Committee on Education and Child Development meeting, November 28, 2023
- When: Tue, Nov 28, 2023, 4:00 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/showcase/8928507/video/884968116
- Transcript: full text (21,171 words, official 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, chaired by Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor, held the first of a two-part subject matter hearing series, focused on Chicago Public Schools resources, after approving its Rule 45 report; there were no public commenters. CPS officials reported that school funding has shifted toward need-based allocations and that the district faces a projected structural deficit of about $691 million for fiscal year 2025, or about $391 million after remaining federal relief funds, which they attributed to inadequate state funding. Presentations also covered the school bus driver shortage and transportation priorities, services for newly arrived students, and the educational facilities master plan, which identifies $14.4 billion in facility needs and will hold community roundtables. Members discussed enrollment decline, early childhood programs, marketing neighborhood schools, rideshare alternatives, migrant student stability, vacant school buildings and state advocacy; no votes were taken on the hearing.
Topics: CPS budget deficit, school funding formula, enrollment decline, student transportation, newcomer students, educational facilities master plan, early childhood education, vacant school buildings
Agenda items discussed
- 16:07 Rule 45 report: passed
- 15:49 Subject matter hearing on Chicago Public Schools assets and resources for families: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Jeanette B. Taylor (chair): Asked where the students lost from enrollment went and what CPS is doing to increase enrollment and market schools. (32:02); Said moving away from per-pupil budgeting helps Black and Brown communities and asked for a real plan to pursue federal and state dollars. (34:45); Said schools must be reimagined as welcoming places with community input rather than decisions made only by principals and network chiefs. (1:04:54)
- Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Asked how newly arrived students affect the CPS budget and whether more English as a second language teachers are needed. (36:31); Asked whether the budget includes language assistants for teachers and requested a comparison of resources at a 29th Ward school receiving newcomers. (39:16)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Asked whether state and federal funding still depends on enrollment and how many migrant students have enrolled. (41:21); Said schools can be economic engines and urged CPS to market and rebrand neighborhood schools and work with Planning and Development. (44:18); Urged CPS to consider future population growth near rebuilt public housing before disposing of school buildings. (48:56)
- Marty Quinn (alderperson): Suggested full-day preschool for three-year-olds as a way to build enrollment and support working families. (50:38); Asked how much TIF funding and the recent TIF surplus have provided to CPS. (52:00)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Said she shares concern about closing the deficit and confirmed that base funding is still partly enrollment-based. (54:44); Supported earlier enrollment and said improving neighborhood schools requires more than marketing, citing interest in a Near South high school. (56:44); Asked how the council can help CPS lobby the state for fairer funding. (59:44)
- Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Supported expanding Pre-K for three-year-olds and before- and after-school programs. (1:06:22); Described a school renaming that increased community pride, stressed training local school councils, and asked what CPS is doing about bullying. (1:07:37); Described schools in her ward lacking cafeterias or using gym stages as classrooms and asked how CPS will build better spaces. (2:20:04)
- Matthew J. O'Shea (alderperson): Credited CPS leadership and teachers for academic gains after the pandemic and attributed enrollment loss partly to population decline and private school options. (1:13:23); Supported early childhood investment and contrasted declining enrollment at his community high school with high demand for a nearby magnet school. (1:15:35); Said a lack of parental involvement in local school councils is a problem. (1:17:44)
Exchanges between members
- 50:22 Alderperson Marty Quinn picked up where the chair left off on enrollment, suggesting preschool for three-year-olds.
- 56:44 Alderperson Nicole T. Lee said she liked her colleague's idea of enrolling children earlier.
- 57:01 Alderperson Nicole T. Lee referred to Alderperson Walter R. Burnett point about the stigma attached to some schools.
- 1:06:22 Alderperson Jeylú B. Gutiérrez echoed her colleague's call to expand Pre-K for three-year-olds.
- 1:15:35 Alderperson Matthew J. O'Shea said he wanted to build on his 13th Ward colleague's point about early childhood education.
- 2:07:12 The chair asked CPS for written information on resettlement coordination, saying it addressed Alderperson Nicole T. Lee question.
- 2:19:29 The chair referred to Alderperson Nicole T. Lee point about planning for vacant buildings before school closures.