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* A school district near Peoria is demanding that its teachers submit to random drug tests. The teachers say no other district in the nation requires this and they went out on strike. Local Democratic state Senator and congressional candidate Dave Koehler is quite angry at the school board…

Koehler had strong words for the School Board, insisting that if there was an issue with drug use among teachers, random drug testing wouldn’t necessarily be the solution.

“Having this policy in place gives a false sense of security,” Koehler said. “I spent 21 years on the Labor Management Council dealing with this issue, and I know there are more effective ways to create a drug-free workplace.”

According to IFT President Dan Montgomery, no other school district in the country has instituted such a policy.

Many in the crowd, including Koehler, believed the School Board is making a “power play,” to gain leverage in future negotiations. Others handed out pamphlets alleging that the board’s actions are retaliation against the teachers.

But the teachers aren’t totally opposed to all drug tests…

The union has agreed to submit to drug tests if the administration can show probable cause.

* The school district has dug in deep and is now set to hire replacement workers…

On Wednesday, Karl Meurlot, the attorney and spokesman for the school board’s bargaining team, said the administration was conducting interviews later that day and said the district received more applicants than it has positions it needs to fill. He said the school hopes to open some time next week with replacement teachers.

However, filling the appropriate slots for the high school, where specialized teachers are needed for different subjects, could prove tricky and the high school may open later than grades K-8.

As for parents who have pledged to refuse to send their children to school to learn from replacement teachers, Meurlot said they will not legally have a choice.

“That’s not their option,” Meurlot said. “Those students will be truant. Parents don’t get to select teachers from the regular pool. The truth is if those students are not sent to school and we have classrooms available to them, they’re truant.”

* Meanwhile, Doug Bartlett, a second grade teacher at Washington Irving Elementary School in Chicago, brought some tools to his class for show and tell recently. Along with wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers, Bartlett also brought a 2.25″ pocketknife and a box cutter. The kids were reportedly not allowed to touch the tools, but Bartlett is being investigated for “possessing, carrying, storing, or using a weapon,”"

Bartlett asked the Rutherford Institute for help and it assigned some attorneys to the case. The conservative Institute usually focuses on religious liberty issues, but they’re all over this one…

Institute attorneys are urging Valeria Newell Bryant, the principal of Washington Irving Elementary School, to immediately dismiss any and all disciplinary actions against Bartlett. “In an age where public schools face an unprecedented number of real challenges in maintaining student discipline, and addressing threats of real violence, surely no one benefits from trumped up charges where no actual ‘weapons’ violation has occurred and there is no threat whatsoever posed to any member of the school community,” stated the Institute in its letter.

* The Chicago Public School system decided this week to extend next school year by two weeks. School days will be lengthened by 90 minutes. The teachers’ union is opposed to this plan and has been openly threatening a strike for weeks. But one thing you can always count on with the CTU is rampant internal dissension. Tuesday’s House of Delegates meeting, called after the CTU walked out of the negotiations, was no exception…

[CTU president Karen Lewis] and several House of Delegates members said a 75 percent threshold [by all eligible voters to authorize a strike] is attainable because teachers are very upset about the board action to deny raises, to implement a longer day without input from teachers, and what they call an overall lack of respect.

However, there was some dissension among members at Tuesday night’s meeting. Members of the United Progressive Caucus, which until recently controlled the union, handed out fliers calling Lewis, who was elected just over one year ago, “clueless” and a “flip-flop” for her changing position on the legislation that increased the strike threshold.

* Check out one of the CTU demands in exchange for agreeing to various proposals from the school system…

An end to business relationships with five major banks — Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase among them — that are involved in the largest number of foreclosures for union members and their families. Doing so, the union said, would “turn up the pressure” and force these banks to renegotiate better loan terms that would enable families to stay in their homes.

* And here’s Mayor Emanuel’s rationale for supporting the property tax increase for the school system…

, Emanuel also defended a property tax increase the school board passed Wednesday. He insisted his pledge not to hike property taxes only applies to city government, not the schools.

