As CPS cuts overall spending, some central departments grow

CEO Forrest Claypool heralded new efficiencies to keep "cuts away from the classroom" earlier this week when he unveiled Chicago Public Schools' $5.4 billion in budget recommendations for the upcoming school year that will spend about $232 million less than last year.

But at a time when the reduction of classroom teachers outpaces enrollment drops and per-pupil funding is down from a year ago in the cash-strapped district, several central office departments will see increases in their budgets, including an auditing department that Claypool has bulked up since taking the reins of the district about a year ago.

New departments also have been created, according to CPS's online budget book.

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