Chicago's school principals are gearing up for a new budget season with apprehension and relief as a novel funding formula takes center stage, switching from enrollment-based allocations to guaranteeing a baseline of resources for every school, according to a report by WLS. Scott Scherquist, principal of Ariel Community Academy, is one of those feeling the ease, stating "This is the first year I've been here it's been constant," concerning his budget staying level amid the changes.
However, the broader implications of this formula have sparked concern, particularly within selective-enrollment and magnet schools which are bracing for cuts; Chicago Public Schools (CPS) officials remain resolute that the formula treats all school categories equally despite WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times analysis revealing otherwise – selective-enrollment and magnet schools are counting likely teacher position reductions for next fall, as well as grappling with how they will maintain their distinctive programs.
The overarching goal behind the funding shakeup is to address historical disparities that have left neighborhood schools, predominantly attended by low-income Black and Latino students, in a lurch, a Chicago Sun-Times report explains. CPS Chief Budget Officer Mike Sitkowski emphasizes the shift towards a model that factors in student hardships, even as the district faces a daunting $391 million deficit without the buoyancy of previous federal pandemic relief funds, according to the same report.
Despite these intentions, critics, including former CPS CEO and mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, point to the pitfalls of straying from an enrollment-based budget system, indicating that it could be a "financial mistake," especially when multiple schools are vastly under-enrolled, Vallas told WLS. The district's recalibration of funds, with an eye on equity, is proving to be contentious, eliciting strong reactions across the board, as the full ramifications are yet to be discerned pending final approval and release of the school-based budgets later in the year.
Amidst these fiscal shifts, the dialogue between CPS officials, parents, and local school councils remains tense; many fear the cuts to selective enrollment and magnet programs – often perceived as nurturing a city's brightest – could diminish the diversity and academic opportunities unique to these institutions, an analysis by WBEZ indicates. This dynamic is made more complex by the fact that schools like Bronzeville Classical, as its LSC chair Stephen Mitchell expressed, serve predominantly Black communities and "are being harmed by these budget cuts," complicating the narrative that only white, affluent schools stand to lose.
