NORWOOD PARK — Oriole Park Elementary School would lose at least 10 teachers and classes would swell to 45 students each if Chicago Public Schools officials are forced to slash $480 million from its budget in the next several weeks, Principal Tim Riff told parents.
Chicago Public Schools officials are threatening to lay off 5,000 teachers if state lawmakers don't give the district $480 million that has been budgeted by CPS, but not yet authorized by the General Assembly.
CPS leaders have asked parents to petition state lawmakers and urge them to resolve the months-long impasse and pass a budget that includes the funds CPS needs to balance its budget.
The top-rated school at 5424 N. Oketo Ave. would be forced to combine multiple grades in one classroom and eliminate art, music and physical education classes entirely, Riff said.
"We are having conversations with the students about this situation and offering them some opportunities to advocate for themselves," Riff said, asking parents to write state officials. "We are hopeful that we can make our voices heard and avoid these drastic and painful cuts."
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A two-story, $20 million annex — with a multipurpose room, 15 classrooms, a computer lab, a science lab, a library, art room and administrative offices — opened in September to relieve severe overcrowding at Oriole Park.
The new building allowed the Norwood Park school to reduce class sizes to fewer than 30 students, officials said.
Emily Bittner, a CPS spokeswoman, said in a statement Tuesday that no school spending cuts have been determined, but the school district still plans to meet with principals and state lawmakers on the budget.
"CPS will meet with principals in the coming weeks to help them plan their budgets. As we continue to work with Springfield on delivering equitable education funding, we have not determined a final number for any cuts," Bittner said in an email.
Walter Payton College Prep High School Principal Tim Devine Tuesday asked parents to raise $1.1 million in the coming weeks to save 12 teachers' jobs if the budget cuts go into effect.
Devine told parents he does not expect state officials to act to fill CPS' budget deficit.
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