Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board President Sean Harden is in hot water after requesting taxpayer-funded transportation, including a Ford Expedition and personal driver, for his part-time, unpaid position. The request has sparked criticism and raised concerns about financial priorities within the district, especially as CPS grapples with a projected deficit.
Chicago Public Schools ( CPS ) Board President Sean Harden is facing mounting criticism after requesting taxpayer-funded transportation, including a Ford Expedition and a personal driver, for his part-time, unpaid role. According to CPS sources and internal communications, this request would necessitate an additional $154,000 in funding, as these perks are not currently included in the board's budget.
The estimated cost comprises $76,000 for the vehicle and $78,000 for a full-time driver, who CPS officials point out would likely experience significant downtime considering the board's meeting schedule, which occurs 2-3 times per month.While CPS executives like the CEO and Chief Education Officer also utilize cars and drivers, their responsibilities often involve frequent travel between schools. This contrasts with the predominantly administrative duties of the board president. Vice President Olga Bautista acknowledged Harden's request, but attempts to reach Harden directly proved unsuccessful. CPS sources indicate that no board president has received such perks in at least a decade. This request emerges as CPS confronts a projected $500 million deficit, even before factoring in the potential costs associated with a new contract with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). The new contract, which could span four years, could add between $1.6 billion and $2.4 billion to CPS's financial obligations.CPS Chief Budget Officer Mike Sitkowski warned that additional expenses could necessitate program cuts, furloughs, or layoffs. Harden's justification for requesting these perks remains unclear as he has yet to publicly address the matter. Furthermore, it is uncertain how CPS leadership will handle this request amidst widespread budget concerns. CTU leaders assert that CPS is understating its financial capacity. 'Given these facts about CPS funding situation...our proposals are reasonable and realizable,' stated Pavlyn Jankov, a CTU research director. Conversely, Sitkowski emphasized that CTU's demands could inflate the deficit to $1 billion next year alone. Both CPS and CTU have agreed to independent fact-finding, a step that could precede a strike vote. The outcome of Harden's request for perks may also influence broader discussions regarding resource allocation within CPS
Politics Chicago Public Schools CPS Board President Sean Harden Taxpayer Funding Budget Deficit Chicago Teachers Union CTU Resource Allocation Strike Vote
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