LINCOLN PARK — The latest round of budget cuts won't impact the classroom at Lincoln Park School, according to Principal Michael Boraz.
"Despite the angst of the anticipation, we'll be able to get through this relatively unscathed," Boraz told Local School Council members at a meeting held Wednesday evening at the school, 2001 N. Orchard St.
The neighborhood high school stands to lose $377,961, or 3.05 percent of its overall budget, according to data provided by Chicago Public Schools. That's compared to an average loss of 1.4 percent across CPS. The district announced $120 million in cuts districtwide Tuesday.
Even though that figure appears "large and untenable" on the surface, Boraz said it wasn't as bad as he expected.
"It was actually a little bit less than what I had heard that it might be a couple days before," he said.
Like other principals in Lakeview and Lincoln Square, Boraz was prepared for more cuts, so the school has $240,000 in contingency funds that can be used to fill most of the gap. Friends of Lincoln Park, a parent-run volunteer group, has also pledged to donate up to $100,000, Boraz said.
That leaves the school with a $37,000 gap, which Boraz said he would likely be able to cover with funds from a certificate of deposit.
If the funds don't all come together, which Boraz believed was unlikely, he said there was a slim chance he might have to reduce the hours of a few part-time employees, like a tutor in an Arabic class, whom he called "needed."
Though the classroom won't be impacted this time around, Boraz warned that the school might not be as lucky in the future if massive cuts continued.
"When the budgeting season comes again, we're going to have talk in pretty great detail about what kinds of challenging decisions we'll have to make," Boraz said.
Addressing the larger budget crisis CPS is facing, Boraz said "there's plenty of blame to go around."
"But be that as it may, the result is an untenable situation for 400,000 children," he added.
He urged council members to work with local leaders and call on Springfield for change at the state level.
"As long as the district and union are not in agreement, that’s a distraction and a place where the governor is trying to get in and create space for himself," he said. "Once that gap is closed, we’ll present a strong united front to get some action going on in this."
Boraz said it was important for the school to stay focused on moving forward despite the district's budget woes.
"I remain hopeful ... I don't think I could take any other position but hopeful and functional."
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
