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| CPS Budget Hearing at Lane Tech, August 10, 2011. Picture courtesy of WBEZ |
I attended the Chicago Public School Board's budget hearing held at Lane Tech tonight along with about 175 other people. The hearing started 16 minutes late (7:16pm) and ended 30 minutes early (8:30pm). The speakers were the Budget Director, Ginger Oscar and others from the CPS Budget and Finance department. One school board member attended - Rod Sierra. There were five (5) aldermen present including Aldermen Tom Tunney, Rey Colon and John Arena from the 45th Ward.
It was an odd forum for a hearing, the CPS budget staff were all in the orchestra pit in the auditorium and the audience couldn't see them well - we could only hear their voices emerging from the pit.
The CPS budget staff gave a 15 minute presentation explaining the budget, shrinking revenue sources and their rationale for budget cuts & the proposed property tax increase. They went over the 23 page budget overview (can be found on the CPS website). The link to the entire 2000+ budget document can be found on the CPS website, too.
Members of the audience were allowed to ask questions after registering. The moderator called names of people who registered with questions and the questioners were given two (2) minutes to ask their questions.
Question topics:
- Why aren't TIF funds being used? Answer: TIF funds can only be used for capital projects, not salaries. TIF funds have been used to build new schools and for renovations in the past and will be used for CPS capital projects in the future, we were told. A few people asked why property taxes will be raised when a TIF surplus exists (which comes from property taxes)? No answer given.
- Charter schools received funding increases while traditional school funding was CUT across the board. One former teacher thought that this situation creates a budget disparity because Charter schools are selective, need fewer resources, and were created based on the premise that they would be receiving private funding sources. When charters were first introduced to CPS, they were not suppose to be taking funding away from neighborhood schools, and now they are.
- Teacher layoffs - a few teachers questioned the wisdom of cutting experienced, well educated, teaching staff and replacing them with "Teach for America" program new college graduates, who spend one year in the system, aren't vested or committed to the community for the long haul. One speaker asked the budget committee if they would like a "Surgeon Across America" cardiac surgical resident, "looking for an urban surgical experience" doing their open heart surgery or a fully experienced and credentialed cardiac surgeon. Many parents in the audience clapped for her, as they could understand the value of a quality, experienced teacher.
- A few laid off school custodians spoke passionately about their recent lay-off notices and how much they value the work they do. They asked how the board could cut the people who clean and care for the environment children learn in all day. They also wondered how they could pay mortgages and now property tax increases without jobs. They spoke about the waste they see on the job everyday and wonder why they were cut. One person mentioned there were two administrators at one school earning huge salaries (one of them $200,00) and there were only 165 students in the school.
- One gentleman pointed out the custodial jobs were listed as "administrative cuts", and that custodians were not school administrators, but it was made to look like administrator positions were cut when they were not.
- The budget hearing process was questioned by Karen Lewis who asked why the budget was presented just last Friday and three hearing are happening in a week before the budget is voted on. She suggested the budget process begin at the beginning of the school year and should be worked on by parents, teachers, admin, board, and other stakeholders THROUGHOUT the entire year. This process is rushed and sloppy.
- The multiple errors in the budget were pointed out by CTU president Karen Lewis, too. She said the enrollment and faculty numbers at every school were DOUBLED...a serious error.
I left with the impression the budget was thrown together, with no real thought, and there was absolutely no input from anyone.
The room was not conducive to a discussion at all, and we couldn't see CPS budget staff responding to questions in the orchestra pit.
The length of time for questions could have been 3 to 4 minutes instead of two minutes. Many of the speakers were parents who should have been allowed more time to express themselves.
I sincerely hope more parents attend the remaining two budget hearings on the west and south sides, and really let the CPS Board of Directors know what they think....
According to my child's principal, Mary O'Connor met with Dr. Brizard in a closed door meeting Wed afternoon to discuss the CPS budget. She also told me that the alderman and her staff have met with our local school officials more times in the last week than Doherty did in the last 10 years.
ReplyDelete1:16am...very weird comment
ReplyDeleteDr. Brizard has nothing to do with the CPS budget - the cps budget is managed by the mayor and the school board only.
