The annual saga of the budget crisis in the Chicago Schools is with us again. It is time to explore and implement new strategies as long-term solutions. School reform in the central office continues to be a procedural approach. And dependence on the central office to resolve many locally based issues continues to affect schools adversely and hinders site-based management. More power and autonomy must be given to the local school.
Schools should have full control of discretionary budget allocations. Money allocations should be deposited in the internal accounts of the school to be spent by principals with Local School Council approval. Schools should have more control over purchases and payments to vendors. Unexpended funds should be carried over to the subsequent year.
Members of the anti-reform movement and bureaucrats will argue about all the state and federal guidelines that will prevent this from happening, but will never address locally imposed barriers that impede progress. If schools are accountable, give us the power to control our money. School reform should be an open process for school communities to create new ways to improve education for students.
