CPS board president faces scrutiny over request for taxpayer-funded car and driver

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board President Sean Harden is facing criticism after requesting a taxpayer-funded Ford Expedition and personal driver for his part-time, unpaid position.

According to CPS sources and internal communications, the request would require $154,000 in additional funding, as these perks fall outside the board's budget.

What we know:

The estimated cost includes $76,000 for the vehicle and $78,000 for a full-time driver, who CPS officials note would likely have significant downtime given the board's meeting schedule of 2–3 times per month.

While CPS executives like the CEO and Chief Education Officer also have cars and drivers, they frequently travel between schools—a contrast to the largely administrative role of the board president.

Vice President Olga Bautista confirmed Harden’s request, but efforts to reach him directly were unsuccessful. CPS sources say no board president has received such perks in at least a decade.

The request comes as CPS grapples with a projected $500 million deficit before factoring in a new contract with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), which could add between $1.6 billion and $2.4 billion in costs over the next four years. CPS Chief Budget Officer Mike Sitkowski warned that additional expenses could lead to program cuts, furloughs, or layoffs.

What we don't know:

Harden’s rationale for requesting these perks remains unclear, as he has yet to comment publicly. Additionally, it is uncertain how CPS leadership will address this request amid widespread budget concerns.

What they're saying:

CTU leaders claim CPS is understating its financial capacity.

"Given these facts about CPS funding situation...our proposals are reasonable and realizable," said Pavlyn Jankov, a CTU research director.

Meanwhile, Sitkowski emphasized that CTU's demands could bring the deficit to $1 billion next year alone.

What's next:

Both CPS and CTU have agreed to independent fact-finding, a step that could precede a strike vote. The outcome of Harden’s request for perks may also influence broader conversations about resource allocation within CPS.

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