UPTOWN — Courtenay Language Arts Center could be forced to cut $130,000 from its budget after starting the school year below its projected enrollment.
The projected enrollment for the school at 4420 N. Beacon St. was 479, but after the first 10 days of the school year, Courtenay has 455 students, according to interim Principal Caroline Lovely.
"A lot [of students] transferred out, not a lot transferred in," Lovely explained at the school's local school council meeting Monday night. "We've got to get that word out."
Lovely has led the school for about five weeks after Macqueline King announced via email she'd be on leave when the school year began. She's been in constant contact with King, but had no specifics on when she would return to the school.
As far as the budget is concerned "there's not a lot there to work with," Lovely said. She didn't offer any solutions for the possible cuts, but told staff their jobs were safe. The school will also be hosting an open house from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday.
"Let's not be worrying when we don't know what will happen," she said.
This is the third year that Chicago Public Schools has issued school budgets based on enrollment, but the district previously didn't penalize schools for student shortfalls. CPS calculates budgets and enrollment projections before each school year, and for the first time this fall will add or subtract from school budgets during the academic year based on how many students attend the 10th day of classes.
Earlier this year, Courtenay lost more than $73,000 from its previous school budget and another $131,365 for activities outside the classroom.
Courtenay merged with Joseph Stockton Elementary School in 2013 as part of CPS' effort to close 50 schools.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
