The yearlong debate over who will pay for the pensions of non-teaching Chicago Public Schools employees ended after a tense, hourslong meeting where the Chicago Board of Education voted to agree to finance $175 million toward the payments.

In a unanimous vote, the board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the city in which it promises to pay an amount not to exceed $175 million for fiscal year 2026, effective Thursday until Dec. 31, 2026.

The decision comes after months of pressure on CPS to assume the payment from Mayor Brandon Johnson and some city council members. In August, the school board said it would only make the payment if it received additional funding from a tax increment financing surplus, beyond the $379 million it was already banking on in its $10.2 billion b

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