CPS on pile of  unused days: Can’t take them with you

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Updated: March 17, 2012 10:28AM

Principals and other non-union Chicago Public School employees would only be able to cash out a maximum 30 days of unused vacation days upon retirement — less than half of what is now allowed — under a proposed CPS crackdown on excessive farewell payouts.

As they prepare to battle another expected deficit, CPS officials say the change would ultimately save the nation’s third-largest system $2.5 million a year.

“In these tight economic times, when CPS is focused on keeping as many dollars in the classroom as possible, these large, one-time payouts must be scaled back,” Chicago Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard said in a news release Wednesday announcing the proposal.

The proposal applies only to non-union employees such as central office staff, principals, assistant principals and regional “network” officials. The changes would be phased in, but by July 1, 2014, non-union employees could “bank” no more than 30 days of vacation days, down from the current 66 days for CPS veterans with at least 21 years of service. Currently, CPS employees earn three to five weeks vacation per year.

Vacation-day changes impacting the Chicago Teachers Union would presumably have to be negotiated as part of ongoing talks on a contract that expires June 30.

The plan for non-union workers follows directives from Mayor Rahm Emanuel for all city agencies to review their farewell payouts for potential savings.

Plus, a report this month in the Chicago Sun-Times by the Better Government Association found that CPS has paid out $44 million annually in sick and vacation days to departing employees.

The vacation-day proposal will face a school board vote next week, as will a revised sick-day policy.

Changing the cap on banked vacation days from 66 to 30 days for the most senior employees “seems unnecessarily punitive,” said Clarice Berry, president of the Chicago Principals Association.