The battle between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Chicago Public Schools over education funding played out in dueling letters delivered this week to parents of students at the financially troubled district.
In one letter, State Education Secretary Beth Purvis accused CPS of trying to "arbitrarily create a crisis" with "a curiously timed and unfortunate announcement" on Monday that outlined a $46 million spending freeze for schools.
The district says the budget trims are necessary because of a Rauner veto that cost CPS $215 million in state aid, but Purvis said the cuts are being laid out even as lawmakers work on proposals that include more money for the system.
Purvis told parents that "continued mismanagement left (CPS) with a $215 million hole in the current fiscal year," despite an annual special block grant from the state, declining enrollment within the district and increased property taxes.
CPS parents also received a letter from district CEO Forrest Claypool, who wrote that "Governor Rauner, just like President Trump, has decided to attack those who need the most help."
"If we are not able to win the political battles in Springfield, we will have to make more cuts," Claypool’s letter said. "Those cuts will be even more painful. We need not just the $215 million first step that the Governor has stolen from your children. We need real change that is fair to your children."
Illinois lawmakers to weigh schools change during budget debate Kim Geiger and Monique Garcia
Illinois Senate leaders are poised to add a contentious issue to their already complicated attempt to break the budget stalemate in Springfield as they turn their attention this week to changing the formula used to funnel state tax money to schools.
Senate President John Cullerton said Monday that…
Illinois Senate leaders are poised to add a contentious issue to their already complicated attempt to break the budget stalemate in Springfield as they turn their attention this week to changing the formula used to funnel state tax money to schools.
Senate President John Cullerton said Monday that…
(Kim Geiger and Monique Garcia)
In addition to a $46 million spending freeze to schools, the district on Monday laid out a potential $18 million cut to independently operated schools and the elimination of $5 million in training programs.
Monday’s cuts and the four furlough days announced earlier this year would close only half of a budget gap CPS faces after Rauner in December vetoed a measure to send $215 million to the cash-strapped school district. Rauner said Democrats went back on a deal that tied the aid to broader changes to the state’s employee retirement system.
CPS officials had assumed the state aid would arrive in time to help balance this school year’s operating budget, and said without it cuts would be necessary. With the spending freeze, CPS principals have to re-engineer their budgets in the middle of the school year and give up as much as half of unspent money sitting in accounts for nonpersonnel costs.
Lawmakers were poised to take on changes to the state’s complex education funding formula as part of a sweeping attempt to break a protracted budget stalemate. A Rauner-commissioned panel last week recommended boosting state education funding by at least $3.5 billion over the next decade.
"Why would CPS arbitrarily create a crisis and hurt its students and teachers rather than work to pass the Senate’s balanced budget reform package?" Purvis wrote in her letter to district parents.
"Rather than cutting services and creating a crisis to help justify a campaign to raise taxes in Springfield, it would be helpful to everyone if CPS would work with all parties to enact a balanced budget package that includes comprehensive pension reform and a new and equitable school funding formula," she said.
Asked to respond to Purvis’ letter, Claypool again attacked Rauner and state legislators.
"In the absence of state funding, CPS must take emergency actions now to meet its legal obligation to keep revenues and expenses balanced, and cannot blithely and irresponsibly fail to do so as the governor and Springfield have done for two consecutive years," Claypool said in a statement.
Further fueling the political fight, the Rauner-funded Illinois Republican Party continued its efforts Tuesday to link Democrats to the governor’s chief political nemesis, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, by sending out a missive criticizing Mayor Rahm Emanuel as "Madigan’s mayor" and "junior partner."
The state GOP statement labeled Claypool as Emanuel’s "handpicked political fixer" and "hatchet man" and accused Claypool of ordering $46 million in "avoidable new cuts to Chicago schools."
The statement criticized Emanuel for not pushing for comprehensive changes in public pensions that are being discussed in the Illinois Senate.
"Madigan and the mayor are playing from the same divisive playbook, trying to create a crisis and hurt people instead of working to find common ground. It’s time for Mayor Emanuel to stop playing the part of Madigan’s junior partner and actually work to get results for his city," the state GOP said.
Chicago Tribune’s Rick Pearson contributed.
jjperez@tribpub.com
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