Chicago Students Head Back to School Amidst Funding Uncertainty and Rising Community Concerns

CHICAGO (WLS) — In a spirited celebration of a new academic year, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King made appearances at various schools across the city on Monday morning.

During his visits, the mayor underscored a critical message: Illinois must boost funding for its educational institutions as countless students return to their studies.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The atmosphere at George Leland Elementary on the West Side was electric. Mayor Johnson welcomed enthusiastic students streaming into the school, marking the beginning of the academic year for over 300,000 pupils across the district as he rang the ceremonial bell.

“I feel excited!” exclaimed second-grader Tommie with gusto. “I want to do crafts, everything—art, and more!”

CPS parent Latecia Williams felt a surge of emotion as her child started school. “I can’t wait for him to reach eighth grade,” she said. “He’s thrilled, and I share his excitement. I’m holding back tears—this is a truly joyful moment for any parent.”

But with excitement also comes uncertainty over Chicago Public Schools funding and the chance of layoffs during the school year.

“Since I’ve been mayor, I’ve released over $1 billion into our public schools,” Mayor Johnson said. “There is no mayor in the history of Chicago that is contributing more into the surplus. In other words, I’ve done my part. The state of Illinois has to do theirs.”

The mayor said the state can do better in helping fund the public school system, calling for what he refers to as a “millionaires tax” to do so.

“We have to demand more from those who have the ability to give more, to actually do more.” Johnson said. “For too long, big corporations and the ultra wealthy of this country and particularly in Chicago, in the state of Illinois, they have been able to get away without paying their fair taxes. The fact that a millionaire pays the same tax rate as the women and men who provide food, our luncheon cafeteria workers, that’s just unconscionable.”

The CPS Board is banking on $150 million from the state, even though that funding has not yet been secured.

Parents are growing more wary if dollars don’t come.

“Our teachers need it,” parent Keyatta Wilburn said. “We need it. The community needs it. We need our teachers. Without our teachers, we don’t have nothing. It’s already hard enough out here; we need our teachers. The kids need them to come to school. That’s who inspires him to come to school.”

“It hurts the kids, especially kids who actually want to attend school,” parent Michael Soto said. “Because there’s kids who don’t want to show up, but they show up because of the teachers and for food or it’s a safe haven.”

At Madero Middle School in Little Village, eighth-grade language and literature teacher Nancy Ballesteros welcomed students into a classroom she prepared over the summer.

Entering her 19th year with CPS, Ballesteros painted her room blue, installed window treatments and added cultural touches designed to create a welcoming learning environment.

“They want to feel like the classroom environment motivates them to want to learn, and I think it makes a huge difference,” Ballesteros said.

Through attrition, Madero Middle School was able to retain its staff, and Principal Hamed Flores said he hopes that remains the case throughout the year.

“We are at the minimum, pretty much at the minimum of the number of people. So we cannot get more cuts; so I’m trusting that it continues that way,” Flores said.

Johnson, a former CPS teacher, criticized Springfield for not fully investing in Black and brown students.

“You have politicians who have more expectations of third graders than they do of themselves,” Johnson said.

Despite concerns about funding, families focused on the milestone of a new school year.

“I’m excited for him; it’s his first year here,” parent Taquana Davenport said.

As CPS leaders, teachers and the mayor continue to push for additional state funding, district officials have said that even if lawmakers approve more money during their fall session, it would not arrive in time to affect the current school year.