Chicago Schools Face Big Money Problems

Chicago's schools are in a tough spot. The new leader, Macquline King, just told everyone that the money trouble is worse than they thought. They need to find $730 million, which is a lot more than they expected. This means big decisions are coming. King is new to the job, but she knows it's her job to fix this mess. She wants to make sure schools open in August with a clear plan. But right now, no one knows how she'll do that. The schools have been struggling for a long time. The state hasn't given them enough money, and now they're in a deep hole. Before, they thought they needed $529 million. But that didn't include some big bills, like $175 million for pensions and money to take over some charter schools. Now, they have to figure out how to pay for everything. King has 60 days to make a plan. Until then, they can only spend what they have. But that might not be enough. They already gave schools their budgets, but that was based on money they might not get. To balance the budget, they might have to cut a lot. That could mean losing more than 1, 600 jobs. People are worried about what this means for their schools. One mom, Theresa Nuestro, said cuts to special education could hurt her kids. She needs the support staff to help her sons. Some people think they should take out loans. But others say that's a bad idea. It could make things worse in the long run. The teachers' union wants the state to give more money. They don't want to see more cuts. On a brighter note, the school board approved a plan for green schools. They'll put money into clean energy projects, like solar panels and heat pumps. This could save money and make schools healthier. They're also looking for a new superintendent. It might take until next year to find one. For now, King is in charge. She says she's ready to lead and make things better.