After months of speculation regarding possible layoffs at Chicago’s public schools, the $6.4 billion budget plan for the new school year has been revealed. To help balance the budget, 1,700 positions based in Chicago’s Public Schools will be cut. The layoffs extend beyond teachers, to custodians, clerks and teaching assistants. The cuts are projected to save more than $100 million.

In response to the mass layoff announcement, the city’s teachers union has filed a lawsuit, hoping to prevent some of the layoffs from occurring.

Ron Huberman, the School chief, claims that he is open to suggestions from the union, but that time is running out.

“If there is a rabbit in their hat, where they can look at this budget, right, and produce savings and efficiencies that don’t harm students,” Huberman said. “We are of course going to look at it, but it’s August 9^th.