Chicago Public Schools said it will tap into $21.5 million in surplus tax increment financing funds to hire extra teachers for arts and daily physical education classes.
Last week, the financially strapped district announced that it planned to finally comply with state requirements for daily physical education for kindergarten through 12th grade. Officials said how the extra gym classes would be paid for was still being worked out.
Now officials say TIF money allocated by the city in November will be used to pay for 84 physical education teachers and 84 art teachers for schools in need. Many of those same positions were cut earlier this school year by principals facing declining enrollment and cuts to their budgets. Click here to read the full Chicago Tribune story.