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Budgets Slashed at Ogden, Payton; Jones to Gain Nearly $1.5 Million

 Ziggi Tyler (right), a junior at Ogden High School, with fourth graders Ayana Smith (left) and Jonae Manson at Ogden Elementary.
Ziggi Tyler (right), a junior at Ogden High School, with fourth graders Ayana Smith (left) and Jonae Manson at Ogden Elementary.
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DNAinfo/David Matthews

DOWNTOWN — The growing Jones College Prep in the Loop will receive nearly $1.5 million in new funding next school year, a rare bright spot on a budget day when neighborhood schools across the city were told to slash $60 million

Jones, 700 S. State St., will receive about $1.45 million more to boost its total 2015-16 budget to nearly $10.1 million, Chicago Public Schools said Monday. The acclaimed selective-enrollment high school opened a new building in 2013 and is also projected to boost its enrollment by 234 students, to 1,670, next school year.

Ted Cox breaks down CPS' cuts and how the CTU is responding:

"Money follows the students," CPS Chief Financial Officer Ginger Ostro said during a conference call on the school budgets Monday

Jones' good news came as CPS officials outlined sweeping systemwide budget cuts in the face of a colossal budget deficit that has soared to more than $1 billion. CPS delivered budgets to schools Monday, and Ostro said 238 schools would see increased funding, at a total of $68.5 million, while 416 had budgets cut by $99.5 million.

Elsewhere Downtown the Ogden International School had its budget next year cut by $506,000, to $9.28 million. Most of those cuts are to "supplemental funds" outside the classroom, though, and like Jones, enrollment at Ogden is also expected to increase — by 37 students — next school year. 

Ogden Principal Michael Beyer deferred questions to Ogden Local School Council Chair Tracy Shine, who said a special budget meeting will be held within two weeks to determine specific cuts.  

Enrollment is expected to stay the same at Walter Payton College Prep, 1034 N. Wells St., but its budget next year will also be cut, by about $362,000, to $6.03 million. Like Ogden, most of Payton's budget cuts will also be to supplemental funds.

Payton Principal Tim Devine and Jones Principal Joseph Powers did not return messages seeking comment.

Here are the budget figures next year for other Downtown schools. Noble Academy, which operated out of 17 N. State this past school year, is moving to 1443 N. Ogden Ave. in the fall. 

•Salazar Elementary, 160 W. Wendell St.: -$112,243 (-5.26 percent)
•South Loop Elementary, 1212 S. Plymouth Court: +$149,037 (+3.22 percent)
•Noble Academy, 17 N. State St. (Charter): +$1.88 million (+89.95 percent)
•Noble Muchin College Prep, 1 N. State St. (Charter): -$383,556 (-4.23 percent)
•Perspectives Joslin Campus, 1930 S. Archer Ave. (Charter): +$21,571 (+0.52 percent)
•National Teachers Academy, 55 W. Cermak Road: +$155,454 (+4.18 percent)

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