Chicago Public Schools is struggling to pay some of its bills and is facing increasing pressure to avoid layoffs as it searches for ways to close a $734 million deficit.
The district’s budget challenges are the most severe in at least the past five years and have already resulted in dozens of layoffs of central office staff and crossing guards. Officials said previously that school-based layoffs would happen in July and teachers union leaders are demanding retroactive raises be sent out as soon as possible.
This year’s budget will be the first approved by the city’s new partially elected school board…