Photo: (Left to right) GAC Chair David Golder, Ald. Jason Ervin, CPS CEO Forrest Claypool and GAC Vice Chair Peter Friedman.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool and Ald. Jason Ervin, whose 28th Ward represents Sinai Health System, sat down with JUF’s Government Affairs Committee to discuss the city of Chicago’s 2016 budget and its impact on neighborhoods, public schools and Jewish Federation affiliate agencies.

To open the meeting, Ervin provided an overview of the city budget and highlighted the challenging fee increases, which is one of the reasons he voted no on the budget.

“The implementation of garbage collection fees will have an extremely adverse impact on the residents of the 28th Ward,” he said.

Claypool emphasized that JUF was a fitting venue to promote his agenda to save CPS, given the organization’s work on social justice causes. He talked about his recovery plan to restore funding to city schools.

“We are at a breaking point,” he said, noting that CPS receives 26 percent less in per-pupil state funding than other districts. “Everyone has to be part of the solution.”

Claypool also encouraged committee members to educate their peers on the dire situation at CPS.

Howard Sitron from Jewish Child & Family Services, Abbie Weisberg from Keshet and Alan Sataloff from JCC Chicago ended the meeting by discussing their CPS-funded programs, which include special education and afterschool programs in Chicago schools.

“Federation-city partnerships, such as with CPS, are necessary to sustain vital social services to city residents,” said David Golder, chair of the Government Affairs Committee.

The Jewish Federation spans 15 wards and the majority of Chicago-funded programming is made possible by Community Development Block Grants, the Department of Family & Support Services and Chicago Public Schools.