NEAR WEST SIDE — After CPS announced plans to cut the number of special education teachers and aides at Andrew Jackson Language Academy, the school's principal said she will appeal the district's decision.
Andrew Jackson Language Academy Principal Marilou Rebolledo said she will appeal plans to cut the number of special education teachers at the school. The school is slated to have two fewer special education teachers and one fewer aide, according to a CPS spreadsheet released Monday.
"We are in the process of appealing," Rebolledo said at a Local School Council meeting Monday night. "We are advocating for the needs of our students."
Rebolledo declined to answer further questions.
The school currently has five special ed teachers and five aides. AJLA has been told the proposed special ed cuts were not tied to a change in enrollment.
The Andrew Jackson cuts — and cuts at other schools across the Near West Side — are part of CPS' latest round of budget cuts that could save $12 million, CPS officials announced Friday. Under the unprecedented move, more than 70 special education teachers and aides could lose their jobs.
CPS officials declined to answer repeated inquiries from DNAinfo Chicago reporters Monday about the formula — apparently based on enrollment figures also released Friday evening — used to make those cuts, and ordered principals not to speak with reporters trying to figure out what the cuts would mean for special education students in neighborhoods throughout Chicago.
Approximately 160 schools would lose special education teachers, while 184 would lose aides, according to the CPS spreadsheet.
Cuts at Near West Side Schools
• Whitney Young Magnet High School, 211 S. Laflin St.: With 2,160 students enrolled, the competitive selection enrollment high school is slated to lose three special education teachers.
• Irving Elementary School, 749 S. Oakley Blvd.: With 488 enrolled students, the school is slated to lose two special ed teachers and two and one-half special ed aides.
• Dett Elementary School, 2131 W. Monroe St.: With 316 enrolled students, Dett Elementary is slated to lose one special ed teacher and one-half of a special ed aide position.
• Brown School of Technology, 54 N. Hermitage Ave.: With 242 students enrolled, the neighborhood elementary school is slated to lose one special ed teacher and one special ed aide.
• STEM Magnet Academy, 1522 W. Fillmore St.: With 450 enrolled students, STEM Academy is slated to lose two special ed aides.
• Hope Institute Learning Academy, 1628 W. Washington St.: With 195 students enrolled, the CPS contract school is slated to lose one special education teacher.
No change in the number of special education educators are expected at Skinner Elementary School, Galileo Scholastic Academy, Crane Medical Prep High School and Suder Montessori Magnet School.
Smyth Elementary School in University Village is poised to get one additional special ed teacher and six more special ed aides.
Cuts at Pilsen Schools
• Whittier Elementary School, 1900 W. 23rd St.: With 276 enrolled students, Whittier is slated to lose one special education teacher and two special education aides.
• Perez Elementary School, 1241 W. 19th St.: With 288 enrolled students, Perez will lose one special education teacher, according to a CPS report.
• Pickard Elementary School, 2301 W. 21st Place: With 474 students enrolled, Pickard is slated to lose one special education aide.
• Walsh Elementary School, 2015 S. Peoria St.: With 396 enrolled students, Walsh is expected to lose one special ed aide.
No change in the number of special education educators are expected at Orozco Elementary School, Pilsen Elementary School and Cooper Elementary School.
Finkl Elementary School is expected to get one additional special ed teacher but lose one special ed aide. Jungman Elementary School is slated to lose one special ed teacher but gain one special ed aide.
With 1,689 enrolled students, Benito Juarez High School in Pilsen is expected to get five additional special education aides.
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