Mayor Johnson Vows to Keep Chicago Schools Open

CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson sat down with NBC 5 Chicago Friday to discuss his administration's plan to keep Chicago Public Schools open and fully operational as the district heads into the new school year amid a deepening financial crisis.

"We are committed to making sure every child in this city has access to a quality education, and that means keeping our schools open," Mayor Johnson said during the interview. "We are going to do everything in our power to make that happen."

The mayor's reassurances come at a time when Chicago Public Schools — the third-largest school district in the nation — is grappling with a significant budget shortfall. CPS faces hundreds of millions of dollars in financial gaps, driven in part by the expiration of federal COVID relief funds and ongoing negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union over a new contract.

Johnson has been walking a political tightrope between his close ties to the CTU — which endorsed him for mayor — and the fiscal realities facing the district. Teachers have been working without a new contract, and union leaders have not ruled out a strike if an agreement cannot be reached.

The mayor said his administration is pursuing multiple avenues to stabilize CPS finances, including state funding advocacy, administrative cost reductions, and direct negotiations with the union to reach a deal that works for teachers and students alike.

Parents and educators across the city are watching closely as the school year begins, hoping for stability after years of disruption.