I guess that means Alderman O'Connor did not go to the budget hearing last night.
ReplyDeleteI caught some of this on the news. It sounds like the deficit wasn't $712 million, but much smaller - 181 Million and there is some surplus money in the budget being held (one month salaries)?
ReplyDelete9:40am... yes, it was explained to the audience that the budget shortfall changed after CPS received some overdue payments from the state and other unexpected revenue. But, the budget director explained that they need to keep at least 240 million in reserve for unexpected needs (like the next delayed state board of ed payment, etc). The goal is to have one month salaries and expenses kept in reserve.
ReplyDeletewhy aren't the LSCs directly involved with the budget process? And for them to be involved, they would need to be invited to participate at the beginning of the process - for example, would need to start in September on the FY 2013 budget. Aren't there bylaws or city ordinances assuring LSC, parent and community participation? guess not.
ReplyDeleteI was there, and I agree very sloppy process. I expected alot more and left thinking I wasted my time.
ReplyDeleteWe are being decieved. It's called a con game. The only problem is that we can't say no to them otherwise we'll end up in jail. It's called the cambine for a reason. Vote big D democratic and this is what you get. FYI Gavin is a RINO that saved her skin and is still part of the club.
ReplyDeleteThe CPS board could care less what you think. they don't care about saving money.
ReplyDeleteThe 2010 demonstrates a loss of population in Chicago of 200,000 people total. My guess would be about half of the 200,000(100,000) are children. So why, if we have less kids, do they need so much more money? Why haven't more schools been consolidated or closed?
ReplyDeleteI was gonna go to the budget hearing last night but I felt like a last minute invitee to the party and figured the hell with it.
ReplyDeleteBrizard would never work directly with an alderman - he would have admin staff do that - what a crock 1:16am
ReplyDeletewhy don't we have an elected school board? Until there is an elected school board parents and taxpayers will have no voice in the budget.
ReplyDeletethis was a done deal from the start and taxpayers don't matter
ReplyDeleteSo, Alderman O'Connor wasn't there? That's disappointing. I wonder if she does support the tax increase then. Sure looks that way.
ReplyDeleteHad coffee this morning with a few Edison Park school parent, and when I told them Ald. O'Connor didn't show at the hearing, they were not surprised. We all know Ald. O'Connor will support Rahm before us, the parents and taxpayers
ReplyDeleteto 11:23am
ReplyDeleteJust because the alderman didn't show doesn't mean she is for a tax increase. Why don't you call her office and ask her directly.
I thought the 'Surgeons Across America' anology was a bulls-eye. At the core of Chicagos', for that matter Americas', war on Unions-especially u
ReplyDeletenion teachers-is 'Chicago School' economics. Named for originating at the U. of Chicago Economis department, where the whack job professors taught "only a crisis-actual or percieved- produces real change". You may recall Mayor Rahm saying "a crisis should not be wasted" during the Health care debate He is a dedicated Chicago Schooler.
Part of their ideology is to double down on austerity cuts when people complain of the negative impact. They get off on the suffering. Watch for Rahm to soon announce a rapid expansion of Charter School openings. He can't wait to double down. It's all covered in 'The Shock Doctorine' by Naomi Klein. A must read.
WAIT A MINUTE!
ReplyDeleteNeighbors: you should be calling the ALderman and telling her what YOU WANT: Tax increase? or No Tax Increase.
No one should call the alderman's office asking what the alderman is going to do, vote, etc. You are the voter/taxpayer. Let HER KNOW WHAT YOU THINK and do it right away.
This "process" stinks.
ReplyDeleteAlderman Cullerton just posted on 'Everyblock", asking residents how they think about the property tax increase for CPS... good for Cullerton. Has Alderman O'Connor asked for anyone's opinion? On her website? Oh wait, there is no website for the 41st ward. Still in the 19th century, except for the whoppong property taxes we pay.
ReplyDeleteRahm Emanuel goes on and on about how teachers need to be cognizant of their obligation to the taxpayers. This budget process respects neither the teachers or the taxpayers at large, let alone the children. And by the way, teachers pay taxes too.
ReplyDeleteAn elected school board is the only way to start injecting any accountability into the CPS budget process.