\u2064 by the\u200b 2029-2030\u2064 school year.\u2064 CPS budget chief Mike Sitkowski emphasized the importance of sustainable financial management while acknowledging the need for fair compensation for\u2062 educators.<\/p>\n<p>The union has proposed funding solutions such as increasing taxes and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/it-was-like-a-science-class-grown-up-trans-kid-details-horrors-of-trans-surgeries-in-candace-owens-interview\/\" title=\"&#039;Grown-Up &#039;Trans Kid&#039; Reveals Horrors of Trans Surgeries in Candace Owens Interview: A Science Class Experience&#039;\">seeking legal recourse<\/a> against banks for alleged predatory lending practices. Notably, negotiations have reached\u200b an \u200dimpasse,\u2063 with district officials stressing fiscal limitations while union leaders argue for\u200b the importance of their demands as critical\u200d for \u2064marginalized student populations.\u2062 The\u2064 situation is further \u2062complicated by the conclusion of pandemic-era\u2062 funding, which could exacerbate \u200dexisting \u200dbudget issues for schools across the country.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Chicago Public Schools accuses teachers union of trying to tank district financially<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1729977\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chicago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Chicago<\/a> Public Schools is criticizing the district&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/teachers-unions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>teachers union<\/a> for demands it says would create a $4 billion deficit by the 2029-2030 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>school<\/a> year, including during a meeting between the district and the Chicago Teachers Union on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>The Chicago Teachers Union made over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cps.edu\/globalassets\/cps-pages\/about-cps\/labor-relations\/ctu-budget-finance-bargaining-presentation-8-13-24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>700 contract proposals<\/a> to the school district, which included 9% salary increases and the hiring of additional staff, but district budget chief Mike Sitkowski said granting even just 52 of the proposals would spike the projected $509 million deficit for the next fiscal year to $3 billion and reach $4 billion by 2030.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We believe our educators deserve fair raises, but we must acknowledge what is responsible and sustainable,&rdquo; Sitkowski said, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chalkbeat.org\/chicago\/2024\/08\/14\/public-schools-teachers-union-labor-contract-talks-deficit-morgan-park\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according<\/a> to <em>Chalkbeat Chicago<\/em>. Even without the new proposals, the district is set to see deficits increase over the next five years.<\/p>\n<p>To pay for the additional costs, the union recommended that the school district raise more money by increasing taxes and suing banks for what union officials say has been predatory lending involving the school district. The union also suggested trying to find more federal tax dollars and taxing tech companies for &ldquo;profiting off our students&rsquo; and families&rsquo; private data.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Squabbles over the union demands have continued for several months, when negotiations have hit a bit of a standstill, and comments from the district occurred at a public bargaining session on Tuesday focused on the financial realities of Chicago Public Schools.<\/p>\n<p>Union officials did not directly address the costs of their proposals, with Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jackson Potter saying that mentioning the deficit &ldquo;sends the message that you can&rsquo;t meet any of our recommendations,&rdquo; and President Stacy Davis Gates adding that &ldquo;the price tag is opportunity for black children, immigrant children, and Latine children.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Come hell or high water, and I don&rsquo;t give a damn who pay,&rdquo; Davis Gates said of the contract proposals.<\/p>\n<p>Deficit concerns in Chicago and around the country are highlighted by the fact that pandemic emergency relief funding, or ESSER funds, is running out this year, which will force school districts to return to their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nearly-200-billion-in-emergency-school-funding-saw-slight-academic-recovery-studies-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Nearly 0 billion in emergency school funding saw slight academic recovery: Studies - Washington Examiner\">pre-pandemic funding levels<\/a>. Many unions are trying to force a continuation of pandemic funding levels and are portraying a return to normal funding as budget cuts.<\/p>\n<p>However, both the Chicago school district and the union have tried to get Illinois to cover costs over the $25 million it already gave, although Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) and statewide superintendent Tony Sanders have already shot down the idea of more funding.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2964595\/chicago-schools-decolonize-anti-western-activists\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>reported<\/a>, Chicago Public Schools has spent millions of dollars on a curriculum that attempts to undercut the advances of Western society, teaches children to become political activists and &ldquo;decolonize,&rdquo; and reinstates African griot &ldquo;oral tradition,&rdquo; sometimes in contravention of reading.<\/p>\n<p>The union is also trying to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3055893\/chicago-teachers-union-pushes-climate-demands-in-cps-negotiations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>push<\/a> hard-left activism in its contract negotiations, such as by making climate-related demands, including using solar panels to power school buildings and purchasing a fleet of electric buses.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1729977\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1729977\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chicago Public Schools is accusing the teachers union of making demands that could lead to a $4 billion deficit by the 2029-2030 school year. This criticism arose during a meeting between the district and the Chicago Teachers Union on Tuesday. The union proposed over 700 contract changes, including salary increases of 9% and hiring more staff. However, budget chief Mike Sitkowski warned that even accepting just 52 of these proposals would increase next year&#8217;s projected $509 million deficit to $3 billion, potentially reaching $4 billion by 2030. Sitkowski stated, &#8220;We believe our educators deserve fair raises, but we must acknowledge what is responsible and sustainable,&#8221; as reported by Chalkbeat Chicago.<\/p>\n<p>The district anticipates rising deficits over the next five years regardless of new proposals. To cover additional expenses, the union suggested raising funds through tax increases and suing banks for alleged predatory lending practices related to the school district. They also recommended seeking more federal funding and taxing tech companies profiting from students&#8217; private data.<\/p>\n<p>Negotiations have stalled for several months amid disagreements over these demands. During a public bargaining session on Tuesday focused on financial realities, union officials did not directly address their proposals&#8217; costs. Vice President Jackson Potter remarked that discussing deficits implies an inability to meet their recommendations, while President Stacy Davis Gates emphasized that &#8220;the price tag is opportunity for black children, immigrant children, and Latine children.&#8221; She insisted on pursuing contract proposals regardless of who bears the cost.<\/p>\n<p>Concerns about deficits are heightened as pandemic emergency relief funding (ESSER funds) expires this year, forcing districts back to pre-pandemic funding levels. Many unions are advocating for continued pandemic-level funding while framing any return to normalcy as budget cuts. Both Chicago Public Schools and the union have sought additional state support beyond Illinois&#8217;s existing $25 million contribution; however, Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) and statewide superintendent Tony Sanders have rejected further funding requests.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, reports indicate that Chicago Public Schools has invested millions in a curriculum aimed at challenging Western societal norms while promoting political activism among students through initiatives like &#8220;decolonization&#8221; and African griot oral traditions\u2014sometimes at odds with traditional reading methods. The union is also pushing progressive activism in negotiations with climate-related demands such as implementing solar panels in schools and acquiring electric buses<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":179,"featured_media":2324465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jb-pritzker-chicago-public-schools-2024-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32263,35136,33634,38136,36106],"class_list":["post-2324464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-chicago-public-schools","tag-education-policy","tag-financial-crisis","tag-labor-dispute","tag-teachers-union"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jb-pritzker-chicago-public-schools-2024-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/179"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2324464"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324464\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2324465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2324464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2324464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2324464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}