Fewer Austin schools will see funding cuts next year compared to this year.
George Leland Elementary School is facing the largest budget cut at -6.5 percent, leaving the school with $3,683,437 for the year, while John Hay Community Academy will receive a 3.97 percent increase, with $2,434,529.
Last year, school budgets were not available this early. Chicago Teachers Union Communications Director Chris Geovanis said the earlier release makes it slightly easier for principals to staff the schools before the start of the school year.
“Without additional funds to hire in more teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, social workers, school nurses and other vital staff, we can expect that the hardships that students and CPS members experience because of the mayor’s constant shortchanging of educational needs will, in fact, persist,” Geovanis said.
Jennie Biggs, communications director of the parent advocacy group Raise Your Hand, said the last five years of budgeting delays has been a nightmare.
“There is a general lack of trust in those who have the fiduciary responsibility for our public school system and the hundreds of thousands of children in it,” Biggs said.
CPS did not get respond to requests for comment.
“We’re glad schools received budgets in April. We’re glad that schools are not facing more huge cuts, but the public needs to remember: This is how it should be. This is what we should expect. Schools should get their budgets in April, and we should not face cuts every year,” Biggs said.
A breakdown of Austin school budgets
Here is a breakdown of Austin school budgets:
Milton Brunson Special Elementary
Current enrollment: 477
Projected enrollment: 428
Current budget: $3,462,807
Next year’s budget: $3,583,010
Percent change from this year: 3.47%
George Leland Elementary
Current enrollment: 436
Projected enrollment: 377
Current budget: $3,689,534
Next year’s budget: $3,683,437
Percent change from this year: -0.17%
Michele Clark Magnet School
Current enrollment: 548
Projected enrollment: 547
Current budget: $5,012,587
Next year’s budget: $5,058,993
Percent change from this year: 0.93%
Oscar DePriest Elementary School
Current enrollment: 554
Projected enrollment: 502
Current budget: $5,084,324
Next year’s budget: $5,087,293
Percent change from this year: 0.06%
Frederic Douglas Academy High School
Current enrollment: 175
Projected enrollment: 101
Current budget: $1,517,824
Next year’s budget: $1,513,720
Percent change from this year: -0.27%
Edward K. Duke Ellington
Current enrollment: 546
Projected enrollment: 450
Current budget: $4,536,530
Next year’s budget: $4,466,869
Percent change from this year: -1.54%
John Hay Community Academy
Current enrollment: 356
Projected enrollment: 321
Current budget: $2,341,638
Next year’s budget: $2,434,529
Percent change from this year: 3.97%
Joseph Lovett Elementary School
Current enrollment: 355
Projected enrollment: 341
Current budget: $2,493,287
Next year’s budget: $2,565,855
Percent change from this year: 2.91%
Ronald E. McNair Elementary School
Current enrollment: 382
Projected enrollment: 363
Current budget: $4,013,442
Next year’s budget: $4,125,816
Percent change from this year: 2.80%
Henry H. Nash Elementary School
Current enrollment: 304
Projected enrollment: 246
Current budget: $1,881,665
Next year’s budget: $1,906,180
Percent change from this year: 1.30%
Harriet Sayre Elementary Language Academy
Current enrollment: 419
Projected enrollment: 414
Current budget: $3,066,928
Next year’s budget: $3,179,422
Percent change from this year: 3.67%
Spencer Elementary School
Current enrollment: 634
Projected enrollment: 497
Current budget: $4,685,441
Next year’s budget: $4,378,535
Percent change from this year: -6.5%
Austin College and Career Academy
High School
Current enrollment: 304
Projected enrollment: 219
Current budget: $2,707,725
Next year’s budget: $2,672,914
Percent change from this year: -1.29%
Ella Flagg Young Elementary School
Current enrollment: 832
Projected enrollment: 765
Current budget: $6,028,022
Next year’s budget: $6,020,216
Percent change from this year: -0.13%
George Rogers Clark Elementary School
Current enrollment: 705
Projected enrollment: 709
Current budget: $5,490,903
Next year’s budget: $5,503,152
Percent change from this year: 0.22%
Howe Elementary School of Excellence
Current enrollment: 459
Projected enrollment: 448
Current budget: $3,397,380
Next year’s budget: $3,435,904
Percent change from this year: 0.22%
Leslie Lewis Elementary School
Current enrollment: 437
Projected enrollment: 450
Current budget: $3,249,492
Next year’s budget: $3,351,076
Percent change from this year: 3.13%
CONTACT: austintalks.org@gmail.com
