Transcript The mystery of CPS budgeting

February 27, 2014
Urban League
Welcome
Intro to the BGA
Robert Reed
Director of Programming and Investigations
Better Government Association
School Budgets 101
Sarah Karp
Deputy Editor
Catalyst Chicago
CPS budgeting
Like school lunches, we don’t know
what goes in, but we don’t like the
result.
Where does CPS get its money?
• 40 % from
property
taxes
Federal revenue
State revenue
Local property taxes
Personal property and
replacement taxes
Other local revenue
Fund balance
Old system
• Schools allocated teachers based on the
number of students.
• Small enrollment swings didn’t change
the bottom line.
• Teacher salary didn’t matter to principals
because they were given positions
• Less flexibility for principals
This year: Student-based budgeting
• Core allocation money
follows the student.
$4,140 per
student
• Schools get less SBB core allocation
depending on number of students
who are more severely disabled
How CPS arrived at this amount
• Adding together last years expenditures
on things that would be covered by SBB.
= $2 billion
• But the amount was reduced because of
the district’s budget deficit
subtract $81 million
On top of SBB schools get:
• Administrative base to pay for 1 principal, 1
counselor and 1 clerk
• Salary adjustment for veteran teachers
• Magnet schools and magnet cluster schools
• Federal and state poverty money, based on
number of students who qualify for free and
reduced lunch.
Beethoven elementary school
Fund Grant Description
CHILDREN-AT-RISK
College Ready Funding
Extended Day Learning
Time
General Education Fund
Public Building Commission
O&M
School Transitions
Special Education Transportation
Special Education Fund
State Special Education
Block Grant
Student Based Budgeting
Summer Office Support
Supplemental Ancillary
Teaching Positions
Transportation - Safety
Personnel
Workers'& Unemployment
Compensation/Tort
Grand Total
FY 2013
Expenditures as
of 6/30/2013
0
152,432
0
FY 2014
Approved
Budget
44,912
0
0
1,794,545
32,611
310,237
0
0
0
25,689
0
121,415
598,707
120,375
617,464
0
1,723
45,212
1,801,821
0
0
0
0
108,520
104,287
2,855,165
3,024,785
• big increase in students
• 2013: 389;
• 2014: 464
Replaced by studentbased budgeting:
• College-ready funding
• Full-day kindergarten
• general education fund
• supplemental ancillary
teaching positions
Investment in Bronzeville schools
• All together CPS is spending $15 million less
on schools this year, compared with last year
• Closed five schools: Mayo, Overton, Pershing
West, Williams Middle and Williams
Elementary
• 12 of the remaining 23 schools lost money
• Phillips was down $3.5 million; King was down
$1.6 million
Investment in Bronzeville schools
• Welcoming schools got investments, including
non-designated welcoming schools such as
Burke
• Other schools like Carter, Reavis and Fuller lost
students so were adversely affected by two
factors
– Student-based budgeting amount
– Fewer students
Charter schools
• Same per-pupil
amount as district
run school.
• “administrative
base”
• salary adjustment
• stipend for inkind services
(operations,
maintenance,
security and
magnet positions)
Elem k - 3
Elem 4-8
H.S.
Weighting
1.07
1
1.24
Per pupil
$4,429
$4,140
5,132
Admin Base
$542
$507
$623
Teacher
adjustment
$98
$91
$112
Stipend for
services
$1,758
$1,643
$2020
$6381
$7887
Total
$6827
Plus, state and federal poverty money
Extra money
•
•
•
•
Government Grants
Private foundation grants
Parent fundraising
Charters bring in more---more than half bring
in over $100,000 in private money
• Less than 10 district-run schools bring in more
than $100,000
For more information
• To find information about specific schools:
http://www.cps.edu/finance/FY14Budget/Pages/
Budget.aspx
• School-level budgets are under “Interactive
Reports” under the “Find your school budget” tab
• Read Catalyst-Chicago online and in print
How to File a FOIA
Alden Loury
Senior Policy Analyst
Better Government Association
Freedom of Information Act
Step 1: Find the FOIA Officer
City of Chicago Freedom of Information Officer
Cassandra Daniels
Chicago Public Schools
125 S Clark St, 7th Flr
Chicago, IL 60603
[email protected]
Fax to 773.553.1701
Freedom of Information Act
Step 2: Writing a FOIA Request
• No specific format is required.
• No standard form is required.
• No reason for your request is necessary.
• Be as specific as possible about what records you are
requesting.
• Include your name and contact information.
• Review the Illinois FOIA law, particularly section 7 on allowable
exemptions:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=85&ChapterI
D=2
Freedom of Information Act
Sample FOIA Request
June 1, 2012
Dear Ms. Daniels:
This is a request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140).
Please provide copies of the school expenditure reports for the 2011-2012 school year for Edmund Burke Elementary School and
Ludwig van Beethoven Elementary School.
I also ask that you convey this information electronically, via email to [email protected]. If the records cannot be provided
electronically, please mail them to me at the mailing address provided below or contact me so that I can make arrangements for
pick up. Because these records are being sought in the public interest, I ask that you waive all copying, printing and programming
costs associated with this request.
If any part of this request is denied, Section 9 of the FOIA requires that you provide reasons for the denial, citing the specific
language in the FOIA that grants an exemption. If you have any questions pertaining to this request, please do not hesitate to
contact me at 312-821-9036.
Thank you,
Alden Loury
Better Government Association
223 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60606
Freedom of Information Act
Other Notes:
• You may ask to conduct on-site inspection, which may alleviate
copying charges
• Try to be as narrow as possible: broad requests such as “All
documents related to…” are more likely to be denied.
• Under FOIA, you must request a specific document. If you do not
know the document you are looking for, you may try writing,
“Documents sufficient to show…”
Freedom of Information Act
Step 3: Tracking Response
• The public body must comply with or deny the request within 5
business days.
• The public body may request an extension of up to 5 business
days.
• No response from the public body equals a denial, and you may
then appeal.
• Keep notes and records (names, dates, times) of all
communication, including phone calls.
• Submitting everything via email or fax will allow you a stronger
paper trail, which can be used to appeal a denial.
Freedom of Information Act
Step 4: Dealing with Denials
• Call/email the BGA and tell us about your situation
• Attend a BGA FOIA clinic
• Submit a request for review with the Public Access Counselor:
http://foia.ilattorneygeneral.net
• File a lawsuit
• Ask an attorney you know to take on the suit pro bono
Freedom of Information Act
FOIA and Charter Schools
Charter schools are nonprofit organizations and do not necessarily
have to follow FOIA or OMA, though some do.
For info on charter schools:
• Submit a FOIA to CPS requesting a copy of a charter school’s
annual audit and projected budgets
• Look for the charter’s 990 form on Guidestar or the Attorney
General’s Website:
http://www.guidestar.org/
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/charities/search/index.jsp
Closing
Questions?
Concerns?
Contact us! 312-427-8330 [email protected]