The Chicago Board of Educationapproved a $5.6 billion budget for Chicago Public Schools 2014 fiscal year, despite protesters outside marching for them to do otherwise.
“Resources make it difficult to invest in children the way we would like,” said Tim Cawley, The District’s chief administration officer. He reported the revenue for CPS was around $5 billion, but that the estimated expenditures would be approximately $5.6 billion.
“We have to make progress in Springfield,” Cawley said.
Because state legislation hasn’t passed the pension reform CPS owes an extra $400 million into for employee pensions forcing it to drastically cut the operating budgets for schools.
“Everyone is feeling the reduction in CPS,” Cawley said.
Questioned by school board members and parents about budgeting disbursement across the district schools.
“The money follows the students,” he said.
Cawley explained that funding is distributed evenly based on how many students are enrolled in a given school. But budget opponents such as Cathy Dale, a community representative for Mollison Elementary School and King College Prep High School’s local school councils, believes there is a large disparity in educational funding among the socio-economic classes in Chicago.
“King Prep’s budget was cut by $770,000…they’ve lost teachers, programming, security and only have two guidance counselors now,” she said.
Cawley said the updated budget plan is the strongest proposal his committee has created so far, and will be the most beneficial overall.
In addition to the approval of the 2014-2015 fiscal year, a report on a new evaluation process for schools was presented to the board.
John Barker, the district’s chief accountability officer, presented the new process which outlined a plan for providing assistance to schools falling beneath academic benchmarks and holding them accountable.
Barker also announced that the Illinois Standards Achievement Test ( ISAT) will be completely phased out for the 2014-2015 school year. The ISAT currently evaluates all students in Illinois using the Illinois Learning Standards. The Office of Accountability is looking to create a stable framework for evaluating schools in the next five years.
Though many board members were supportive of the new process others reminded Barker that similar plans have been presented before, but not fully fleshed out.
“If we’re going to do this it’s going to have to mean something,” said school board member Andrea Zopp.
She questioned Barker’s terminology in his report and wanted him to explain it in a way that would provide understanding and a sense of support for CPS parents.
“I question our ability to deliver this support,” Zopp said.
She said, the board is continuously offering reports in efforts to support CPS parents, but then falls short too often.
Responding to Zopp’s concerns CEO Byrd-Bennett responded, “This will be the last major change we will bring before the board.”
Debra Koller, a former educator and CPS parent said, “The crisis in CPS is exhausting.” Because of all the budget cuts, “we are paying higher school fees than ever,”
Koller’s sentiments were echoed by call and response shouting from protesters in front of CPS headquarters chanting, “What do we want? Elected school board. When do we want it? Right now.”
“We have to make sure the board is held accountable,” said James Stewart, a retired CPS teacher at Arna W. Bontemps Elementary School.
Some protesters demonstrated in honor of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, said Rico Gutstein, a member of Teachers For Social Justice. He said it’s important for people to continue the fight for equality and justice.
“We are all like pebbles in a the stream,” Gutstein said.
