Sarah Karp

Lunchroom workers, who are among the lowest-paid full-time workers in CPS, want to be paid $40,000 a year. But the cash-strapped district hasn't agreed to that minimum and is asking a federal mediator to step in.

District leaders are putting together the budget for next school year, which officials thought would feature a $529 million deficit but recently predicted could be much more.

Gov. JB Pritzker has not yet decided if Illinois will offer a new federal tax-credit scholarship program that families could use to pay for private school tuition or public school expenses. At least one CPS board member and some district leaders say Illinois families should get to benefit.

Two board members refused to participate in the investigation, while the other 18 board members swore to investigators that they were not the source of the leaks.

It's not yet clear how many teaching positions might be lost, though a WBEZ/Sun-Times analysis estimates it could be more than 700. CPS also plans to cut some assistant principal positions, but will increase spending on special education teachers.

The U.S. House education committee is compelling CPS CEO/Superintendent Macquline King to appear before members of Congress at a hearing about legislation that would prevent schools from using federal funds for certain lessons.

Four candidates have already filed for school board president, and a fifth from the Chicago Teachers Union plans to join them. Up until now, the mayor appointed that position and held sway over what came up for a board vote. Now that power will go to someone elected.

Four candidates have already filed for school board president, and a fifth from the Chicago Teachers Union plans to join them. Up until now, the mayor appointed that position and held sway over what came up for a board vote. Now that power will go to someone elected.

Five candidates are running for the powerful president's seat, but incumbents are running unopposed in two districts. The other 18 districts have competitive races with two or three contenders.

Hyde Park Academy recently booted out two community groups that provided staff to help students keep calm and resolve conflicts. Students say it's an especially bad time to lose extra support because they're still processing the deaths of several classmates.