Chicago Public League Sports Blog

What's Happening in Cahokia Is Happening in the CPS

Cahokia's state caliber track program (and other sports and activites) are in serious jeapordy of being dropped next year.(loku photo). Employees are getting fired, students are losing their sports and activites yet teachers and staff who are keeping their jobs are given preferential treatment and given pay raises.

The Cahokia school district is budgeted to lose 5 million dollars. That's huge for a budget of about $40 million. So the Cahokia school board decided to lay off 52 teachers, 31 other positions, and 40 coaching positions. In addition, the school board may decide to cut all sports and extra curricular activites next year.

Yet despite the budget troubles, Cahokia managed to find a way to give salary increases to teachers and staff for the NEXT THREE YEARS. In other words, teachers are getting laid off, sports are being cut (golf and tennis was cut last year), coaches are being fired, and the schools is in a major budget deficit yet the teachers and staff are getting pay increases. Employees are getting fired, students are losing their sports and activites yet teachers and staff who are keeping their jobs are given preferential treatment and given pay raises. It's not like Cahokia teachers are underpaid. Cahokia teachers are being paid more than the state average. K-3 teacher Kim Bathon was paid $85,172 last year to teach K-3 elementary school teachers. Deborah Mernick was paid $84,529 last year to teach special education. I'm sure Ms. Bathon and Ms. Mernick are really good teachers. But in this harsch economic situation that Cahokia is in, can they really afford to pay $84,529 for a K-3 teacher?

DOES SOMEONE BESIDES ME SEE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?!

This situation seems earily similar to what is happening in the CPS just in a much smaller scale. The CPS has a much bigger budget deficit, the CPS recently decided to close schools, and the CPS decided to give it's teachers a MUCH bigger pay raise. But guess what will also be bigger? In the next few years (or much sooner), when the CPS will see much bigger financial stress than they see now, the cuts to coaching jobs sports programs, and acitivites will be much bigger.

Welcome to the World of Higher Teacher Salaries

Higher Teachers Salaries and Questionable CPS Spending Have Led to Massive CPS Cutting

In the spring of 2010, the CPS cut sophomore sports. Yesterday, the CPS announced they will close 61 schools buildings. Look for even more cost cutting moves as the CPS is still has about a $1 billion dollar deficit.

The Chicago Teachers Unions striked last fall, the CPS caved in and gave them an enormous raise, and the teachers union declared victory.

A victory to the teachers who now get higher pay and a loss to the rest of us especially the parents and children whose schools will close and to those CPS employees who will lose their jobs. In a cost cutting move that will forever change the landscape for the CPS and the city, the CPS announced they will close 54 schools and 61 buildings. This is expected to affect 30,000 school children and lead according to the Sun-Times a loss of an estimated 1,000 teacher jobs. Furthermore, 6 existing high schools will co-locate to share campus space. They are Hope HS, Corliss HS, Urban Prep, Crane HS, Chicago Talent HS, and Bowen HS.

Last fall, when the CPS caved in and gave the teachers a raise, I warned about the possible repurcussions. These school closings, while a big move is just one of upcoming cost cutting initiatives. See, the CPS has a budget deficit of about $1 Billion. Each closed school will save an estimated $500,000-$800,000 annually. If the CPS closes 61 schools, that is only an annual savings of about 48 million dollars. Even if the CPS takes into account 48 million saved next year, that lessens the defcit by much less than 10%. The CPS will be left with a deficit of still close to $1 Billion.

To be fair, the high teacher salaries are not the only reason why the CPS is at a 1 billion dollar deficit. In a February 2010 article, I warned the about the pitfalls of their spending

"I saw this coming. In previous posts, I talked about questionable CPS spending like social change programs, politics, free breakfast, and social justice. These programs are not free, they come at cost. This type of spending is unsustainable and eventually something would have to give."

That something that would have to give is coming to roost. It is closing time in the CPS.

So to answer the commenter on how this will affect sports. It will absolutely affect sports. Think about it from the CPS perspective a year form now. They just did this historical school closure, yet they are still massively in debt. They will then look at expenses. The biggest expenses is employees salaries and benefits. However, many CPS employees are unionized - meaning their salaries are fixed for the length of their agreement. Even if they wanted to the CPS can't cut that expense (at least in the short term). So the CPS will look into other areas. Sports WILL be an area that the CPS will consider cutting back.

If you don't think it won't happen, think again because it has already happened in the past. The CPS cut sophomore sports in the spring of 2010.

