Illinois Senate’s education finance bill bails out Chicago, fails at reform

By John Klingner, Ted Dabrowski

06/02/2017

Senate Bill 1 provides a $215 million annual pension bailout and other carve-outs worth hundreds of millions of dollars to CPS.

TAGS: budget, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education

6 key reasons to say ‘no’ to Flynn Currie pension bill in the Illinois House

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/17/2017

Illinois state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie has introduced a pension bill that is unfair to new and current workers, is potentially unconstitutional, bails out Chicago Public Schools’ pensions, and perpetuates Illinois’ broken pension system.

TAGS: Barbara Flynn Currie, budget, Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Jim Durkin, pensions

Illinois lawmakers attempt to bail out Chicago Public Schools yet again

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/16/2017

State lawmakers’ latest bill not only forces a failed “evidence-based” education funding program on Illinois, but also bails out Chicago Public Schools.

TAGS: budget, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education

Chicago Public Schools budget shortfall: a manufactured crisis

By Chris Lentino

04/26/2017

Chicago Public Schools is faced with the possibility of closing school early while Chicago sits on massive property wealth.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTPF: Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, education, Forrest Claypool, Rahm Emanuel, TIF

Chicago aldermen propose $33 per employee ‘head tax’ on city employers

By Chris Lentino

04/24/2017

At a time when businesses are fleeing the state, a group of Chicago aldermen are attempting to revive the employer’s expense tax to bail out Chicago Public Schools.

TAGS: Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Rahm Emanuel

Chicago Teachers Union seeks more negotiating power, strike authority in HB 1253

By Mailee Smith

03/31/2017

While states surrounding Illinois are enacting labor reforms that benefit residents, Illinois remains a bastion of labor power. Now the Chicago Teachers Union wants even more power – including the broadened right to go on strike and strand parents and students.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, labor, unions

Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools

By Chris Lentino

03/06/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has suggested funding CPS with tax increment financing, or TIF, funds; this would temporarily bail out the district, but more needs to be done to address serious concerns about Chicago’s TIF program.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christine Radogno, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton, TIF

Property tax rebate program for Chicago homeowners turns into Rahm’s slush fund

By Brendan Bakala

01/26/2017

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is spending money promised for rebates on police body cameras, a legal defense fund for undocumented immigrants and other programs.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel

Rauner vetoes state bailout of CPS pensions

By Ted Dabrowski

12/02/2016

Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the $215 million bailout of Chicago Public Schools’ ailing teachers’ pension fund.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Rahm Emanuel

S&P hits Chicago Public Schools with credit downgrade

By John Klingner

11/10/2016

Standard & Poor’s sent Chicago Public Schools’ credit rating deeper into junk territory in the wake of the new $9.5 billion teachers’ contract. The ratings firm said the new contract will make the district’s financial crisis worse.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, credit rating, Standard & Poor's