The district is putting together a budget for the 2025-26 school year with no cuts to schools, but the proposal may not come to fruition.

The mayor said the raises are necessary to address a teacher shortage in the early childhood education sector.

A presentation used to brief school board members and obtained by Chalkbeat outlined potential cuts, many of which include staff and programs supported by federal COVID relief money. District officials and school board members look to lobby City Hall and Illinois lawmakers for funding.

The school board’s vote seals the contract with the teachers union. The final deal includes limits on class sizes and more preparation time for elementary school teachers.

The school board has delayed its charter renewal votes for two months, leaving many charter families and educators wondering about the future of their schools.

More privately-run, public charter schools in Chicago have closed in recent years. In a first, Chicago Public Schools is poised to convert five back to district-run campuses.

Martinez was one of three finalists for the job as commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The board’s choice must now be confirmed by the state’s secretary of education.

This is at least the second public education job Martinez has sought and become a finalist for since his firing in December.

The union said Monday that 85% of members voted on the deal over the course of last Thursday and Friday. Of the ballots cast, 97% ratified the agreement.

The Chicago Board of Education has not yet launched a state-mandated committee focused on Black students. Advocates are pushing board members to create it.