In response to yesterday’s announcement by Mayor Johnson rejecting cuts in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) proposed budget, the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association (CPAA) calls on CPS district management to consult with principals on a more thoughtful and effective allocation. CPAA has long supported a comprehensive budget process that includes transparency and collaboration to better meet the needs of students, and this announcement creates an opportunity to collaborate on how a more effective allocation would look.
CPAA President Troy LaRaviere stated, "While the proposed budget may suffice for some, it falls short for the vast majority, leaving many schools and students without the resources they need for academic success."
LaRaviere further stated, "The rejection of the cuts by Mayor Johnson opens the door to a necessary dialogue. Although our relationship has had its challenges, particularly regarding the slow movement of the mayor’s office in addressing troubling principal removal patterns at CPS, we share a common goal in ensuring equitable resource distribution. This budget distributes an insufficient funding pool proportionately across schools according to a perceived need that is not equity. For us to create equity, we must have enough funds to meet the learning needs of every child, and each school must receive enough funding to meet those needs. That is not what the proposed budget does, and thanks to Mayor Johnson, we now have an opportunity to get it right for our children. This is a critical moment to reconsider and rebuild a budget that works for everyone, rather than relying on temporary fixes that only serve a few."
The proposed school budget included reductions in staffing and other critical areas, which would exacerbate existing inequities, particularly in many neighborhood schools. When principals received their school budgets, they quickly informed CPAA of the negative impact that ratifying this budget would have on their schools. These principals have innovative ideas on how to best move forward and are eager to offer solutions, and we extend an invitation to the Mayor’s Office and the Board of Education to hear and discuss those ideas.
What is clear, according to Kia Banks, Principal of Vanderpoel Fine Arts Elementary, is that principals should be a part of the process: "It is crucial that the individuals who are directly managing our schools—principals and assistant principals—are actively included in the budget process and maintain an ongoing dialogue with the board to ensure that decisions are equitable and effectively implemented."
"Input from principals is critical,” Banks continued, “The only way to truly understand the full picture of the budget and its daily impact is by engaging in dialogue with us. As principals, we see the effects of budget decisions every day because we are the ones who manage and implement them in the schools. We are faced with the hard decisions of prioritizing and rationing scarce and, too often, non-existent resources. Our firsthand experience provides the insights needed to help understand what works and what doesn't. We understand the unique challenges and needs of our schools, and our perspective is essential in creating a budget that genuinely supports all students and staff. Without our input, the budget process cannot fully address the realities and complexities of running a school."
Both LaRaviere and Banks emphasized that while the input of all stakeholders is valuable, the perspectives of the principals who lead our schools offer critical insights that cannot be gained from any other group. Banks summed it up as “Decisions like this can’t continue to happen without the input of the members of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association."
CPAA leaders and members remain hopeful that this pivotal moment will lead to the type of input Banks refers to - and a revised budget that truly reflects the needs of all schools and students within the CPS system. LaRaviere concluded, "This is an opportunity for us to come together and ensure that every student in Chicago has access to the resources they need to grow, develop, and thrive. I'm glad Mayor Johnson rejected the proposed budget, and I am confident that if he includes CPAA in the process, we can help craft a budget that truly reflects the needs and potential of the amazing young people in our city.”
For media inquiries, please contact the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association (CPAA) at news@mycpaa.com
