Committee on Education and Child Development meeting, January 30, 2024
- When: Tue, Jan 30, 2024, 2:30 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Education and Child Development
- Video: https://vimeo.com/907938503
- Transcript: full text (8,969 words, automatic captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Education and Child Development held the second part of a subject matter hearing on City Colleges of Chicago's budget and capital needs. Three public commenters spoke about contracting participation for Black residents, declining adult education enrollment, and pay equity for adjunct faculty. The committee approved the January Rule 45 report by voice vote. City Colleges leadership presented on the system's financial recovery since 2017, its $522 million budget, a $132 million priority capital list, and a proposed $7 per credit hour tuition increase to be brought to its Board of Trustees. Members asked about COVID relief spending, aid for families who do not qualify for grants, program availability across campuses, and the use of a $5 million MacKenzie Scott grant at Kennedy-King College; no action was taken on the presentation.
Topics: City Colleges budget, tuition increase, financial aid, COVID relief funds, adjunct faculty pay, adult education, program consolidation, nursing programs, Kennedy-King College grant, capital needs
Agenda items discussed
- 8:13 Public comment
- 20:04 January Rule 45 report: passed
- 20:28 Subject matter hearing on City Colleges of Chicago budget and capital needs: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Jeanette B. Taylor (chair): Asked City Colleges for a college-by-college breakdown of how COVID relief funds were spent and the total amount received. (41:13); Asked whether City Colleges is considering restoring all programs at every campus so South Side students do not have to travel, and requested the pros, cons and costs of doing so. (52:08); Asked City Colleges to send a list of programs offered at each college so it can be shared with all elected officials. (1:00:28)
- Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): Asked about the status of the MacKenzie Scott grant for Kennedy-King College and who approves its spending. (1:01:28); Asked how much of the $5 million grant has been spent after about four years. (1:03:49); Asked who handles procurement for infrastructure work funded by the grant and raised a plumbing issue with the campus swimming pool. (1:04:06)
Exchanges between members
- 1:01:01 Alderperson Stephanie D. Coleman thanked Chairwoman Jeanette B. Taylor after being recognized.
- 1:06:35 Chairwoman Jeanette B. Taylor said she agreed with Alderperson Stephanie D. Coleman point about communication with City Colleges.