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It’s Thursday and the weekend awaits. Get prepped with our Summer Festival Guide and the latest stories about your city from WTTW News. |
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(WTTW News) |
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Chicago Public Schools officials are planning to rely on non-classroom cuts, additional revenue streams and a contingency that puts off a $175 million pension payment in order to close a budget gap of more than $700 million.
District leaders on Wednesday published their proposed spending plan for the 2026 fiscal year, which they say will avoid a high-interest loan that would have sent CPS on a “downward spiral” of credit downgrades, higher interest rates and steeper cuts to staff, programs and services.
“The choices we have are difficult ones,” CPS chief budget officer Mike Sitkowski told the Board of Education, “and it’s very difficult for us to be able to make cuts of this magnitude and keep the impact off of our schools.”
More context:
CPS officials said this proposal will fully protect school budgets while avoiding classroom cuts or staff furloughs during the school year and preventing risky borrowing that would negatively impact the district’s financial future.
Students are set to return to their classrooms next week, even as the district’s budgeting process continues to play out.
The proposed budget does not include a short-term, high-interest loan that Mayor Brandon Johnson has reportedly pushed for against resistance from former CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and a previous iteration of the board. Those board members resigned en masse last year, and Johnson’s handpicked replacements later fired Martinez.
If CPS did plan to borrow, but then was unable to do so, it could lead to mid-year classroom cuts, according to Sitkowski. He said borrowing at current rates would also send CPS into a “downward spiral” that would have serious negative impacts on the district’s financial future.
The district’s budget gap had ballooned to $734 million, officials said, though that total had already been trimmed after CPS cut hundreds of custodial, lunchroom worker and crossing guard positions. |
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Farragut Career Academy High School, 2345 S. Christiana Ave., is pictured in a file photo. (WTTW News) |
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A parent of a Chicago Public Schools student filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing the district of failing to adequately vet a security guard with a litany of past criminal cases who was later arrested on multiple charges of sexually assaulting the student.
The lawsuit details sixteen arrests that preceded the hire of Romel Campoverde, 45, by the district. The complaint highlights cases in which police said Campoverde admitted to being a member of the Satan Disciple street gang before he was hired at Farragut Career Academy High School in Little Village.
Some backstory:
While the arrest of Campoverde was widely covered at the time, a WTTW News investigation in 2023 was the first to report his criminal record, and how his criminal history was considered by CPS.
Campoverde was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault of a minor in 2023, records show. The criminal case is ongoing, and Campoverde has a status hearing Aug. 25. He continues to be on electronic monitoring.
The criminal case alleged Campoverde groomed the girl, who was 15 at the time, and bought her alcohol before assaulting her in a recreational vehicle.
In a 2023 interview, Campoverde’s former attorney said the criminal history had no bearing on the sexual assault case. Most of the cases were dismissed.
The civil case, which identifies the plaintiff as Jane Doe, seeks damages including for assault, battery and violating the Illinois Gender Violence Act.
The lawsuit, filed by the Lane Brown law firm, highlights a number of cases from the WTTW News story, including one where he was accused of chasing a man with a baseball bat and another where he was alleged to have punched a man in the face. |
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Chicago Jazz Festival. (Patrick L. Pyszka / City of Chicago) |
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It’s summer, which means there’s a lot of fun neighborhood events happening around the Chicago area. Our Summer Festival Guide is constantly updating and has the best gatherings, outdoor activities, arts fairs and neighborhood street festivals near you. This weekend, why not head up to Rogers Park for three nights of free music, local vendors and fun at the Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest? Or, you could head up to Evanston Saturday or Sunday for the Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival. There’s also the Air & Water Show going on downtown if you’re into that sort of thing, but you’ll be able to hear it no matter where you are in the city. Summer is waning but there’s still time to make the most of the season. Peruse our listings to create the weekend of your dreams. |
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Back in the Day: August 14, 2020 - Bulls Fire Coach Jim Boylen |
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The nicest thing you can say about the Chicago Bulls since Michael Jordan retired is that it is still fun to see a game at the United Center. You can count on one hand the number of times the city boasted a truly competitive team that could win it all, and for the last three years, they haven’t managed to exit the play-in round and make the playoffs. Still, it could have been and has been worse, like on this day five years ago when the Bulls fired coach Jim Boylen, who, out of 123 games coached, only won 39 of them. After missing the playoffs two seasons in a row, he ended his one-and-a-half-year tenure as head coach with a .317 win percentage. The move was hardly a surprise. Only Tim Floyd (.205) had a lower winning percentage than Boylen (.317) in franchise history. “This was a very difficult decision, but it is time for our franchise to take that next step as we move in a new direction and era of Chicago Bulls basketball,” Artūras Karnišovas said in a statement. “Jim is a great human being that cares deeply about this organization and the game of basketball.” It might not have been his fault as Boylen, now an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers, saw his new team make the NBA Finals in the 2024-25 season. |
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This Week’s Arts and Culture Events |
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Every Thursday, WTTW News arts correspondent Marc Vitali highlights the week’s must-see cultural events.
Marc Vitali: According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the dog days of summer actually ended on Aug. 11. So where are we now — the hot dog days? The dog-tired days? This week’s cultural offerings are a doggone delightful six-pack of opportunities both sublime and slightly silly.
Grant Park Music Festival season finale – Grant Park, of course
The fest concludes with concerts featuring “Carmina Burana,” thrilling music that will give you chills even if it’s 90 degrees outside. It’s a showstopper with everything — chorus, orchestra, soloists, and children’s chorus. It’s also a favorite cantata of metal-heads and would’ve made fitting music for Ozzy’s funeral. This finale marks a grand conclusion to the first season under new artistic director and principal conductor Giancarlo Guerrero. August 15 – 16.
Dolly Parton Jam Session – Old Town School of Folk Music
Who doesn’t love Dolly Parton, and would they kindly step outside? This sing-along/play-along features hits like “Jolene” and “9 to 5” alongside lesser-known pearls by Parton. The Old Town School says it’s for both die-hard Dolly fans and the “Dolly-curious.” It’s also a preview of their upcoming Dolly Parton Songbook class from teaching artist Shelley Miller. Ninety minutes and free, but you must register. Bring an instrument, your voice, or a coat of many colors. Aug. 16.
Dance for Life – Auditorium Theatre
The annual showcase features 10 companies this year, and it’s your best chance to experience the dynamic breadth of Chicago dance all in one place. And since that place is the Auditorium, the variety of dance works will be framed by a magnificent setting. Ballet, Irish dance, tap, dance crews moving to Missy Elliott — it’s just a crazy amount of impressive humans in motion. This 34th annual show benefits the Chicago Dance Health Fund, and tickets start at $45. Aug. 16.
“How to Transcend a Happy Marriage” – Redtwist Theatre
I’m a sucker for an intriguing title, and this one grabbed me. Redtwist Theatre gets an early start to their new season with a play by writer Sarah Ruhl, who grew up in the area and studied at Piven Theatre ages ago. Here she challenges the ideals of suburban life and considers what lies beyond the constraints of monogamy. Sounds like an icebreaker — either great for a first date, or, if you’re in the middle of a break-up, great for a last date. Through Sept. 21.
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What's your favorite music festival held in Chicago? From your neighborhood block party to Lollapalooza, tell us where, why and when. |
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. |
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM |
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. |
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
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