NEAR NORTH SIDE — Walter Payton College Prep is asking its parents for some help: $1.1 million to save 12 teachers' jobs.
Tim Devine, principal of the lauded public high school at 1034 N. Wells St., sent an email to parents Tuesday morning announcing the "unprecedented" fundraising campaign. The message arrives before a potential budget cut across Chicago Public Schools totaling $480 million, $1.1 million of which would have to come from Payton.
"While negotiations to solve this crisis continue amongst the city, state and CPS, we must plan for the worst while advocating for the best," Devine wrote. "While the thought of raising $1.1 million is daunting, we are encouraged by the strength of our community to persevere."
Though Chicago public school parents have long raised funds for teacher salaries amid continual budget slashing, none have come close to raising the amount Payton is asking for now in such a short period of time. And there's concern that the practice could harm affluent schools: a top CPS official told a former parent of Ogden International School in October he's going to focus "on other schools who are not as fortunate" after the Downtown school privately raised $130,000 in a day to supplement its budget after cuts.
Devine sent the email expecting the $480 million in funding that CPS officials are hoping to get from the state will never arrive. Devine said those cuts "will be effectuated in the next few weeks" and spread evenly across CPS schools.
The $1.1 million at Payton would pay for 12 of its 55 teachers, Devine said. Payton already cut the equivalent of five fulltime teachers this summer and has steadily whittled down its administrators for the past five years. The school is building an annex, but construction is being funded mostly by tax-increment financing funds and not Payton. Devine hopes to raise the $1.1 million within six weeks.
Payton, a renowned public high school that draws students from across the city, will host two meetings on the fundraising campaign: one at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 and another at 7:45 a.m. Dec. 8. Both meetings will be in the school's library.
Devine and Marla Gross, the president of the Friends of Payton booster group, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Emily Bittner, a CPS spokeswoman, said in a statement that no school spending cuts have been determined, but the school district still plans to meet with principals and state lawmakers on the budget.
"CPS will meet with principals in the coming weeks to help them plan their budgets. As we continue to work with Springfield on delivering equitable education funding, we have not determined a final number for any cuts," Bittner said in an email.
The Sun-Times first reported the fundraising campaign Tuesday afternoon.
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