Cash-strapped Chicago schools saw signs for hope on two frontsFriday: Gov. Edgar called a special session for next week and teachercontract talks resumed two days earlier than scheduled.
Gov. Edgar ordered the special session to begin at noonThursday, saying that without action by the General Assembly, Chicagoschools won't open Sept. 8.
Under state law, however, the School Board must present abalanced budget to the School Finance Authority by Tuesday forschools to open on time.
Daley warned that the timing of the special session - two daysafter the deadline for the School Board to come up with a budget -appears to make it inevitable that the school system will shut downfor at least two days. Daley said his staff was studying whether ashort shutdown next week would necessitate a delay in the start ofclasses.
Edgar has said that deadline can be relaxed by the GeneralAssembly once a special session convenes.
"Legislation must be approved to allow Chicago schoolauthorities and the teachers union to close their budget gap usinglocal resources," Edgar said.
Edgar said he and Mayor Daley are "in agreement" on "theapproach" of Daley's $300 million school crisis plan to close theSchool Board's budget gap. Said Edgar: "No state resources will berequired. There will be no state bailout."
Daley said he was "very excited" and "very grateful" that Edgarhad scheduled the special session.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Teachers Union announced that contracttalks resumed at 3 p.m today - two days earlier than scheduled.Resolution of teacher talks before any special session wouldshort-circuit any Republican attempts to legislate union concessionsinto Daley's funding plan. The CTU contract expires Tuesday.
The School Board must have a balanced budget by that same date,and currently has a funding gap of $298 million. Board member PamelaLenane said the board is meeting in executive session Saturdaymorning to discuss how to present a balanced budget to the SchoolFinance Authority on Tuesday without the $120 million in fundspromised in the Daley plan.
Daley dismissed growing Republican opposition to the bailout as"posturing" and outright rejected a demand by Senate President James"Pate" Philip (R-Wood Dale) to make a school voucher system part ofthe plan.
"They had six months to talk about the voucher program. Theyhad six months to deal with state funding for education, which theydid not deal with last session," Daley said during a live broadcastthis morning of WBBM-AM's "At Issue" program. "You can bringanything else you want in later on, but not this time."
"I don't think vouchers should be considered whatsoever for thisplan," said Daley.
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