* In our last little bit of news, the DuPage County Board has decided to pay their regional superintendent’s salary until the governor figures out how to solve a crisis he created…

DuPage County Regional Superintendent of Schools Darlene Ruscitti will continue to receive a paycheck as she and other regional superintendents mount a legal fight to have their salaries reinstated by the state.

County board members in DuPage this week agreed to pay a prorated share of Ruscitti’s $130,000 annual salary that will be retroactive to July 1 and continue through Nov. 30.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:15 am

Comments

CPS isn’t an arm of the city government? Funny.

Comment by Coach Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:17 am
CTU demand that the schools divest from certain banks is probabbly tortious interference and the Banks could sue the union.

The union memebrship may also have a claim agiasnt the union for violation of fiduciary duty.

That aside, have the unions not been up in arms ver Quinn and demanding that the stae be held to all contracts it has entered into? But here the CTU is demanding the school system force banks to change contracts with its memebrs so that those members do not have to honor the contracts they entered for financial reasons…so do we have to abide by contracts or can they be broken if there are good financial reasons….

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:26 am
If CTU wants CPS to run all its finances through Fifth Third as a condition they can always just say so. That’s kind of a convoluted statement.

Comment by Dirt Digger Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:30 am
“Emanuel also defended a property tax increase the school board passed Wednesday. He insisted his pledge not to hike property taxes only applies to city government, not the schools.”

Is the Mayor going to turn the increased TIF collections of school taxes back to the schools?

Comment by Anon III Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:33 am
The same school district randomly drug tests it’s non-teaching staff and the student athletes are also subject to random testing. What is wrong with ensuring that the teachers are clean?

Comment by 1776 Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:35 am
1776, this is important to the board why? More nanny state intrusion, if you ask me.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:36 am
When working at a large aerospace company with DoD and FAA contracts, peeing in the cup was a condition of employment and I was subject to random tests thereafter. This is a perfectly reasonable condition of employment. But, CTU members should lay off the poppy seed bagels.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:42 am
Yes, CPS is a separate unit of government from the city, just like the park district is a separate agency with its own property tax levy. IIRC, under Mayor Daley, the schools hiked their levy to the maximum allowed under the tax cap law, so this is nothing new.

What’s weird is how Daley was rarely challenged on this and how Rahm is getting grilled for basically doing the same thing. I guess Rahm’s pledge to not raise property taxes could have been more precise, but it isn’t like CPS hasn’t been doing this for years.

And guess what? Next year CPS will hike its levy again. And the next year, and the next…

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:44 am
==The same school district randomly drug tests it’s non-teaching staff and the student athletes are also subject to random testing. What is wrong with ensuring that the teachers are clean?==

Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Random drug testing is a waste of money. Testing with probable cause is much more appropriate and cost effective.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:47 am
Wow, can’t think of the last job I had where there was a expectation you had to go in a cup…

I had to do it pre-hire a couple of times, but other than that. Never.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:48 am
Is the school board being drug tested? I mean they’re the ones that set the budget for the district. Breathalyzers before every meeting?

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:49 am
I realy don’t hav a problem wihthe idea random drug testing, but then likely because some state employees are subject to them regularly.

As far as the ‘weapons’ thing, that’s a bit pushing it when it comes to teacher using a teaching aide. If one reads some of the student handbooks recently though a pair of scissors for at class could get a kid in serious trouble.

Perhaps instead of looking at it as a ‘nanny’ thing, it could be viewed more as ‘do as I say, not as I do’. Our kids lockers are randomly searched all the time. Zero tolerance on drugs/alcohol and also testing if sports on agenda. Bus drivers ect that deal with kids are subjected to these type of test all the time. Why make the instructors above everyone else attitude?

My oldest so had a HS teacher a numbe of years back that walked around with his non-see-through mug and sipped all day. Sat right on the teacher’ desk. Was not pure soda in that mug. Yet it was never questioned.

Comment by Cindy Lou Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:52 am
I’m against testing without probable cause (except for professional drivers, pilots & others whose jobs require superfast judgments & reflexes for safety) though it’s lovely that Illini Bluffs apparently has the resources to implement a new program in this economy.

