LAKEVIEW — Lake View High School is facing a later bell schedule and fewer teachers for the 2015-16 school year to fill a gap in its student-based funding.
Classes at 4015 N. Ashland Ave. will begin at 9 a.m., a half-hour later than the start time for the 2014-15 school year. Classes will end at 4:12 p.m., except on Wednesday, when the staff-approved early release schedule will let out at 3:46 p.m.
Lake View High School's Local School Council discussed its projected budget during a special meeting on Wednesday. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
"It's going to be a tough adjustment to make. Our teachers are a hard-working crew, and they definitely will persevere," Principal Scott Grens told the Local School Council during a special meeting Wednesday.
Grens previously pushed for an earlier start, citing "challenges with the bell schedule in the past, with how I feel starting late," but plans were nixed in the spring. The latest change is part of districtwide shift, with 60 high schools largely switching to a 9 a.m. start and 17 elementary schools mostly starting earlier, between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m.
Shifting the start times will save Chicago Public Schools $9.2 million by reducing the number of bus shifts and cutting 160 buses and 75 aides, CPS said. The changes come after CPS announced $60 million in cuts districtwide last week.
Grens said he learned of the schedule change July 13, but waited to share the information with the council and the LVHS staff until he could confirm whether there was any flexibility in the schedule.
The switch further complicates the school's sports schedule, although "it seems like every high school is having to deal with this," said Brett Bildstein, LVHS athletic director and council member.
Sports played outside during the fall and spring will be especially tough because, "you're talking about daylight," he said.
Other changes are ahead, as well.
The school expects to have 90 teachers next year, down from 95 last year. Two additional spots bring education support staff up to 25, but there are three fewer spots for special education classroom assistants — down to five.
With a projected $444,639 in the student-based budget for Lake View High School, it is expecting to reduce staff by six positions, unless the school gets a boost in enrollment. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
While CPS cites a $362,293 cut in LVHS's budget caused mainly by a drop in enrollment, Grens said he was hopeful more students would enroll in the fall than CPS is projecting — which could mean fewer staff cuts.
Grens told the LSC that if actual enrollment numbers matched his expectations, it could only be "two fewer" teachers.
The CPS projected enrollment figures are based, in part, on a five-year average. CPS projects 1,281 students will be enrolled at LVHS in the fall, but Grens said that number could reach 1,339 students or more.
An extra 58 students would generate $315,752 in funding — a huge chunk of the projected decrease in core instruction money, members of the council noted.
The student-based money will be adjusted to match actual attendance on the 10th day of school. Some of Grens' optimism stems from a large turnout during freshmen orientation and strong numbers in the school's ongoing summer programs, he said.
"That commitment is hopefully going to keep those students enrolled, as well as strong teachers just making sure students are happy here," Grens said.
Lake View High School's Local School Council discussed its projected budget during a special meeting on Wednesday. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
Grens declined to elaborate after the meeting whether there would be a reduction in current staff or if open positions would be left unfilled.
"There will be 90 teaching positions, and that's all I'm willing to share," he told DNAinfo Chicago.
With fewer aides, though, he said the school would have to crack down on the amount of time spent with each student.
"We're making sure all of the [individualized education program] is followed, but also making sure an aide is not in the room for 50 minutes if they only need 30. We're being creative and making sure we're looking at really, completely maximizing the teaching staff in departments with aides," Grens said.
Grens also pointed to a $147,381 increase in Title I federal funds as a positive note in the budget. In total, the school expects to spend $8.3 million next year, down from $8.6 million in 2014-15.
Of that, $7.7 million is slated for staff salary and benefits, while $408,065 is designated as nonpersonnel money, and the remaining $142,291 used for extended days. LVHS receives an additional $3.4 million for supplemental positions like lunchroom staff, early college STEM positions and special education classroom assistants.
Overall, CPS said the neighborhood high school would lose $444,639 in CPS core instruction and supplemental money.
Contributing: Stephanie Lulay
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
