Chicago Public Schools officials unveiled a $660 million capital budget plan Wednesday that allocates almost $125 million — about one-fifth of the entire budget — to schools the district has targeted for overhaul.
The plan was announced at the tail end of a chaotic monthly meeting of the Chicago Board of Education that was up-ended by protesters, many of whom opposed to CPS’ planned school overhauls.
Earlier this year, the board approved $391 million for building upgrades and new construction as part of the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. The capital plan released Wednesday shows that the district also is planning on receiving $269 million for capital projects from the city and state.
The $125 million will be dispersed among 11 schools the district has targeted for turnaround, closure or consolidation. One school—Lathrop Elementary—will receive $3.5 million in upgrades, but is in the final year of phasing out and will likely sit empty next year. CPS chief administrative officer Tim Cawley said the district has no plans for Lathrop right now and admitted he was “embarrassed that I didn’t catch that.”
Cawley said the allocation of money to the schools targeted for turnaround will increase community interest in new programming there. “We believe it reinforces that it’s a new day,” he said.
Next year, a new state law will require CPS to release the capital budget 60 days prior to the end of the previous fiscal year. The district will also have to release a long-term facilities plan, which will give the public a five-year and ten-year outlook on CPS’ improvement and construction plans, which will be subject to public review.
The law creates a Chicago Educational Facilities Task Force to monitor the school district’s compliance. State Rep. Cynthia Soto (D-Chicago), one of the bill’s sponsors and a member of the task force, said the law “is about building a bridge.” CPS, she said, is still keeping the task force “out of the picture.”
But Cawley said the task force does not “have a role in telling [CPS] to do X instead of Y. Ultimately, we have to make the call. Next year, we have to present the long-term plan and we will share it when them and seek their input.”
By the end of the year, CPS will unveil a website that shows all of the district’s property, all facilities actions from the past few years and other capital projects.
“We’re going to throw open the curtain,” Cawley said. “We believe in laying the whole story out for people and the logic behind it.”
He said school officials are expecting a backlash.
“We know that increased transparency could potentially lead to increased conflict,” Cawley said. “Somebody else might make a different call [on spending], but somebody’s got to make the final call, and that’s us.”
Notable capital projects
Schools proposed for AUSL turnaround that will receive capital improvements:
· Pablo Casals – $5 million
· Herzl – $9 million
· Fuller – $3.2 million
· Marquette – $4 million
· Piccolo – $3.5 million
· Stagg – $1 million
Schools proposed for turnaround by CPS that will receive capital improvements:
· Crane Tech High School – $7.3 million
· Chicago Vocational Career Academy – $75 million
Schools proposed for closure or consolidation that will receive capital improvements:
· Doolittle/ChiArts – $5.2 million
· Lathrop – $3.4 million (closure)
· Nash/ACT (KIPP) charter school – $13 million
Schools that will construct early-childhood centers with state funding:
· Camras – $500,000
· Hanson Park – $2.3 million
· McCormick – $900,000
· Locke – $1.8 million
Jones College Prep – $96 million
While the district appropriated money to Jones for improvements over the past few years, the new administration has decided to build a new school next to the old building.
Construction was underway on a new addition, which included a gym and several classrooms. But Cawley said it became apparent that the old building also would need a number of repairs and the district administration concluded: “Let’s do it right and have something we can be proud of.”
The project is expected to be funded mostly with tax-increment financing and will have 1,200 students.
South East Area Elementary School – $45 million
The district has been acquiring land on the Southeast Side for the construction of an elementary school over the last couple years. In Fiscal Year 2010, $11 million was allocated to purchase land near the Skyway at 10350 South Indianapolis Avenue.
The district is working with Ald. John Pope (10th Ward) to construct a new school that will serve 1,200 students and eliminate overcrowding at nearby schools.
The project will be partially funded by a pending TIF agreement, which will need City Council approval.
Edison Park Elementary School – $15 million
To alleviate overcrowding, the district will build a $15 million addition to the Northwest Side elementary school. According to district figures, there are 428 students in a building with an ideal enrollment of 294.
Hale Elementary School – $15 million
Like Edison Park, Hale is overcrowded, with 864 students in a building meant for 528, district figures show.
Bell Elementary School – $10 million
The popular and high-performing North Side school received $10 million in state funding to build an annex. According to district figures, 990 students are enrolled in Bell’s three programs (neighborhood, Regional Gifted Center, and Hearing Impaired).
Capital Budget Plan Overview
Source: Chicago Public Schools