As for CPS’ relationship to the city, Chicago’s 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report identifies CPS as a “related organization.” City officials have control over who serves on its board but that’s it.

If CPS were a component unit, the city could exert some control over its budget and levy too.

Comment by yinn Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:57 am
I am personally not a fan of the drug testing for anything in high school-kids who play sports or teachers in the classroom, but it’s a local call.

Comment by shore Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 12:01 pm
Anon III. TIF actually has nothing to do with CPS’s current budgetary issues. The general effect of TIF is to raise overall tax rates but it doesn’t cause CPS to get any less tax than the amount it levies for (in fact, CPS gets every dollar it levies for, except for when tax bills are not paid by individual property owners). If you need a primer, I would suggest the Civic Federation’s excellent study on this exact issue.

http://www.civicfed.org/sites/default/files/Cook%20County%20Property%20Tax%20Extension%20Process%20Primer.pdf

Comment by KM Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 12:07 pm
Random testing is the cowards way out. A supervisor, principal in this case, can stick their head in the sand instead of doing their job and developing cause to test suspect employees.

Comment by Leave a Light on George Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 12:53 pm
- This is a perfectly reasonable condition of employment. -

I disagree. My industry is regulated by DOT, so I am also subject to randoms. Just had one last week in fact. I don’t do drugs, so it doesn’t really impact me, but I feel like it’s a pretty big waste of time and money.

Randoms, except in extremely rare cases, only test for THC, Opiates, Cocaine, Amphetamines, and PCP. Out of those drugs, the only one that stays in your system any significant amount of time is THC. So a person can stay up all weekend partying with cocaine, and be fairly confident they could test clean on Monday. What does this accomplish? Meanwhile, if the eccentric art teacher smokes a joint on a Friday with old pals, he or she could possibly test positive for a couple weeks. Again, what does this accomplish?

Qualitative drug testing just doesn’t do much at all to ensure safety. Instead, quantitative testing for reasonable cause or after accidents would do a lot more to make sure people aren’t impaired on the job.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 12:58 pm
KM: The tax rate applied to TIF incremental property is the composite tax rate, including the School’s rate. When the Schools raise their rate, each separate TIF’s special tax allocation fund collects more revenue from the incremental EAV. Higher rate, more revenue.

So the City TIFs will get more tax revenue when the School District raises its tax rate. Will the City turn the new money back to the schools?

Comment by Anon III Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 12:59 pm
I had to be tested pre-hire at a couple jobs but not on an on-going basis. It seems a little extreme for folks that aren’t pulling down big bucks (like athletes) and aren’t involved in jobs that can cause serious damage if the person isn’t in complete control (like truck drivers or police)

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 1:06 pm
Anon III. If the school district is receiving 100% of the amount it levies, why would it be entitled to TIF funds above and beyond that amount?

I’ve never understood the argument that a taxing body that gets every $ it levies for should somehow be entitled to more than that.

Comment by KM Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 1:18 pm
Exactly STL,

Current drug testing only detects drugs in your system, not whether you are under the influence of drugs. Until they develop a drug test that measures influence akin to a breathalyzer, it’s an invasion of privacy and a violation of the 4th amendment.

Most drug free workplace rules are a result of the war on drugs and serve no real purpose. It’s time to repeal that awful law. If you work in law enforcement or there are public safety concerns (truck drivers for example), there is a public issue in knowing whether you are currently under the influence, but less of an issue whether you smoked a joint off-duty two weeks ago.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 1:29 pm
Is it no wonder that our students are underperforming in school as compared to other nations when you read articles about silly school board policies and silly school union demands?

What exactly did the CTU agree to concerning the recent legislation passed to benefit Chicago Schools? It seems like ever since they left negotiating table, they have been angling to strike.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 1:44 pm
I didn’t notice that any mention was made if the new teachers were going to be tested for drugs and if they were told that would be a condition of employment with the District. I think it is completely reasonable approach that the teachers are proposing. If the Board has probable cause they may test. If not then no. This appears to be more about a power struggle and the Board flexing their muscle rather a legitimate issue. And when that happens the end result is never good.

