My daughter, Sina, climbing above an obstacle. She did it; we can do it.
Mayer is more likely than not to face severe fiscal problems next school year and beyond. The fundamental reason is that CPS is in a financial crisis (I serve on the board of Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education, which advocates for greater state funding for Illinois public schools). Given the state budget deadlock and the coming election, new state revenue is unlikely to emerge soon. Because CPS is subject to state-imposed caps on how much it can raise revenue, CPS cannot tax its way out, and after several years of layoffs and budget cuts, there is little “fat” left; bone gets cut next.
Even though Friends of Mayer will have raised more money than it ever has for next year—thanks the generosity of parents and local businesses— it is more likely than not that its funds will not close the gap between what CPS will allocate and what Mayer needs to sustain its current programming, let alone cover new needs. If this occurs, the LSC, which approves Mayer’s budget, will need to make painful decisions. The choice will be among bad options. I’m Friends of Mayer’s treasurer, and I can tell you that all the other parents who have volunteered this year, both on the board and off, have worked as hard as anyone could ask. They and all who donate will help reduce the severity of cuts but will not be able to prevent them entirely.
Deciding what to cut will be contentious. So far, we have avoided arguments over what we value most about our school. Some things are sure to remain: there will be a Montessori and an International Baccalaureate program. But we will need open and respectful public discussion over what we value most about our school. Debate must not become discord, however. I believe that the path to resolution without rancor is to be as candid as possible as your representative. For what that means, see “What I Pledge to Do”.