Like it or not, we have entered a new world. This is a world where the CPS has chosen to give some - namely the teachers and selected programs- massive increases and to pay for it they will close schools and eventually cut more in extracurricular ativities such as sports.

CPS To Close 61 Elementary School Buildings

Trumbull Elementary School located on Foster and Ashland Avenue is just one of 61 CPS elementary school buildings slated to close- most by the end of the year. A major reason why they are closing schools is pure economics. As you can see Trumbull is a huge school. But when it is utilized only about 53% of the capacity (capacity 720; enrollment 389) and  it is located in the high real estate prices Edgewater neighborhood - it is hard to justify spending the money to keep it open. It's like renting a 6 bedroom house and not even using 3 of the bedrooms. It will be hard to justify paying the rent for that house especially in tough economic times.

In a move that will forever change the landscape of the CPS, the CPS has decided that it will close 51 elementary schools by the end of this school year. This is an astonishing 13% of all CPS elementary schools and the biggest mass closings of schools in US history.  Most of the schools are in the west and south side. The northern most school is Trumbull school located on Foster and Ashland.

This is a sad and shocking day for those involved. Let alone the history and nostalgia. I personally grew up on the same block where Trumbull School is located. I spent a great part of my childhood playing in the playground at Trumbull.

However, the CPS, like any organization is not immune to the economic realities of the times. The CPS is massively in debt and is having a hard time paying its bills. Most of CPS expenses come in the form of salaries and benefits for its employees. The CPS did not decide to give its teachers a pay cut last fall. In fact, they gave the teachers a pay raise after the teachers decided to strike. Now, we all have to pay for that - and to be fair- other poor decisions that the CPS has made.

List of schools closing

Alexander von Humboldt Elementary School

Alfred David Kohn Elementary School

Ana Roque de Duprey Elementary School

Anthony Overton Elementary School

Arna Wendell Bontemps Elementary School

Betsy Ross Elementary School

Crispus Attucks Elementary School (Phased out over two years. Closed into Beethoven in 2015.)

Elihu Yale Elementary School

Elizabeth Peabody Elementary School

Enrico Fermi Elementary School

Francis Parkman Elementary School

Francis Scott Key Elementary School

Garfield Park Preparatory Academy ES

Garrett A Morgan Elementary School

George Manierre Elementary School

Graeme Stewart Elementary School

Granville T Woods Math & Science Academy ES

Guglielmo Marconi Elementary Community Academy

Ignance Paderewski Elementary Learning Academy

Jean D Lafayette Elementary School

Jesse Owens Elementary Community Academy

John Calhoun North Elementary School

Kate S Buckingham Special Education Center

Leif Ericson Elementary Scholastic Academy

Louis Armstrong Math & Science Elementary School

Lyman Trumbull Elementary School

Mahalia Jackson Elementary School

Marcus Moziah Garvey Elementary School

Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School

Matthew A Henson Elementary School

Miriam G Canter Middle School

Nathan R Goldblatt Elementary School

Nathaniel Pope Elementary School

Near North Elementary School

Robert Emmet Elementary School

Songhai Elementary Learning Institute

West Pullman Elementary School

William H King Elementary School

Coaching Assistants Roles

A great coach does not need to know it all.

How could one person be an expert in everything.

In football, can one person really be the go to guy in offense, defense, special teams, kicking, blocking, tacking, nutrition, strength and conditioning, motivation, offensive line, defensive line, keeping parents happy, making sure their kids stay academically qualified, keeping the AD informed, equipment, hydration, practice scehdules, recruiting talent from within the school, and all the little things that make bigger things happen.

In track and field if your team is not that strong in sprints, well find a good sprints coach. The same goes for a program who lacks distance, throwing, hurdles, or jumping.

Not one person can do it all. That is why a great coach surrounds himself with great assistant coaches.

If a CPS team wants to build up their program finding, attracting, and keeping the right assistant coaches is one of the keys.

Or if your program cannot or does not want to get or pay for Assistants, then you better educate yourself or surround yourself with advisors that compensate for your weaknesses.

Cycles

People forget that it was only as recently as 2008 that Lane last won a city championship in football. Back in those days, they were beating Simeon and Morgan Park.

The only thing I can say is that basketball and football go in cycles. Right now Simeon and Morgan Park are dominant in both sports in the CPS.

It was not always that way. I know it is hard to believe.

On the football side, people forget Lane won 2 city championships in football the last 8 years. Lane was beating Morgan Park and Simeon in those days. Mather was a football powerhouse in the 1990's and actually won a Prep Bowl.

I know it is hard to believe but there will be a day when Simeon and Morgan Park is off the throne in football and basketball. When that days comes, people will look back at these days.

