As you may know, CPS has been having budget problems since 2013. Some schools had to cut teachers, programs, etc because of this. One of those schools is Lara Academy. Many BOYCP students graduated elementary school from Lara. A lot has changed in Lara since the budget cuts.

Since the 5th of September, Lara’s fifth through eighth graders do not have a Social Studies class. Instead, they have a class called Humanity, where they learn about different world cultures. Some teachers have been cut due to low budgetary, one of whom taught a core subject Social Studies.

According to Principal Schissler, Lara Academy had approximately 200 students but had lost 40 since September. According to a chart from DNAinfo, Lara lost around $2,550 in the beginning of the school year. With a low budgetary, the school had to cut some programs with few children to teach, changing the workload and normal bell schedules. With a new subject, Humanity, the staff will have to get new materials for that class such as maps, textbooks, etc.

Without Lara’s library, many students won’t have enough books, or its annual book fair.

CPS schools have been deeply affected by these budget cuts over the past four years, impacting the relationship between the Chicago Teachers Union and the district. Let’s hope both sides can reach a solution.

-Juan Alonso