March 26, 2014Portage Cragin Library

Welcome

Intro to the BGA

Robert ReedDirector of Programming and

Investigations

Better Government Association

School Budgets 101

Sarah KarpDeputy Editor

Catalyst Chicago

CPS budgetingCPS 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

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

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.

Belmont-Cragin Elementary School• About the same number About the same number

of students FY 2013, FY of students FY 2013, FY 20142014

• Yet a decrease in Yet a decrease in general education general education moneymoney

Replaced by student-based budgeting:•College-ready funding•Full-day kindergarten•general education fund•supplemental ancillary teaching positions

Fund Grant DescriptionFY 2013 Expenditures as of 6/30/2013

FY 2014 Approved

BudgetBilingual Ed TPI & TBE 0 0

CHILDREN-AT-RISK 0 0

College Ready Funding 150,069 0

Extended Day Learning Time 0 0

General Education Fund 1,437,224 334,670

Operations - Custodians 0 0

Public Building Commission O & M

69,046 83,662

School Transitions 2,589 14,163Special Education - Transportation

0 0

Special Education Fund 247,895 129,398

State Maintenance Program Grant

2,100 0

State Special Education Block Grant

247,625 270,456

Student Based Budgeting 0 1,190,383

Summer Office Support 1,920 0

Supplemental Ancillary Teaching Positions

13,989 0

Transportation - Safety Personnel

0 0

Workers'& Unemployment Compensation/Tort

54,728 63,324

  2,227,184 2,086,056

Schools CPS considers in Belmont Cragin area

• Belmont-Cragin School• Charles Allen Prosser Career Academy• Charles P Steinmetz Academic Centre• Chicago International Charter School (CICS)- West Belden Campus• Christopher House Charter School• Dr Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy• Franz Peter Schubert School• Hanson Park School• Harriet E Sayre Language Academy• Henry D Lloyd School• Joseph Lovett School• Josephine C Locke School• Laughlin Falconer School• Luther Burbank School• Marvin Camras Elementary School• Mary Lyon School• Northwest Middle• UNO Charter School - Near West Elementary Campus

18 schools•2 high schools; •3 charter schools

Investment in Belmont-Cragin

• Budget $3 million less; Lost 42 positions• Like elsewhere, high schools saw the biggest

losses. Both high schools saw slight increases in students.

• Among 8 elementary schools that saw budget cuts, Burbank, which is down 44 students, lost the most at $751,000

• 3 charters saw an increase of $870,000, but much of that due to Christopher House adding enrollment

Charter schools• Same per-pupil

amount as district run school.

• “administrative base”

• salary adjustment• stipend for in-

kind 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

Total $6827 $6381 $7887

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 LourySenior Policy Analyst

Better Government Association

Freedom of Information Act

Step 1: Find the FOIA OfficerCity of Chicago Freedom of Information OfficerCassandra DanielsChicago Public Schools125 S Clark St, 7th FlrChicago, IL 60603FOIA@cps.k12.il.usFax 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&ChapterID=2

Freedom of Information Act

Sample FOIA RequestJune 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 aloury@bettergov.org. 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 LouryBetter Government Association223 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 900Chicago, 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 SchoolsCharter 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 info@bettergov.org