The Chicago Board of Education voted to reverse layoffs, but CPS says not all positions can be restored

The Chicago Board of Education recently voted to reverse hundreds of layoffs in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), but the district insists not all positions will be restored. The board's 11-7 vote considered a proposed budget that assumed an additional $150 million in state funding, with $100 million set aside to rehire laid-off educators.

Despite this, district officials said they cannot afford to reinstate every position cut earlier this summer. While some reinstated teachers and staff will be present on the first day of school, Aug. 24, not all laid-off educators will return. CPS has not disclosed the exact number of employees who will be rehired. The district conducted surveys for principals and laid-off teachers to determine staffing needs and interest in returning.

Teachers will learn of possible reassignments between this weekend and the start of school, while principals must wait until Aug. 24 to finalize their budgets. The rehiring process excludes positions aimed at reducing class sizes or those associated with special education, which have separate appeals processes. During a Tuesday night webinar, CPS Chief Education Officer Karime Asaf stated that officials are working to implement the adopted budget, but it will take time.

One CPS principal, Jeff Finelli, expressed frustration over the uncertainty and disruption caused by attempting to reverse layoffs, arguing that principals now face "massive, unnecessary distraction." Although CPS had warned the board against revising the budget due to potential midyear cuts, securing more state funding requires a three-fifths majority approval from state legislators.

Layoff notices were sent to hundreds of employees last month before the budget vote. One laid-off teacher, Andrew Feigenbaum, applied to about 30 schools but has not received any responses. Union representation among CPS workers is divided on the board's decision. The Chicago Teachers Union supports the budget revision in hopes of pressuring the state to increase funding, while SEIU Local 73, representing support staffers, remains skeptical that more funding will materialize and warns that midyear cuts would devastate its members and students.