Chicago’s first day of school brings excitement and concerns about possible budget cuts

Eleven-year-old Carter Darling was enthusiastic about his first day of sixth grade at Robert A. Black Magnet Elementary School on Chicago's South Side. He woke up early, dressed in his school uniform and walked the two blocks to school, feeling good. Carter is among over 300,000 students in the fourth-largest school district in the nation.

The upcoming school year marks a significant change for Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Mayoral control will end in January, replaced by an elected school board managing a $10 billion budget, overseeing district leadership, and setting the vision for the city's public schools. The new board will directly impact schools like Carter's.

The current board approved a budget that anticipates $150 million more in state funding than Illinois lawmakers allocated. This additional money would help reverse summer layoffs. However, schools might face midyear cuts if the extra funds don't materialize. Mayor Brandon Johnson urged Illinois to implement a state millionaires tax to fund public education.

Carter's mother, Jaciel Cathey, expressed concerns about the district's budget situation. She emphasized the need for assurance on funding that isn't guaranteed. Cathey hopes to use her role on the school's Local School Council to address funding and resource gaps, such as securing a crossing guard for the busy streets around the school.

When Carter turns 3, Cathey enrolled him in a full-day preschool program at Holy Angels, a Catholic school near her Bronzeville home. She appreciated the school's staff and resources. However, she felt the school focused too much on arts and discipline, not enough on reading and math. When Carter started kindergarten, CPS schools experienced midyear cuts, followed by a funding commitment from the state. In 2019, a CPS teacher-led strike occurred.

Cathey chose to keep Carter at Holy Angels through eighth grade despite the unpredictability. In first grade, a white student at Black Magnet School called Carter a racial slur, and Cathey felt the school's response was insufficient. Consequently, Carter returned to Holy Angels for second grade. The family recently moved to Pill Hill, closer to Black Magnet School, which received commendations from the state.

Carter enrolled at Black Magnet in fourth grade and has thrived there, enjoying learning and making friends. However, Cathey aims to provide her son with a more rigorous education and consistency as he prepares for college, which may involve leaving CPS for high school.