In efforts to reduce its $480 million budget shortfall, Chicago Public Schools today gave layoff notices to 227 employees as part of a central office downsizing.
In a statement, the district explained that 57 of those staffers being laid off were part of teams being downsized and they will be allowed to reapply for 35 positions, for a total of 192 vacated positions.
“There’s no doubt that these cuts are painful. However, with limited resources and a budget crisis not just this year but into the foreseeable future, we had no choice,” said CEO Forrest Claypool in a release.
“While we will continue to provide the key oversight and administrative responsibilities of the district, we will curtail functions that don’t support the immediate day-to-day operations of schools.”
CPS says many of the cuts affect employees across administrative departments, including procurement, law, IT, facilities, diverse learners and payroll. They include two Assistant Inspector General positions at a total annual cost of $127,000 each and three Instructor Support Leaders and a Deputy Schools Chief across three networks for a total of $545,658 annually.
The least expensive position was a Professional III at Chicago Vocational Career Academy for an annual cost of $58,317. The most expensive was the Chief of College and Career Success, for a total annual cost of $224,118.
Additionally, the office is closing 180 vacant positions as of today, and between Aug. 1, 2015 and Jan. 15, 2016, closed 61 administrative positions.
The total reduction of 433 positions is estimated to save the district $45.1 million per year, beginning with fiscal year 2017.
The district emphasizes that it will also save $11.1 million per year by phasing out the pension pick-up for Central Office Employees and $3.1 million per year by having non-union employees pay more for their health care.
“Amid these challenges, we are negotiating with the CTU leadership on a multiyear agreement that would prevent midyear classroom teacher layoffs and give teachers a raise over the life of the contract. Both parties agree that these good faith negotiations are ongoing and productive,” said Claypool.
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