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CPS budget assumes $300 million in new state money, plus unspecified $269 million in local revenue

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* Press release…

As school districts across the state issue uncertain budgets in the shadow of Governor Rauner’s veto of historic education funding reform, today CPS published a budget that will maintain critical investments that are helping students reach new academic heights.

“Every district in Illinois is facing unnecessary – and unconscionable – uncertainty about how much funding they will receive from the State, thanks to Governor Rauner’s veto of a historical education funding reform bill,” said CPS CEO Forrest Claypool. “Despite this uncertainty, CPS schools will open on time and stay open – a statement that, unfortunately, many other districts cannot make. Let no one forget the single most important part of this debate: ensuring that all students have the resources to get the education they deserve. That is at the heart of this debate. And it is at the heart of all our work.”

Today, CPS is releasing a $5.7 billion budget framework that outlines how the district will move forward to ensure that Chicago’s children can continue their blazing academic progress. When the dust has cleared in Springfield, like many other districts, CPS will release a budget that incorporates any changes or revisions required, if necessary at that time.

This budget assumes that the State will enact education funding reform along the lines of Senate Bill 1, which is the only evidence-based funding model that has won approval from the General Assembly. Under this model, 268 districts would receive more money per pupil than Chicago. CPS would receive $300 million in additional funding in FY18, despite the fact that independent fact checkers say that if Chicago students were treated equally, CPS should receive $500 million.

This budget also assumes that CPS will receive an additional $269 million in local resources to address its remaining budget gap, and is working with the City of Chicago to identify potential sources.

Indeed, 855 districts’ budgets are in limbo and many districts are in jeopardy because Governor Rauner refuses to acknowledge that his politically motivated claims about a CPS bailout are categorically false, as proven time and again by independent fact checkers.

This budget will build on management reforms and efficiencies that have saved hundreds of millions of dollars and allowed more resources to be directed to classrooms, where they matter most. Over the past two years, this administration has made significant strides in managerial and administrative efficiencies, creating structural budget savings of $145 million, including closing roughly a quarter of the positions in Central Office.

In addition, in FY18, CPS will continue its previously announced capital projects, as well as investing $139 million more to make critical facility repairs.

The proposed FY18 budget will be made available for public comment the week of Aug. 21, when the district will hold four meetings to discuss the budget and proposed capital plans. Capital hearings will be held Aug. 21 at three locations from 6 to 8 p.m. Registration begins at 5 p.m., and locations will be announced shortly. Budget Hearings will be held Aug. 23 at CPS, 42 W. Madison. Hearings will be held at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.

The final budget is expected to be presented to the Board for a vote at its August meeting, which is scheduled for August 28.

For additional information on the FY18 budget, an extensive budget book is attached to this release. The same information will be available at www.cps.edu/budget later today.

There was no “extensive budget book” attached, however.

…Adding… The budget book is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 12:30 pm

Comments

==Under this model, 268 districts would receive more money per pupil than Chicago==

How many of those districts have 2 Pritzker homes and a governor condo in their portfolios?

Comment by City Zen Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 12:39 pm
What a massive failure of governance by Rahm (and Richie). If there were a 1/2-way responsible Governor, it would be time, once again, for a state takeover of CPS.
If only the Governor were half-way responsible, the General Assembly might agree to it. As it is . . . .

Comment by Keyrock Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 12:45 pm
AA is going to budget for a winter in Hawaii and a new Porsche and will be working with local resources to identify potential sources.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 12:46 pm
Unless the “extensive budget book” was a copy of the children’s book “The Magic Beans” by Margaret Hillert. (Yes there is such a book).

Comment by Leatherneck Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 12:59 pm
“new academic heights”

Comment by Put the fun in unfunded Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 1:04 pm
==ensure that Chicago’s children can continue their blazing academic progress.==

I do smell something burning in this press release, but it ain’t progress.

Comment by City Zen Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 1:08 pm
Give me a crack at preparing their budget. Bet ya them pork rinds I can shave a billion.

Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 1:25 pm
Blue dog, the budget book is now attached thanks to our kind host. Get out your razor and start shaving. Please report back when you hit a billion with a B.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 2:25 pm
AA. Most people don’t like some of my ideas. ‘Red Herons’. Or something like that.

Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 2:42 pm
AA. Just glossed over the first 77 pages. I would like to revise my number to $1.1 billion. Just as a question to all. When did schools start supplying breakfast?

Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 2:56 pm
bdd - Please skip over “Pensions Crowd Out Classroom Spending”. Nothing to see here.

Comment by City Zen Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 3:22 pm
For quite a while, blue dog. In many places far from Chicago, too. Kids can’t learn without something decent in their belly in the morning. AA fires up fine with a Diet Coke and a couple Pop-Tarts, but I’m no kid. (Rich, don’t tell the doctor lol)

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 3:24 pm
Blue dog: since at least the early ’70s. (There’s a Wikipedia entry if you’re interested.) It’s a program with proven positive academic results. It’s hard for kids to focus on schoolwork if their bellies are empty.

Comment by Crispy Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 3:24 pm
AA - Agreed. I’m more than happy to pay for Cheerios in exchange for kids being able to pay attention to their teacher than their stomachs.

bdd - You can’t re-negotiate contracts either. Like CPS continuing the pick-up for current teachers ($175M) but ending it for new employees yet giving them a 7% salary increase. You and Claypool are stuck with that albatross of a contract.

Comment by City Zen Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 3:30 pm