Thanks to the Illinois Stopgap Budget, CPS Finally Has All Kinds of Good News

We've been in CPS for four years, and there is not enough good news to be had. From strikes to program cuts, principals leaving in droves and having no clue how we'll pay teacher pensions, it's been a struggle to have something to believe in.

Well, parents, believe in this: CPS will open on time and with some money to boot. Now it's not enough to clear the $1 Billion deficit, but it's a heck of a lot more than nothing. $600 Million will go a long way to fund our schools, and as of next week principals will begin learning how that money is allocated. With any luck, this will mean continued arts education, sports programs and keeping great teachers in CPS. Hey, your kids could even wind up seeing Hamilton before you do!

But wait! There's more!

The district made a pension payment to the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, for a total of $676 million.

Despite the fiscal challenges of the district, they were able to pull through and help fulfill the responsibility to our teachers who have earned their pensions. Hopefully Illinois' stopgap budget means that more money for pensions will come our way, because it will likely require a bump in property taxes in the immediate future.

I'm already looking forward to fall!