Parents are voicing their concerns at public hearings this week on Chicago Public Schools’ $6.4 billion budget plan.

Judy Sickle is a mother of twin boys enrolled at Audubon Elementary School. She says she came to last night’s hearing at Lane Tech High School to see what kind of a dialogue would take place.

But before the meeting began, CPS officials said they would only hear comments and not answer questions.

Sickle says she found that discouraging.

SICKLE: You know, for me to think that they’re going to take this back for further review and re-look at the budget for next year based on this input is just mouth. I mean, I don’t think they’re going to do anything with it.

The district had originally proposed laying off teachers and increasing high-school class sizes in order to balance its budget. But a federal jobs bill passed last week gave the district money to reduce class sizes.

A CPS spokeswoman says answers to questions will be posted on the district’s website.