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Roseland, Pullman Schools Facing Nearly 3 Million in Budget Cuts

By Alex Nitkin | July 27, 2015 3:10pm
 Corliss High School in Pullman is projected to lose more than 13 percent of its CPS funding next year, despite an enrollment drop of only four students.
Corliss High School in Pullman is projected to lose more than 13 percent of its CPS funding next year, despite an enrollment drop of only four students.
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DNAinfo/Wendell Hutson (File)

ROSELAND — Schools in Roseland and Pullman will collectively lose $2,849,463 million in funding for the coming school year, according to data released.

On July 13, Chicago Public Schools released preliminary budgets amid a $106 billion state budget crisis, slashing the budgets of 416 schools in Chicago. The district announced that neighborhood schools will see almost $60 million in cuts district wide, while charter schools and other charter programs for at-risk students would see a combined $30 million in gains.

Of 23 public schools across Roseland and Pullman, only five of them — including two charter schools — will see gains in the amount of funding they receive for the 2015-16 school year. 

Of 18 schools facing cuts in the area, the hardest hit was Harlan High School, 9652 S. Michigan Ave. Harlan will lose $1,246,905, due to a decrease in enrollment per the district's student-based budgeting system, according to the data. The new budget represents nearly a 20 percent cut in funding, despite only seeing about a 12 percent drop in enrollment.

Another of the hardest-hit schools, Turner-Drew Elementary School, 9300 S. Princeton Ave., will see a 16.3 percent cut to its budget even though its enrollment is actually projected to increase by three students. The school is projected to lose $437,992 in funding, most of it from its in-class instruction budget.

The next-largest cut will be shouldered by Cullen Elementary School, 10650 S. Eberhart Ave., which will lose 14.18 percent of its funding following a projected loss of 11 students in its enrollment. Cullen will lose $241,250 in funding next year, according to the data, almost all of it from its in-class instruction budget.

Between Roseland and Pullman, four other schools — Fenger High School, 11220 S. Wallace St.; Corliss High School, 821 E. 103rd St.; Bennett Elementary School, 10115 S. Prairie Ave.; and Ryder Elementary School, 8716 S. Wallace St. — are projected to lose more than 10 percent of their funding, due to flagging enrollment. Together, the schools face a $1,375,623 cut. 

Meanwhile, Butler College Prep, 821 E. 103rd St., part of the Noble network of charter schools, will see a nearly 47 percent spike in its budget next year. With an enrollment projected to increase by 128 students, the school will see an additional $1,248,751 in funding, according to the data.

Another charter school, Kwame Nkrumah Academy, 314 W. 108th St., will also enjoy a larger budget next year. With an enrollment projected to climb by 26 students, the school will see $259,611 in new funding.

Three other schools — Smith Elementary School, 744 E. 103rd St.; Schmid Elementary School, 9755 S. University Ave.; and Gillespie Elementary School, 9301 S. State St. — will see modest boosts to their funding, due to projected increases in enrollment.

Across the city, 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.

“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. 

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