167 Chicago Public Schools principals: Save our schools now

SHARE 167 Chicago Public Schools principals: Save our schools now

“If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand for much.”Marian Wright Edelman

Principals throughout Chicago are anticipating substantial budget cuts in the coming weeks. These cuts will come soon after previous budget cuts earlier this fiscal year and after decreasing budgets over successive school years. For too long, students in the Chicago Public Schools have been asked to do more with less, and they are suffering.

Somewhere in all of the headlines about elections, budget stalemates, contract negotiations, and worst of all, impropriety within our district, we have lost focus on talking about who is impacted every time a dollar is diverted from a school district.

OPINION

To be crystal clear, any additional cuts to a school’s budget negatively impact children in Chicago.

We are standing with the hundreds of high school students who protested the budget crisis this month. We are standing up for the nearly 400,000 students in CPS who deserve better.

All principals agree on one thing — students suffer when they lose teachers. Budget cuts to schools will result in many teachers losing their jobs. Consider the likely impact of a 10 percent cut to an elementary school of 500 students: as many as three positions — an art teacher, a second-grade teacher and a middle school science teacher. Imagine a 20 percent cut at a high school of 1,000 children: 10-12 positions — the entire math and foreign language departments. Cuts made during the year impact student schedules and classroom assignments. Changes like these negatively affect a school’s culture and climate which our communities have worked so hard to build.

The few CPS principals who are fortunate to have extra funds are holding onto the money while they wait for cuts! This money should have already been spent on things like computers, books or even an additional arts teacher. Instead, the dollars sit while principals, teachers, and students wait for our state legislators and governor to simply talk to one another.

Conversations in Springfield and at City Hall must start with a focus on providing a better education for our children.

We are calling for our elected state officials to:

  •  Act now. End the stalemate in Springfield.
  •   Pledge to vote against any bill that includes a pension holiday. Our children need long-term stability, not future uncertainty.
  •   Look to the nonpartisan Center for Tax and Budget Accountability for common sense ideas:
  •   Generate revenue through expansion of sales tax to include consumer services.
  •   Increase the personal income tax rates rolled back on Jan. 1, 2015.
  •   Scrap the unrealistic ‘pension funding ramp’ and re-amortize the state’s unfunded pension liabilities into level-dollar annual payments. When school districts are forced to allocate more and more for pension liabilities, less and less goes to children.
  •   Fund the Chicago Public Schools fairly. Our district makes up 20 percent of the state’s school enrollment. Our students should receive 20 percent of the state’s spending on education.

If our state leaders cannot compromise and provide relief prior to a February “Doomsday” in CPS, we are asking Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CEO Forrest Claypool to:

  •  Divert the maximum amount allowed by law from Tax Increment Financing funds to the Chicago Public Schools.
  •   Halt new school construction, including “Obama College Prep.”
  •   Cut central office positions to the maximum extent possible prior to taking any funds from schools.

We urge our leaders to act now to help our students get the education they deserve.

We, the undersigned, are standing up for the children in our schools,

This letter is signed by 167 Chicago Public Schools principals:

