Chicago school board leader says state funding deal could do 'wonders' for district finances

The Chicago Board of Education on Monday approved a $5.7 billion operating budget that could be infused with additional money after a state education funding deal managed to advance through the House as evening fell.

Before the budget was passed by a vote of 6-0, board President Frank Clark said the proposed state funding compromise could put Chicago Public Schools in line for as much as $450 million. That would be about $150 million more than district officials wrote into their spending plan for the year.

The House passed the legislation after rejecting the same bill only hours earlier amid strong opposition from the Chicago Teachers Union and others to a $75 million tax credit program for private school scholarships. The bill now goes to the Senate and also requires Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's signature.

On Monday morning, about 20 people gathered outside CPS headquarters to condemn the district budget and demand that legislators reject the voucher tax credit proposal. CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey later criticized the board for again making assumptions on state funding.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chicago-school-budget-approval-protest-met-2-20170828-story.html