Basketball is a sport that is probably even greater affect in cycles

Not too many years ago North Lawndale College Prep won the city title. Farragut, Westinghouse, King and Crane were  basketball powerhouses. Nowadays, those are still solid programs but they started the season not as CPS contenders. Replacing them this year are teams like Orr, Curie, and Morgan Park. Believe it or not top 10 state ranked Morgan Park and Orr were not always this good. They both only won their first sectional championship in basketball only this season. Uplift in the Red-North went from a Blue team last year to a 2nd place finish in the Red-North this year.

Other teams will have their day when the cycle goes back to them. As a caveat, an up cycle is not guaranteed. The up cycle only affects the teams that put in the hard work, are massively motivated, and have a school that promotes good coaches and overall school spirit.

Football Losses Hurt More

The basketball season has ended for all Red-North boys basketball teams except for Uplift who play #1 North Chicago tonight in the Antioch Sectional Semi-Finals. If they lose, it will sting. But at the same time, they could look back at their season and say "we had a good year" and actually have a slight smile.

That got me thinking. Are all losses taken with the same amount of pain? Or do some losses hurt more?

I feel all losses are not treated equallly. It depends on the sport and it depends on the situation.

Cross Country and Track Losses

In cross country and track, losses are treated differently than in most sports. In a typical track or cross country meet- there could be 10 or more teams- and only one team wins if it is a scoring meet. The winner could actually technically "win" the race by points, yet feel bad if their runners did not perform to their ability. On the flip side, a team could technically "lose" the match by not coming up with the most points and still feel good if their athletes exceeded expectations.

I was a one activity (chess) and two sport (cross country and track) athlete in high school at Lane. The two most painful losses I ever experienced and still painfully remember to this day is when we loss the city cross country championship to Whitney Young in a close meet and when we lost the state championship to Kenwood in chess on the final round of the state chess tournament. On the flip side, I was part of 6 city championship teams. It was those experiences both losses and wins - are part of the reason I got hooked to high school sports for life.

After high school, I still stuck around and watched high school sports as a spectator and fan. I've been blessed to be able to watch so many games in so many sports over the years.

Football Losses

With all of that experience watching so many games, it is my opinion that a loss in football is unique and particularly stinging.

What makes a football loss different?

For one, the high school football season is so short. The regular season is only 9 weeks. For CPS Chicago and Inter-City Conference teams there is no post season. So every single game matters. A week 4 conference game is just as important and painful if you lose as a week 9 game. Almost nobody in the main stream media may be paying attention, but when there is a game like Austin vs Sullivan is played, the winner feels elated and the loser feels it big time.

Secondly, the physical nature of the sport. In football the goal is to prevent the other team from moving the ball. So that means, you must be able to physically dominate your opponent. Your goal is to beat the other guy up to a pulp if possible. It's painful to lose both on the scoreboard and to see the bruises and injuries on your body.

Finally, football is a high profile sport. Home games and homecoming games are big at almost all schools. When you win or lose a big game, believe me even the most least ardent sports fan in your school will know about it. And believe me they will let you know when you win and when you lose.

It's a combination of those three factors and more that makes a football loss different and in many cases more bitter.

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More CPS Schools to Open Amid School Closings

Because the CPS is currently underutilized (as they tell us)- the CPS is seriously considering closing some schools. It seems like a good move. However, at the same time they are considering adding new schools or expanding existing schools.

According to Catalyst Chicago:

The CPS may open an new 4th through 12th grade charter school in Roseland called Chicago Collegiate Charter School.

Plus, Disney Magnet School II is requesting to add grades 9-12 in its school.

 

Solorio Academy - Terrible Money Management?

It cost an estimated $90-$100 million to build Solorio Academy - one of the most expensive high schools ever built in Illinois.  Was it wise to spend that kind of money, when there are so many schools being underutilized; 139 are less than 50% utilized. (SA photo)

The CPS is broke. That's what they tell us. The CPS is expecting a one billion dollar budget deficit in 2014. (read here and here).

But whoever is making the decisions at the CPS sure are not making the right decisions to make it any better. First of all the CPS decided to make sure they go deeper in the hole after they gave in to the teachers union by giving the teachers an incredible pay increase after the teachers striked last fall. 

The CPS is seriously considering closing 100 schools. The biggest reason is to save money because so many schools are being underutilized. In other words, we have too many schools with too few students enrolled. We have too many schools designed for a certain number of students, but the actual enrollment is way under the number that the school  was designed for.  The CPS also has too many schools.  There are at least 20-25 CPS high schools with an enrollment under 500 students. 

