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Schools Need To 'Hustle' For Kids To Stay Ahead of Budget Cuts: Principal

By Linze Rice | July 20, 2015 8:45am
 Cesario said this quote by Mahatma Gandhi was one of his favorites and requested it be included in a number of inspirational murals painted across the school.
Cesario said this quote by Mahatma Gandhi was one of his favorites and requested it be included in a number of inspirational murals painted across the school.
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DNAinfo/Linze Rice

WEST RIDGE — At a time when many neighborhood schools, including Clinton Elementary in West Ridge, are faced with major cutbacks and resource restrictions, Principal Eduardo Cesario said he's not scared of what lies ahead.

"My other colleagues might disagree with me or say that's an odd outlook to take, but my thing is, you can wallow in this worry, or you can just say, 'OK, I knew this was coming, so I have a contingency plan here, this is what I'm gonna do.'"

According to data from Chicago Public Schools, Clinton's 2015-16 budget will take a $342,140 (or 5.24 percent) hit.

But Cesario said his classrooms should remain largely unaffected by the shortfall because a good portion of that money is allocated toward building operations and maintenance costs — something he said he's got under control because the neighborhood has been empowered to get involved in the school.

While he said it's possible at least some personnel might have to be let go, or fewer Chromebooks may be purchased, those decisions will be made based on carefully evaluated needs assessments and "won't affect the classrooms or the teachers."

"Any good leader, you don't look for today, you look for tomorrow and beyond that," Cesario said. "We've really been working on making sure that whatever needs we have have been met prior to this year because we knew this would be ... and has been, the deepest cut."

Linze Rice says the community has rallied behind the school:

Student Zayla Dhuse and her mom Naomi helping to paint lockers and test new hallway colors on the school's second floor. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

He said he had plans in place depending on how much was slashed from the budget and began investing in a year's supply of materials like ink, paper and other consumable items used by teachers and students on a daily basis ahead of time using what remained of the previous year's budget.

"Personally, I don't think you can just budget all your money and then just spend it all ... it's using the money to make sure we're benefiting the students."

Preparedness and realistic planning based on periodic assessments throughout the year have been the name of the game since Cesario took over Clinton seven years ago after the former principal was removed. It is now a Level 1-plus school, considered high-performing based on CPS standards.

Parents and Home Depot recently donated time and resources to help paint and spruce up the school. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

Seeing the state of disrepair the school was in, Cesario said he immediately rebranded the school as being part of CPS' Community Schools Initiative — a district-wide model adopted by CPS in 2002 that helps incorporated schools qualify for programs and services that allow the school to function more as a "community center," or central hub in the neighborhood, and become eligible for additional funding.

Through the CSI connection, Clinton is able to receive a number of federal grants, grants that have allowed Clinton to offer free summer programs and additional programming throughout the year, he said.

Through that program, and by going above and beyond the 40-hour work week, Cesario and his team has been able to find the money and resources to "make it work" when word of budget cuts loom.

"Because of what we're doing and how successful we are, we don't have to worry about canceling programs because the money, we get it, and we know how to spend it," he said. "We have vendors we bring in, but if they're not doing quality work, we're not going to work with these people."

Students at Clinton's free summer program. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

He said what's made his school's model so successful is the "strategic" and purposeful way they've allocated funds.

When Clinton needed help working on projects throughout the school, like painting and repairs, he turned to parents, students, community members and even nearby businesses, like Home Depot, to step up and engage with the school.

Students at Clinton have been privy to a number of privileges not often associated with public neighborhood schools, Cesario said, including two visits from world famous celloist Yo-Yo Ma in the past year.

He also said thanks to the continued support of a private local donor, one student is chosen every year to receive a $10,000 scholarship.

How has Clinton been able to accomplish these feats? By simply asking for help when it's needed, Cesario said.

"Really I think it's parents that can really help to improve the school," Cesario said. "But you have to ask. Nothing bad can ever come from at least just asking."

On Thursday, parent Naomi Dhuse and her daughter, Zayla, a student at Clinton, were volunteering their time to painting the school's second floor.

When asked what motivated her to dedicate her free time to helping out her daughter's school, Dhuse's eyes welled with tears as she said simply that she "loved" the school and its people.

That level of involvement and passion from people in the community is exactly what Cesario said he's been working to instill over his seven-year run at Clinton.

"We're trying to get a focus on everyone...so it's the hub of the community, we want it to be recriprocal," Cesario said. "I think most schools primarily focus on serving the kids' needs, and I think we've done a really great job extending that beyond to the parents and serving their needs as well. What we're working on right now is actually getting involvement from people in the community who don't have children and letting them know we have a benefit to them, it's mutually beneficial."

He said through a "mind, body and soul" approach, his school focuses on enriching students lives through a comprehensive model—one that doesn't include putting arts, humanities or social services on the chopping block when it comes to budget restrictions.

By investing in the students, parents and community (Cesario said the school's gym is also used for various community classes, like Zumba), Cesario said it's more likely the outside world will then reinvest in the school.

Cesario said one of Clinton's music teachers has even performed at other nearby organizations, like a convalescent center and school for children who have special needs.

He said he's willing to defy convention in order to get things done around his school, even if it means making "unpopular" choices or going against the grain of what other schools may be doing.

Ulimately, he said, "it's not about me, it's about the students," and his strategy of "shaking things up" has so far been working. 

"Whatever we can do to get what we need for our students and our teachers and our parents, I'm cool with it," he said, saying as long strategies remained moral and legal. "This is an awesome job, I feel like I have the best job in the world. If you're having a bad day, just step out in the hallway. There's like, at least 10 hugs waiting for you."

Cesario with Faith Larracus,7, (l.) and Zaara Maheen, 6, (r.) standing in front of newly painted lockers, complete with a Chicago-inspired mural. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

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