1. Ruth Martini-Walsh, Addams Elementary School

2. Hiliana León, Albany Park Multicultural Academy

3. Elias Estrada, Alcott College Prep

4. Lennette Coleman, Ariel Community Academy

5. Shelley Cordova, Armour School

6. Jewel Diaz, Ashburn Community School

7. Ken Fitzner, Audubon Elementary

8. Wayne Issa, Austin Business and Entrepreneurship Academy

9. Patricia Brekke, Back of the Yards High School

10. Patrick MacMahon, Barnard Elementary

11. Estuardo Mazin, Barry Elementary

12. Georgia Davos-Vetas, Bateman Elementary

13. Manda M. Lukic, Beard School

14. Heather Yutzy, Belding Elementary

15. Sandra Caudill, Bell Elementary

16. Michelle Ludford, Beaubien Elementary

17. Karen Bryar, Blair Early Childhood Center

18. Troy LaRaviere, Blaine Elementary School

19. Nia Abdullah, Bowen High School

20. Seth Lavin, Brentano Math and Science Academy

21. Sara Haas, Brighton Park Elementary School

22. Kenya Sadler, Brown School of Technology

23. Hiram Broyls, Burbank Elementary School

24. Catherine Plocher, Burley Elementary

25. Linda Moore, Burnham Mathematics and Science Academy

26. Kelly Thigpen, Burnside School

27. William R. Klee, Burr Elementary

28. Rich Morrill, Burroughs Elementary

29. Stephen Harden, D.R. Cameron Elementary

30. Adell Brock, Carroll School

31. Docilla Pollard, Andrew Carnegie Elementary School

32. Douglas Maclin, Chicago Vocational Career Academy

33. Lorraine Balesh, Christopher School

34. Rebecca Stinson, Claremont Academy

35. Charles Anderson, Michelle Clark High School

36. Marcey Sorensen, Clemente Community Academy

37. Wendy Olesky, Columbus Elementary School

38. Greg Zurawski, Coonley Elementary

39. Leonard Harris, Corliss High School

40. Allison Tingwall, Curie Metropolitan High School

41. Rhonda G. Hoskins, Daley Elementary Academy

42. Mauricio Segovia, Darwin Elementary

43. Carolyn Eggert, DeVry University Advantage Academy

44. Jacqueline Menoni, De Diego Elementary Community Academy

45. Elizabeth Alvarez, Dore Elementary

46. Raynell Walls, Drummond Montessori

47. Vanessa Williams Johnson, DuBois Elementary

48. Dan Redmond, Durkin Park

49. Nneka Gunn, Eberhart Elementary

50. Peter Zimmerman, Edison Park Elementary

51. Donna Oberhardt, Edison Regional Gifted Center

52. Leavelle Abram, Leif Ericson Scholastic Academy

53. Marian Strok, Evergreen Middle School

54. Barb Oken, Farnsworth Elementary

55. Tonya Hammaker, Farragut Career Academy

56. Margie Smagacz, Franklin Fine Arts Center

57. Lissette Rua, Fulton Elementary

58. Armando Rodriguez, Goode STEM Academy

59. Carlos Azcoitia, Greeley Elementary

60. Donella Carter, John M. Gregory Academy

61. Judith Carlson, Grimes Elementary

62. Fernando Kim, Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy

63. Dawn Iles-Gomez, Hale Elementary School

64. James Gray, Hamilton Elementary

65. Zaneta D. Abdul-Ahad, Hampton Fine and Performing Arts School

66. Karen Boran, Hancock College Preparatory High School

67. David Belanger, Hanson Park School

68. Ramona Fannings, Harlan Community Academy

69. Aisha McCarthy, Harvard School of Excellence

70. Nathan Pietrini, Hawthorne Scholastic Academy

71. Teresa Chrobak-Prince, Hearst Elementary

72. Juan Gutierrez, Henry Elementary

73. Raul Bermejo, Hernandez Middle School

74. Scott Ahlman, Hibbard Elementary

75. AJ Stich, Hitch Elementary

76. Michael Durr, Hope College Prep High School

77. Antonio Ross, Hyde Park Academy High School

78. Michael Herring, Jahn Elementary School

79. Beryl Shingles, Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative School

80. Rob Croston, Jenner Elementary Academy of the Arts

81. Joseph Powers, Jones College Prep

82. Alene Mason, Scott Joplin School

83. Eileen Scanlan, Kellogg School

84. James Coughlin, Kelly High School

85. George Szkapiak, Kennedy High School

