Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman said it is his goal to rehire as many teachers as possible thanks to an estimated $100 million in federal funding the district could receive soon.
Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman said it is his goal to rehire as many teachers as possible thanks to an estimated $100 million in federal funding the district could receive soon. “We will definitely be looking to rehire some teachers. We also want to look at reducing high school class sizes to their original size,” Huberman told the Defender. “And it looks like we will not have to deplete our reserve fund after all.” CPS’ proposed 2011 budget is $6.4 billion and calls for the district to use $190 million in its reserve fund to help balance the budget, leaving the fund empty. School board policy requires that a minimum balance equal to 5 percent of the annual budget be kept in the fund. But Huberman said while that is true the policy also allows the district to deviate from that rule in “extreme circumstances.” The $26.1 billion Education and Medicaid Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law Aug. 10, allocates $10 billion for education to all states that apply. Funds will be handed out to states based on total population and school age population. States would then distribute the funds to school districts by using their funding formulas or based on each district’s share of Title I funds. Illinois is set to receive $415 million from the bill, said U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., with a quarter of the money going to CPS. Gov. Pat Quinn applied for the funding Aug. 17, according to his office. The federal government estimates that the money could save up to 5,700 Illinois teaching jobs. “This important federal funding will keep teachers employed and is vital to Illinois’ economic recovery,” the governor said. “In a matter of weeks, Illinois will have this money so that many of our hard-working teachers of our state can get back to work ensuring students receive the best education possible.” Last week layoff notices were sent to 1, 200 CPS employees including 800 teachers, according to Monique Bond, director for communications for CPS. And before that 2,000 teachers and support staff was let go. Durbin said the bill’s primary purpose is to help school districts maintain teaching positions. “This bill will help save 5,000 education jobs in Illinois,” Durbin told the Defender. “And while this bill cannot save all of the education jobs lost this year, it’s a start.” As part of CPS $6.4 billion proposed budget for 2011 it had planned to increase high school class sizes to 33 from 31. The new school board president, Mary Richardson-Lowry, said she would like to see some of the federal funds used to maintain class sizes to 31. Funding for the bill will not increase the national debt, said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Instead, it is being paid for through cuts in other areas. “This money comes at the right time and for the right reason and I am grateful to Congress for passing this bill,” Duncan told the Defender. “Once (states) are approved they should receive the monies two to three weeks later.” He added that, nationally, an estimated 161,000 teaching jobs would be saved thanks to the bill. U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-2nd Dist., was among those who voted for the bill. “I was pleased to vote in favor of keeping teachers and other workers on the job by providing assistance to cash-strapped state governments,” Jackson said in a written statement. The money will come with some restrictions.
For example, states are prohibited from using the money to pay off debt, put into reserve funds or for such purposes as utilities, transportation or renovation. The federal guidelines require states use the money for compensation and employee benefits that support education, according to a press release from Quinn’s office. School districts will have the ability to hire back teachers who have been laid off, retain current teachers and hire new teachers. All educators are covered, including social workers, counselors, speech pathologists and librarians.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
About Post Author
