Last week, a regular parent stopped by the store and mentioned that their child's school aide was notified of their layoff last summer but returned just before the school year started. They seemed unsure whether to be happy or worried. This reflects the current mood among CPS parents.

Let's start with the numbers. The CPS has announced a projected deficit of $732.5 million for the 2026-27 school year. Different media outlets report slightly varying figures, such as $734 million or $748 million, which can be attributed to differences in timing and criteria for the calculations.

How did this happen? The school district cited three main reasons: increased costs for special education services, maintenance of aging school buildings, and the burden of pensions accumulated over the years. This is compounded by a decrease in student enrollment since the pandemic.

The original plan released by the school district in mid-July was quite drastic. It aimed to cover $450 million through layoffs and cost-cutting measures, while the rest would be managed through unpaid leave and spending freezes.

Specifically, around 760 teachers and approximately 800 school support staff were targeted for layoffs. This also included 162 administrative positions at the district and city level. The school district stated that many of these positions would be rehired, but not many on the ground believed that claim.

From a parent's perspective, the most noticeable change would be class sizes. The plan proposed raising the student-to-teacher ratio by one student per teacher. While that may seem like a small change, it could mean entire classes being combined depending on the grade structure.

There are also plans to eliminate positions for assistant principals in small schools. The teachers' union warned that counselors, bilingual coordinators, learning support staff, and instructional coaches could also be affected.

Reports have also surfaced that sports and music programs may be reduced. Those who have raised children in Chicago understand the significance of basketball courts and band rooms for the kids.

There was also a proposal for five days of unpaid leave for staff, which was calculated to save $85 million by designating days when students would not attend school.

However, on July 30, a reversal occurred. The school board rejected the superintendent's proposal and passed a modified budget by a vote of 11 to 7. This marked the first time the school board has so directly overturned a proposal.

The revised budget is nearly $10 billion. The key change is the cancellation of layoffs for over 1,000 staff members, and the five days of unpaid leave were removed.

Where did the money come from? The city projected a surplus of $285 million from TIF funds, and the state government assumed an additional $150 million would come in. The issue is that this $150 million has not yet been secured.

Of that projected amount, $100 million is earmarked for reversing layoffs, and $50 million is intended to lift hiring and spending freezes during the school year. In other words, they are spending money that may not actually come in.

Superintendent McCullin King expressed strong concerns alongside the seven board members who voted against the proposal, stating that if the money does not materialize, it could lead to disaster.

So, what is the current state of the schools? According to a report from October 1, 350 staff members have been rehired. This is about one-third of the targeted school personnel and has been distributed across nearly 200 schools.

Of those rehired, 45% returned to similar positions at their original schools. 37% took similar roles at different schools, and 18% took on entirely different roles.

This includes not just teachers but also assistant principals, security personnel, and school office staff. However, some principals have mentioned that class sizes were already manageable due to declining student numbers.

Now, remember one date: the Illinois state legislature's veto session begins on November 17. To change budget allocations, a three-fifths majority is needed in both the Senate (36 votes) and the House (71 votes).

House Speaker Chris Welch has promised to strongly advocate for additional support for CPS in front of teacher organizations. However, promises are just promises, and the voting results will only be known at that time.

If the funds do not come in, a deficit may arise during the school year around December. Options being discussed include expanding spending freezes, reintroducing unpaid leave, seeking other revenue sources, and if that is insufficient, making mid-year cuts.

This is not just a concern. In 2017, CPS included $215 million in state pension support in its budget but ultimately did not receive it. As a result, they had to make deep cuts to school budgets and personnel during the school year.

There will also be two related questions on the November election ballot. One concerns a state-level millionaire tax, and the other asks for opinions on a new fee imposed on owners of vacant lots in the city.

Both are non-binding advisory referendums. Even if they pass, it does not mean taxes will be implemented immediately; they are intended to apply pressure on the city and state.

So, what can parents do? First, check the schedule for your child's school's LSC meetings. This is the best opportunity to hear how the school budget is being spent.

If English is a concern for parents, it is advisable to ask the homeroom teacher or school office if translation support is available. In times when bilingual support staff are in flux, families that reach out first tend to get information more quickly.

Be sure to open any communications from the school district and school emails around December. This is when after-school sports or music classes may change during the school year.

To add my thoughts, reversing the layoffs is a welcome development for the kids. However, planning a year's budget based on uncertain funds seems precarious from a business perspective.

While it's great to cheer for the Cubs aiming for a comeback in the ninth inning, it's not acceptable to run classrooms that way. I will provide an update once the results of the November veto session are in.