I feel that the last 15-20 years the CPS made way too many schools and now we are going to face to consequences.

Solorio soccer players practice at the state of the art new artifical field turf at Solorio. (SA photo)

Case in point, Solorio Academy. Solorio was completed in 2010. It has some of the best facilities in the CPS- complete with 5 computer labs, 6 lane swimming poool, an artificial field turf, and a really nice gym. The soccer and football teams are up and coming. I'm glad the students and the community get to enjoy a nice school.

But at what cost? It costs an estimated $90-$100 million dollars to build Solorio- one of the most expensive high schools ever built in Illinois. However, no one ever asked if we really need the school. So many schools are underutilized. According to a Tribune article: "The district says underuse will be the key factor in deciding what schools to close. According to the list released Tuesday, enrollment at 330 of the 681 total schools is below 80 percent of what the district has determined to be the ideal population. Of those, 139 schools are only half full or less."

Was it really wise to spend $90 million (mostly Chicago tax payer money) when so many schools in the CPS are underutilized?

I know the southwest side of Chicago has a lot of people and may have needed another school. However, the CPS should have closed or consolidated schools in the other parts of the city BEFORE spending such a huge sum on another school.

Combine the decision to spend the money to make Solorio with other questionable decisions like giving the teachers their pay raise and you got some major reasons why the CPS is in such a financial mess.

Population Flight out of the City

If you live in the north side of Chicago, you may not notice it because there are a lot of people and a lot of bustling businesses up in the north side. But on the west and south side it's another story. There is a population flight out of the city in those parts of the town.

According to a Tribune article:

CPS blames the city's population decline, especially on the South and West sides, for much of the drop in school enrollment. Citing 2010 U.S. census data, CPS said Chicago now has about 145,000 fewer children ages 19 and under than it did a decade ago.

So what does this have to do with sports?  With less kids in the city, that means more schools are being underutilized. It's simple, there are too many schools and too few kids to house them at proper numbers. So the CPS is seriously considering closing schools. Maybe 100. Less schools mean less sports teams.

You gotta give people a reason to want to live in the city

Now the question is, why there are so many people leaving the city? This is a complicated issue. But to me it is simple, you gotta give people a reason to want to live in the city. See there are many reasons why people decide to live where they want to live. For kids, they don't have that choice it is up to their parents or adults that they are living with. For adults, there are a lot of factors. Some of them include: if family is lving close by, are things cheaper, are schools better, is housing better, do I live close to work, are taxes lower, will I be happy here, do I see a future in this part of town, and much much more.

I'm not going to dive into this complicated issue in one blog post. But I will say this, when faced with two alternatives of living in the city or living somewhere else, more and more people are calling somewhere else the better alternative for their family - and that will have an impact for all.

Upto 120 CPS Schools Could Close

In one month, the CPS will release a list of schools that it will recommend to close. According to a Tribune article, the CPS could close upto 120 schools.

The reason why they are closing so many schools is a combination of mismanagement of real estate and resources, population flight, and cost cutting. Let's look at the factors:

Mismanagement of real estate and resources

Think about all the recently opened new CPS high schools. In just the last 10 years or the CPS has opened schools like: UIC College Prep, Rickover Naval Academy, Bulls College Prep, Ford Powerhouse, Solario, and other schools that only the biggest CPS freak will be able to name. Well, for every school that opens it siphons off kids from other schools. The CPS has done a good job opening new schools, but they have done a poor job closing schools that are now under utilized.

Population flight

The population in the city of Chicago is getting smaller. People are leaving for the suburbs and other greener pastures. There is also a segment of the population that are what I call transients. That is, residents from areas like Bucktown, Edgewater, Lincoln Park, and other trendy nieghborhood who live in those neighborhoods for a while because they are cool. Then, they either leave before they have kids, or if they stay many choose to send their kids to montesorri, private schools, or other options instead of sending them to CPS schools. Another factor for population flight is the economy.  I'm sure the poor economy in Chicago has something to do with it. I know many people who have left Chicago for the suburbs or other states because that is where the jobs are at. As a result of this and other trends, the overall CPS district enrollment has declined by 34,000 students.

Cost Cutting

The CPS is broke and it is getting worse. The CPS is expecting a record $1 billion dollar deficit in 2014. Closing schools will save the CPS money.

Thoughts

On December 1, 2012 look at this blog. On that date the CPS will release the schools they will recommend to close. I suspect your eyes will open when you see some high schools on there. Let's hope it's not yours.