The Chicago Public Schools district laid off 227 staffers Friday as part of "painful" cuts that are slated to save the district some $32 million this year. Fifty-seven of those who received pink slips may apply for one of 35 available positions in their now-downsized departments.
The district also closed 180 vacant administrative positions, including in its central office. Details on the exact positions that were cut were not provided by CPS. No teachers lost their jobs in Friday's round of layoffs.
"There's no doubt that these cuts were painful," CEO Forrest Claypool said via statement. "However, with limited resources and a budget crisis not just this year but into the foreseeable future, we had no choice."
Prior to Friday's layoffs, from August 1 to January 15, CPS laid off 61 administrative employees. According to the district, the total number of job losses and reductions since the start of August until now, which is a total cut of 192 positions, will save the district $45.1 million starting next year.
Claypool said thousands of CPS teacher cuts could take place in February, but the Chicago Teachers Union does not reportedly anticipate any job cuts at the moment. The district and labor union are engaging in ongoing contract talks and layoffs have been tabled while negotiations continue.