Chicago Schools Open Up With Fewer Staff

Forrest Claypool at a rally in Springfield
Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool, center, speaks to school leaders, students, parents and community members from around the state during a rally for fair education funding in the rotunda at the state Capitol on May 26, 2016. Seth Perlman / Associated Press
Forrest Claypool at a rally in Springfield
Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool, center, speaks to school leaders, students, parents and community members from around the state during a rally for fair education funding in the rotunda at the state Capitol on May 26, 2016. Seth Perlman / Associated Press

Chicago Schools Open Up With Fewer Staff

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Despite the news that 1,000 teachers and aides were laid off over the summer, CPS CEO Forrest Claypool says that parents should not worry. He said the changes were part of the normal ups and downs of hiring and firing in a system as big as CPS.

Claypool also said the layoffs were mostly due to enrollment loss at particular schools. However, some of the staff losses do not correlate with enrollment. 

Claypool visted Edwards Elementary on the Southwest Side this morning. Edwards is projected to have slightly more students this year, but the school laid off about five aides this summer. CPS says that some of those aides were not in the classroom.