WEST RIDGE — The principal of Jamieson Elementary School in West Ridge took to social media this week saying he was "extremely concerned" about Chicago Public Schools' $480 million "budget shortfall" and how it may affect the school come December.
"Although this problem has been created over time, we now have a chance to fix it, by voting for bills that provide increased funding and pension equity to Chicago schools, so that my students' education is funded like every other student in the state," Principal Robert Baughman wrote on the school's Facebook page Sunday night.
The message is mostly copied and pasted from a CPS online prompt that asks parents to contact their state representatives to fill the $480 million gap by Feb. 1, stating that "If Springfield doesn't act, our children will pay the price."
CPS blames the state for "imposing costly pension mandates" and not fully funding the state's education needs, and threatens that inaction will lead to mid-year classroom disruptions, fewer teachers and larger classes.
Baughman wrote that Jamieson could see some of these effects if a solution wasn't found at the state level.
Baughman did not point to any specific examples of how mid-year cuts could impact Jamieson, but on the school's website he again urged parents to get involved in advocating for funding because it "could drastically impact Jamieson."
Jamieson's 2016 budget comes in at $7,694,230, an additional $567,414 from last year's final budget, according to CPS data.
CPS itself has also faced financial scrutiny this year after a scandal involving now ex-CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett revealed she had engaged in a number of contractual bribes and kickbacks worth millions of CPS money.
"I have tuition to pay and casinos to visit. (:," Byrd-Bennett, who was hand-picked by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as the chief of schools, wrote in one email.
Jamieson officials did not immediately provide comment.
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