Chicago School Board Candidates Clash Over CPS Funding Crisis

As Chicago voters prepare to choose their first-ever elected school board president on Tuesday, an unfulfilled $150 million state funding expectation has fractured the race, according to the Chicago Tribune. Months ago, the Chicago Board of Education passed a $10.11 billion budget relying on state lawmakers to funnel this money, without any commitment from Springfield. That gamble now sits at the center of the debate over Chicago Public Schools’ precarious finances.

Chicago Schools Face Funding Gaps and State Resistance

The Chicago Board of Education budgeted for $100 million in more evidence-based funding and $50 million in additional grants from Springfield that never materialized. Under the state’s own funding formula, Chicago Public Schools currently receives only 70% of the funding deemed adequate. Yet, demanding immediate funds clashes with strict state budget constraints.

When the district last budgeted for state money that never arrived, it faced severe cuts and heavy borrowing. Then-Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill in 2016 that he lambasted as a bailout for the district’s pension obligations before enacting the current evidence-based funding formula the following year. Jessica Biggs, a current board member and South Side principal in 2017, voted against the budget amendment adding those unconfirmed state revenues.

JB Pritzker stated at a Chicago news conference that there has not been an ongoing discussion about supplemental midyear money for a single school district. Instead, the state plans to focus on next year’s funding.

Candidate Strategies for Springfield Funding

The three candidates vying for the school board presidency offer sharply different approaches to resolving the district’s financial shortfall.

Hilario Dominguez, a former teacher and Chicago Teachers Union political organizer, insists the state can pay now. Dominguez has touted his Springfield connections to secure funds, stating at a WTTW-Ch. 11 debate in September that the job of a school board president is to fight to make sure Springfield says yes. He has suggested tapping unexpected state revenue, raising progressive taxes on the wealthy, or utilizing a settlement between Illinois and Meta. However, Attorney General Kwame Raoul has noted that calls to spend the Meta settlement on specific items are premature because the funds are restricted to remedying social media harms.

Jessica Biggs has criticized the board’s decision to wait for absent money, advocating instead for a five-year financial recovery plan. Biggs told a WFLD-Ch. 32 debate audience that resolving financial challenges requires honesty and a clear, responsible resource plan. She is backed by the Service Employees International Union and billionaire Michael Sacks.

Victor Henderson, a lawyer running as an outsider, argues that the district should avoid rattling the cage in Springfield and instead forge a transactional business deal with state leaders. Henderson demands a forensic audit before any financial reforms or tax changes take place.

Candidates Disagree on Property Tax Levy Increases

Beyond state funding, the candidates disagree on how to manage local revenue and district costs. Dominguez and Biggs indicated in questionnaires that the district should continue raising the property tax levy to the maximum allowed, a practice Chicago Public Schools has maintained for over a decade. Both candidates expressed unease with the hikes, with Dominguez calling continued increases wickedness on a WGN-TV segment.

Henderson opposes raising property taxes until a forensic audit proves the district is using existing money properly. His opponents have pushed back against the audit demand, pointing out that district finances are already public record.

Meanwhile, declining enrollment coupled with a ballooning budget forces difficult decisions regarding cost containment. While Dominguez strongly opposes school closures—arguing that shuttering neighborhood schools increases violence—Biggs and Henderson remain open to the possibility after consulting affected communities. Dominguez instead champions increasing student participation in federal lunch programs to boost federal reimbursements.

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