86. Dawn Caetta, Kinzie Elementary

87. Kathryn Anderson, Lane Tech High School

88. Lynn McGinnis-Garner, Langford Academy

89. Paul Schissler, Lara Elementary School

90. Beth Bazer, LaSalle Elementary Language Academy

91. Lauren Albani, LaSalle II Magnet Elementary School

92. Kathy Farr, Lawndale H. S. for Social Justice

93. Lisa Epstein, Lee Elementary

94. Angela Sims, Lenart Regional Gifted Center

95. Kurt Jones, Libby Elementary

96. Michael Boraz, Lincoln Park High School

97. Renee Mackin, Linne Elementary

98. Erin Galfer, Marine Leadership Academy

99. Tonya Y. Tolbert, Roswell B. Mason Elementary

100. Chris Jones, Mather High School

101. Katie Konieczny, Mayer Elementary

102. Joe Shoffner, McClellan Elementary

103. Daniel Perry, McDade Classical School

104. Nicole Milberg, Mitchell Elementary

105. Karime Asaf, Moos Elementary School

106. Carolyn D. Epps, Morgan Park High School

107. Rashad Talley, Morrill Math & Science School

108. Peggie Burnett Wise, Morton School of Excellence

109. Catherine Reidy, Mount Greenwood Elementary School

110. Sonia Cabán, Mozart Elementary School

111. James Clarke, Multicultural Arts High School

112. Christne Zelenka, Murphy Elementary School

113. Yasmeen Muhammad-Leonard, Nettlehorst Elementary School

114. Linda Foley, Newberry Math and Science Academy

115. Carlos Patino, New Field Elementary School

116. Kelly Mest, Northside College Prep

117. Margaret Kouretsos, Nightingale Elementary

118. Gerald Byers, Nixon Elementary School

119. Jaime Sanchez, North River Elementary School

120. Michael Beyer, Ogden International School of Chicago

121. Tim Riff, Oriole Park Elementary School

122. Efrain Martinez, Orozco Community Academy

123. Stanley L. Griggs, Owen Scholastic Academy

124. Lashawn Ray, Palmer Elementary School

125. Tim Devine, Payton College Prep

126. Gerardo Trujillo, Pasteur School

127. Sherryl Moore-Ollie, Penn Elementary

128. Safurat Giwa, Pershing Elementary Humanities Magnet

129. Michael Abello, Piccolo Elementary School

130. Maureen Ready, Portage Park School

131. Mariel Laureano, Prieto Academy

132. Elizabeth Meyers, Randolph Elementary School

133. Nate Manaen, Ravenswood Elementary

134. Martha Irizarry, Reilly Elementary School

135. Edwin Loch, Reinberg Elementary School

136. Durrell Anderson, Richards Career Academy

137. Pilar Vazquez-Vialva, Roosevelt High School

138. Mary T. Weaver, Scammon Elementary School

139. Daniel Kramer, Schurz High School

140. John P. O’Connell, Sheridan Academy

141. Peter Auffant, Shields Middle School

142. Sabrina L. Gates, Shoesmith School

143. Ethan Netterstrom, Skinner North

144. Debbie Clark, Skinner West

145. Jerry Travlos, Smyser Elementary

146. Victor Iturralde, Solorio High School

147. Tracie Sanlin, Spencer Technology Academy

148. Maria McManus, STEM Magnet Academy

149. Katherine Konopasek, Stevenson Elementary

150. Ann McNally, Stock School

151. Barbara Onofrio, Stone Scholastic Academy

152. Alexander Phillips, Suder Montessori Magnet Elementary

153. Salvatore Cannella, Swift Specialty School

154. Mary Kay Richardson, Thomas Early Childhood Center

155. Maurice Swinney, Tilden High School

156. Stephanie Y. Moore, Uplift Community High School

157. Noel McNally, Vaughn Occupational High School

158. Cathy Lawton, Vick Early Childhood & Family Center

159. Roger Ted Johnson, Volta School

160. Titia M. Crespo, Waters Elementary

161. Princetta E.Preston, Webster/Hansberry School

162. Rituparna Raichoudhuri, Wells High School

163. Jeffrey White, Wells Preparatory School

164. Monique Dockery, Westcott Elementary School

165. Joyce Kenner, Whitney Young High School

166. Mary Beth Cunat, Wildwood School

167. Brian Rogers, World Language High School

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