A MUST Read!!!

Please be so kind as to read this telling letter from a CPS parent. It describes the very real constraints and problems faced by students and staff at one CPS school.

Hi Dick,

Nice to see you too! It's been a while! Looks like retirement is treating you well!
Thanks for asking about [insert school name]. Here are some of the things that have happened this year. Before the year began, we were hit by an 800,000 budget cut. This was 1/3 the budget of the school, finalized about two weeks before school began. This happened because all CPS schools got cut, but we got a bigger cut because our enrollment was low. The main effect of the giant cut was in class size. All classes went from 2 classes per grade level to 1. [insert student's name] first grade class started this year with 34 (they now have 33, one student moved). Last year, she had 19. Wow, can you imagine 34 first graders in one tiny room?! Often with one teacher? Their teacher is a saint!

They cut 7 teachers at the start of the school year, but managed to save music and art. It's very important to the principal, and he had those teachers helping out in the other classes when they were free.

On Christmas Eve, our principal was called and told about the second cut of the year, which I believe was about $40 k. This cut was going to affect some curriculum purchases, technology, and repairs. The Friends of [insert school name] fundraising group (of which I'm a part) was able to donate to help mitigate the effects of that cut from some fundraisers we did in the fall.

The third cut just happened at the beginning of March, and was another $40 k or so. But for some reason it was targeted specifically at the music teacher. Not from the school - from the District level. Maybe just because we just don't have any other money left to cut. The art teacher has less seniority but part of her salary is paid by a grant the principal got.

The music teacher is awesome and such an inspiring, giving teacher. He was teaching all the students keyboarding and guitar, and held music clubs after school every day of the week, mostly without extra pay. He took the choir (including [insert student's name]) on a field trip to a nursing home at Christmastime for a choir concert, and put on a really nice holiday concert at the school. He really went over and above all the time.

The principal at (insert school name) is [principal's name] and he is awesome. He has the support of the teachers and the community, and is doing the best he can with his network chief. He's really good at planning and budgeting. In the past three years, we've gone from a level three school to a level one school. But he's totally being hamstrung by the constant cuts and lack of direction from above - as I understand it, principals have been told not to spend any more money the rest of this year, and next year is looking worse than this one, if that's even possible.

Well, Dick, you asked for a bit about [insert school name], and might have gotten more than you bargained for! I have a feeling it is pretty typical to what is happening at many schools this year.

Let me know if you have any questions or ideas! Our Friends of group has raised about $35 k for the school this year, mostly through putting on community events at the school.