CPAA Memo Highlights Staffing Cuts Concerns

The Chicago Teachers Union and its members are not the only ones dealing with a massive budget deficit that is forcing lots of layoffs.

The Chicago Principals and Administrators Association is also fighting hard against the budget cuts that are forcing them to give up their Assistant Principal positions if they want to save teaching jobs. However, many do not want to give up their AP.

A memo from the CPAA to its members addressed a number of questions and concerns from the principals and their union did its best to answer. They put together the questions and answers in a CPS FAQ sent out to its members. We republish a few interesting Q&As here:

Question: “I liquidated 2 positions to pay for AP position which did not result in any teacher layoffs but has already created a negative in discretionary funds. Can a liquidated position be restored and used to staff my current needs or can I have funds added to my discretionary funds. The cost of an AP is more than what I was given in the liquidation. BTW, the AP is also the case manager. Should I fill out the form? What should I say?

ANSWER: The Board’s budget amendment focuses on rescinding actual staff layoffs. Consequently, discretionary or Internal Accounts funds cannot be reimbursed. Liquidated positions cannot be restored unless their closure directly triggered the layoff of a specific employee. Furthermore, restored positions are tied strictly to recalling the specific laid-off individual and cannot be converted into flexible funding or used for general staffing needs.

Liquidated positions cannot be restored unless their closure directly triggered the layoff of a specific employee.

Question: I received an Interventionist position for my displaced AP. Once the AP position is restored, will the Interventionist position be removed or can I staff someone else in that position (or hold it until January)?

ANSWER: If your AP position was not centrally funded and you did not use discretionary funds to keep the AP position, you can list the AP position on the survey to be restored and have that individual’s layoff rescinded. And to answer your question about the Interventionist position—if the AP’s layoff is rescinded and they return to the AP role, no, you will not lose the Interventionist position that was previously allocated to your school.

Question: Same as above ^ I used IA (Internal Accounts) and all discretionary funds to keep my AP—the survey made it seem as they were deploying subs for impacted positions versus returning money which I found discouraging.

ANSWER: Because the Board’s budget amendment is limited to rescinding actual employee layoffs, it does not allow for discretionary funds or Internal Accounts to be reimbursed.

Question: Why are special education positions not included for consideration? We lost multiple special education positions that we need for this coming year, but we’ll be without them for months because of the 20th day appeal rule.

ANSWER: Special education positions (special education teacher, case managers, special education classroom assistants) are not included in this consideration because all special education positions laid off were centrally retained as part of the original CPS budget. More information will be provided as to who these positions will be allocated soon.

Will this have any effect on positions that were closed by the district, but kept open at considerable expense using discretionary spending?

Question: Will this have any effect on positions that were closed by the district, but kept open at considerable expense using discretionary spending? I’m thinking specifically about APs and school wide assistants. At many of these schools, these discretionary expenses will have significant impacts on principal and AP working conditions.

ANSWER: Because the Board’s budget amendment is limited to rescinding actual employee layoffs, it does not allow for discretionary funds or Internal Accounts to be reimbursed.

Question: If my AP is placed back at my school but decides to leave, do I keep the position to hire someone else? If my AP chooses to not return, do I still get the AP position to hire someone new?

ANSWER: No, because the funding is tied directly to the individual employee whose layoff is being reversed. The position does not convert into an open slot for general hiring if that employee declines to return or leaves the role.

Question: My AP is being paid for after closing two positions. I would like the math teacher restored but because I closed it to save the AP. Also, we were told that if the numbers increase in classrooms I would not be allowed the position because I closed two positions to keep her. The chief said this was what he was told by his boss.

ANSWER: If closing that math position directly resulted in a specific teacher being laid off, you can list that position on the survey to request their return. Any adjustments for increased student numbers are handled separately through the Class Size Appeals process. Please reach out to your Network Chief.

Question: I lost two core teachers but had two SPED teachers take admin transfers so I moved two GenEd teachers (w/credentials) to the SPED positions. No one was displaced but I had to close a kindergarten and 1st grade classroom. I now have 29 Kindergarten students and 27 first grade students. Will I get my two core positions back?

ANSWER: Because no individual staff member was actually laid off when you closed those classrooms, this specific survey does not apply. The budget amendment allocation is reserved for rescinding actual employee layoffs. Class size concerns and any resulting staffing needs are managed through the separate Class Size Appeals process—please contact your Network Chief for assistance.

