WEST RIDGE — Of the 416 schools in Chicago to see cuts amid a $106 million state budget crisis, four West Ridge schools will lose $906,059 in funding for the coming school year, according to data from Chicago Public Schools.
Decatur Classical Elementary School, West Ridge Elementary School, Clinton Elementary School and Mather High School are all expected to see major cuts, some partially based on decreases in student enrollment at CPS schools.
Ted Cox breaks down CPS' cuts and how the CTU is responding:
Because CPS schools set school budgets on a student-based system — meaning each student represents a specific dollar amount awarded to the school — schools with lower enrollment rates tend to receive less funding.
Here are the West Ridge area budget cuts by school:
- Clinton Elementary School: Clinton suffered the largest blow in the West Ridge area with $342,140 in cuts. Included in that is a $161,420 slash based in part on a 36-student enrollment drop.
- Mather High School: Mather will see the biggest downturn in enrollment in West Ridge, with 56 less students expected to be walking its halls come fall. In all, the high school will bear a $224,197 blow to its spending.
- Decatur Classical Elementary School: With enrollment at a standstill, Decatur will have $183,491 less to work with next year.
- West Ridge Elementary School: Desptite a 21-student increase in enrollment ($99,003 in funding), West Ridge Elementary is still set for a $156,231 hit — or 3.3 percent of its budget.
“No one would argue that these are the budgets that we would like to be presenting, but they reflect the reality of where we are today; a budget deficit of more than $1 billion; the demands of a broken pension system; and a state education funding that is near last in the country,” said Interim CPS CEO Jesse Ruiz. “We have tried to limit the impact on our classrooms, but we sympathize with teachers, parents and principals whose schools will be seeing fewer resources than last year.”
Since 2010, Illinois has taken a 13 percent cut from the state's budget, according to CPS.
Chicago Public Schools announced Monday that neighborhood schools will see almost $60 million in cuts districtwide, while charter schools and other charter programs for at-risk students would see a combined $30 million in gains.
In a media conference call on student-based budgeting Monday, CPS Chief Financial Officer Ginger Ostro said 238 schools would see increased funding, at a total of $68.5 million, while 416 see budgets cut, at a total of $99.5 million.
"Money follows the students," Ostro said, adding that projected CPS enrollment for the coming school year is 372,275, down about 1 percent from last year.
According to the district, so-called neighborhood schools are expected to enroll about 4,000 fewer students in the fall, while charters increase enrollment by about 3,000 students.
Basic student-based budgeting would remain level at $4,390 a student for grades 4-8, with $4,697 for students in kindergarten through third grade and $5,444 a pupil in high schools.
Not all schools in West Ridge saw cuts to funding, however.
Rogers Elementary saw a $120,792 boost, while Daniel Boone saw a marginal $12,874 increase and Stone Scholastic Academy got a $19,752 bump in its budget.
The largest of funding upticks in West Ridge went to George B. Armstrong International Studies Elementary School, which netted $296,429 in funding.
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