Chicago public schools are letting go of more than 1,000 teachers and faculty members. The announcement was made on Friday.
The Chicago Tribune reported that more than 500 Chicago public schools teachers and another 500 staff will be laid off. Fortunately, the teachers will be qualified to apply for jobs in the district, which has about 1,000 teaching vacancies. Other personnel affected by the move can be hired at other schools.
CPS noted that about 60 percent of teachers who have been laid off have been rehired in full-time positions in the district in the previous years. Layoffs and rehirings are a regular occurrence at Chicago public schools as response to the changes in enrollment. In the coming year, 273 of the 500-plus public schools will no longer have problems with staffing.
To be exact, 314 elementary school teachers and 194 high school teachers will be let go, for a total of 508. There will be 378 elementary personnel and 143 high school support staff who will be laid off, for a total of 521.
The Chicago Teachers Union slammed the layoffs, describing the ordeal as "the gutting of experienced educators and other school employees only weakens schools and puts children at a disadvantage."
According to Chicago Sun Times, Foreman College and Career Academy have the largest amount of total layoffs, including support staff, with 22. Kelly High School comes next with 17 and is followed by Steinmetz College Prep with 15.
Gallistel Language Academy, Bradwell School of Excellence, Harlan Community Academy, Schurz High School, Wells Community Academy and Addams Elementary School are some of the schools that will be affected with the layoffs.
"CPS principals continue to do exemplary work protecting their classrooms so that they can build on the remarkable academic progress their students are making," CPS spokeswoman Emily Bittner said in a statement. "Today's staffing changes are part of the normal process of school planning, and there are more vacant positions in the district than staff who will be impacted today, with roughly 1,000 teaching vacancies to be filled."