Question: I prioritized restoring my AP position and she completed the Survey that she received when she was displaced stating that she wants to return but she did accept an AP position elsewhere in order to just have a job. She wants to return and we want her back. Will it be an issue that she accepted a position elsewhere, while displaced?

ANSWER: If any laid off individual accepted another position, they would no longer be eligible to return to their former position.

Question: I liquidated a position to pay for an AP position. When I liquidated the position, I was told that if I liquidated, I would not be able to appeal for a TA due to class size issues because I should liquidate to cover class size. Will CPS change its decision, and is this legal? If CPS denies a class size TA because I liquidated, then I will receive a grievance, and it seems illogical because if I hadn’t liquidated and lost the AP position that this shouldn’t apply.

ANSWER: Classrooms exceeding standard class size limits may qualify for class size support. However, providing such support depends on the availability of district class size funds and relative priority across the district.

Question: If we saved our AP, can we request that position be reinstated and have the monies returned to the budget?

ANSWER: Because the Board’s budget amendment is limited to rescinding actual employee layoffs, it does not allow for discretionary funds or Internal Accounts to be reimbursed

My AP is being paid for after closing two positions. I would like the math teacher restored but I closed it to save the AP

Question: What protection do we have from grievances for teachers who were laid off and not reinstated?

ANSWER: When a school identifies which position eliminations should be rescinded, the Talent Office will review who is eligible to be recalled. The decision of which position to rescind over another rests within the principal’s discretion and is not subject to a grievance.

Question: People who have taken positions at other schools no longer qualify to be part of the recall, correct. Including APs.

ANSWER: If any individual accepted another position, they would no longer be eligible to return to their former position.

Question: SY27 Allocation: Our core teacher allocation was reduced to 18 positions, with the 2 EL support roles no longer included in that core count. Following the resignation of one EL support teacher, we chose to purchase the second EL support position using our discretionary funds and closed the teachers position of Restorative Justice Coordinator/Dean position. This teacher was displaced since he only has a Music Endorsement.

ANSWER: If an employee was laid off as a direct result of a position being closed, the school can submit a request to rescind that closure and recall the staff member. For instance, you could request to rescind the Restorative Justice Coordinator position closure, allowing the former employee to become eligible for recall.

Question: If CPS reallocates core teacher positions back to our school, we would like to confirm our flexibility regarding discretionary funding: Are we obligated to reinstate the teacher position for the Restorative Justice Coordinator/Dean position previously funded through discretionary funds? Alternatively, do we have the discretion to use those funds to hire an additional Counselor instead?

ANSWER: Only those closed positions that resulted in an individual being laid off are eligible to be rescinded. For instance, you could request to rescind the Restorative Justice Coordinator position closure, allowing the former employee to become eligible for recall as a Restorative Justice Coordinator. If you closed a teaching position (7th Grade Math) and the school identifies to restore a math teaching position, the HR School Partner will identify which teacher is eligible to be recalled. The returning teacher may be utilized in co-teaching, intervention, or push-in support models for Math. When programming these roles, principals must keep the number of preparations to a minimum and ensure assignments align with the teacher’s professional background, qualifications, and preparation. You would not be required to have that teacher be the 7th Grade Math teacher again.

CPAA President Kia Banks stated that there has been “significant confusion around recent staffing changes” and they wanted to clarify that some schools have recently received additional staff through existing CPS staffing pools that include early offer hires, teacher residencies, international hires, and special education vacancy pools. These placements are separate from the budget amendment redeployment process, she wrote. “We have asked CPS to consider a process that would allow school leaders to review available candidates before placements are finalized … We also reiterated that the remaining displaced assistant principals should return to school-based leadership roles.”

The CPAA is flexing its union muscles, and like the CTU have developed a candidate questionnaire for candidates running in the upcoming Chicago Board of Education election. Three questions that stood out for me included, 1) Do you support establishing a stable, centrally funded staffing model that recognizes Assistant Principals as essential instructional leadership positions? 2) Will you commit to respecting the collective bargaining process and supporting good-faith negotiations with CPAA? 3) What is your position on allowing individuals who have not served as certified school administrators to evaluate Chicago Public Schools Principals?