Big Cuts on Tap at School Where One-Quarter of Students Are in Special Ed
November 4, 2015
AUBURN GRESHAM — Parents at William Ryder Math & Science Specialty School said last week they were unaware of proposed CPS budget cuts that could result in the loss of up to nine special education positions at the school.
The cuts could hit the school at 8716 S. Wallace St. especially hard considering nearly one-quarter of its 400 students qualify for such services.
Mabel Huff, who was picking up her 3-year-old granddaughter Thursday afternoon from the school at 8716 S. Wallace St., said officials hadn’t informed her of the proposed cuts.
“It’s important for the kids to learn in small classrooms and get that personal interaction,” she said.
Parent Latisha Topper said that the students’ learning would be negatively affected if they don’t have teachers and aides who can offer individualized attention.
“Cutting the staff wouldn’t be good for the students,” she said.
More than 70 Chicago special education teachers and aides could lose their jobs because of CPS budget cuts that are supposed to save $12 million, officials said. Approximately 160 schools would lose special education teachers, while 184 would lose aides, according to a CPS spreadsheet detailing the cuts.
Ryder’s Local School Council met Thursday but the cuts weren’t even on the agenda. They planned out the calendar for the academic year, voted on council leadership and discussed a Halloween party.
Before the meeting ended, Principal Aaron Rucker, who took on the position in 2013, cut off a reporter seeking information from the group about the cuts. He said that the appropriate place to discuss it would be his office and escorted the reporter from the meeting room.
Although a CPS spreadsheet shows that two teachers and four aides were being cut, Rucker said the cuts were deeper: in addition to the two teachers, there are actually seven aides on the chopping block, he said.
He said 96 students have Individualized Education Programs, also known as IEPs, that require special attention from the district.
When asked if he would appeal the cuts, Rucker said he couldn’t say.
“We’re not sure yet,” he said. “Everything is still new and everyone is still learning the process. We’re in the preliminary stages.”
Rucker went out of his way to praise the “amazing” teachers who are very “dedicated” at his school. He said he couldn’t comment further on the subject without CPS approval.
Special education students will still get the services they need, said CPS spokeswoman Emily Bittner.
“Because dollars follow students, the adjustments to our Diverse Learner [special education] programs reflect the actual enrollment and needs of our students,” she said.
Each principal will get to decide where to allocate their special education resources, Bittner said, and they have until Nov. 2 to appeal the cuts.
And some schools in the area will gain positions, including Clara Barton Elementary at 7650 S. Wolcott Ave., which could get six new positions.
Here’s a list of some of the other local schools that are impacted by the proposed budget changes:
Englewood
• Sir Miles Davis Magnet Elementary Academy: Proposed cuts: one teacher, two aides
• Daniel S. Wentworth Elementary: Losing four aides
• Anna R. Langford Community Academy: Losing one teacher
• Luke O’Toole Elementary School :Adding one aide
Chatham
• Paul Revere Elementary: Losing two teachers, one aide
• Martha Ruggles Elementary: Losing one teacher, one aide
• Henry O Tanner Elementary: Losing two teachers, 1.5 aides
• Charles S. Deneen Elementary: Losing two aides
• Mary E. McDowell Elementary: Losing one teacher, one aide
• James Madison Elementary: Adding one teacher
Auburn Gresham
• Foster Park Elementary School: Losing two aides
• Kate S. Kellogg Elementary: Losing three aides
• Simeon Career Academy: Losing three aides
• Walter Q. Gresham Elementary: Losing one teacher
• Clara Barton Elementary School: Adding two teachers and four aides
Roseland
• Frank I. Bennett Elementary: Losing one teacher, two aides
• Dunne Technology Academy: Losing one teacher
• Fernwood Elementary: Losing one teacher, one aide
• Wendell Smith Elementary: Losing three aides
• Corliss High School: Adding one teacher and one aide
Pullman
• Johnnie Colemon Elementary Academy: Losing two teachers, one aide
• Esmond Elementary School: Losing one teacher
• Marcus Moziah Garvey Elementary: Losing one teacher, two aides
• Wendell E. Green Elementary: Losing one teacher, one aide
• John D. Shoop Academy of Math and Science and Technology: Adding two aides