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Chicago Public Faculties college students might even see fewer sizzling faculty meals, delays in updating know-how, fewer crossing guards, and different adjustments at their campuses this coming faculty yr because the district tightens its finances.
That heads-up got here in a observe to households from the district’s Chief Operations Officer Charles Mayfield on Friday afternoon, a time when CPS has repeatedly despatched updates about cost-cutting in current weeks.
Within the observe, despatched roughly three weeks earlier than the Aug. 18 begin of the college yr, Mayfield wrote that college students and educators will really feel some day-to-day adjustments associated to the district’s efforts to shut a $734 million finances deficit.
“Whereas these changes will influence how some providers are delivered, our precedence is to make sure that each CPS scholar continues to obtain a high-quality schooling in a secure, clear, and supportive surroundings,” Mayfield wrote.
It was not instantly clear whether or not the adjustments Mayfield detailed mirror layoffs and different finances cuts reported earlier in July, or if some symbolize further cuts. CPS spokespeople didn’t instantly reply to questions. The district is on the brink of unveil its total 2025-26 finances in August amid deep uncertainty about the way it will deal with its finances hole.
Modifications to custodial and engineering employees will imply adjusted cleansing schedules and certain delays in non-emergency repairs and different faculty upkeep, Mayfield wrote.
Fewer kitchen employees will end in simplified menus and extra chilly meals, even because the district continues to supply free breakfasts and lunches to all its college students. After-school applications that at present serve sizzling meals will begin offering packaged snacks.
A Chalkbeat evaluation evaluating staffing ranges within the proposed 2025-26 faculty budgets to these in final yr’s budgets confirmed the brand new budgets embrace 238 fewer lunchroom employees and 220 fewer non-teaching discretionary employees.
The district may also curtail its crossing guard and Secure Passage applications, although Mayfield careworn that no faculty will lose both program totally. The town of Chicago used to cowl the price of the district’s crossing guard program, however shifted what was then a $14 million program to CPS amid the pandemic. A number of the current cuts impacted routes serving personal faculties.
The e-mail indicated that decreased funding will influence faculties’ capacity to supply well being providers, like bodily exams and vaccinations. Mayfield stated the district would work with households to assist them entry these providers elsewhere. And the Wholesome CPS Hotline at 773-553-KIDS (5437) would proceed to supply well being info and assist households apply for public advantages, albeit with a decreased employees.
Mayfield additionally referenced adjustments to bell instances at 22 district faculties to assist with offering transportation to extra college students, a shift the district first introduced throughout Thursday’s faculty board assembly.
“We acknowledge that these adjustments might create challenges for college kids and households, and we’ll work hand-in-hand with our college communities to make the changes as easy as attainable,” Mayfield wrote.
He stated households will hear instantly from their faculties with extra particulars on how the adjustments influence every campus within the coming days.
Mila Koumpilova is Chalkbeat Chicago’s senior reporter masking Chicago Public Faculties. Contact Mila at mkoumpilova@chalkbeat.org.