As far as the weapons item. what was the purpose of showing those pareticular tools? If the teacher had a legitimate lesson plan and could show where a box cutter and a 2″ knife fit into the lesson there is no issue. You can’t tell me that the cusodians in that school do not use similar items. People who get hysterical over non issues irritate me.

Comment by Irish Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 1:50 pm
KM: “If the school district is receiving 100% of the amount it levies, why would it be entitled to TIF funds above and beyond that amount?”

The better question is, If the taxpayers are paying the whole levy of the school district, why should they pay more? Isn’t it a school levy?

The school district may get all the money it levies, but the taxpayers pay more than the district levies. This is most egregious with school building bonds. The district bond resolution is in sufficient amount to pay principal and interest on the bonds for the building over the life of the bonds, but the taxpayers pay more. They pay for a building and a half, or whatever the percent of the total EAV may be in the increment. The “skim” goes to the TIF.

Comment by Anon III Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 2:00 pm
I don’t believe that the only drug found is THC. That would make the testing for truck drivers et al useless.

Seems to me that if there is a problem related to usage of illegal substances, teachers should fall into the basket of folks that have to pee in a cup from time to time to keep their jobs. I have less of a problem with THC than with many of the other popular recreational substances, but that seems to be working its way to a conclusion.

If the students and non-teachers in that district are subject to that policy, the all employees should be subject to it. This special exemption stuff does no one any good.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 2:05 pm
As far as TIFFs go, the taxing agencies have their property tax payment capped at some initial value. Subsequent appreciation is then funneled into the TIFF’s account. The result of this is that the agency gets its money, but at the expense of the other taxpayers who ultimately pay more than they would have in order to make the taxing agency whole.

The theory is that the improvements will make everyone’s property values rise, but will not cost the taxpayers anything up front.

Yet another decent idea that was abused to the point of damaging the entire system in Chicago.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 2:10 pm
Random Drug testing is an absurdity and part of a Neo-Puritan philosophy that says I have a right to control your life and make you conform to my opinions. I’m willing to go from “probably cause” to “reasonable suspicion”, but random for anyone not operating dangerous equipment or engaged in activity that might harm a third party is unjustified. This is why the trope of “local rule is best” is no more realistic than “Washington is bad”. Sounds like pure anti-teacher anti-union activity by local yokels.

Comment by D.P. Gumby Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 2:16 pm
–Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Random drug testing is a waste of money. Testing with probable cause is much more appropriate and cost effective.–

What Pot said.

There’s a fascinating breed of “conservative” on this blog that believes government should stay out of everything except an individual’s bedroom, medical choices and urine.

Would they be the Neo-Fluidians, perhaps?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 2:49 pm
Purity of Essence Word.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 3:00 pm
47, last time, it was the Commies after our vital bodily fluids. That’s what Gen. Ripper said,anyway.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 3:06 pm
Last month in a downstate district a man was arrested for growing marjuana plants in his home. The Alton Telegraph’s report stated that various drug parephenalia was found throughout the house. The interesting thing though is that this man is married to a teacher who for some reason was not named in the report. Regardless, this teacher is to me an excellent example of why teachers should be drug tested.
You can debate the merits pro and con of marijuana, but a teacher has no business being under the influence of it in the classroom.

Comment by Doctor H Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 3:06 pm
Agree with Gumby. Waste, bureaucratic mindset, foolishiness, power-grabbing egos, all occur as much or more in local government units as at State or Federal levels.

Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 3:07 pm
- Regardless, this teacher is to me an excellent example of why teachers should be drug tested. -

Because the teacher was married to someone who got busted for pot? I fail to see the logical path from that to the likelihood that this teacher was high in the classroom.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 3:11 pm
I think I have a crush on Anon III.

Comment by Indeedy Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 5:04 pm
===I think I have a crush on Anon III. ===

Nerd crushes are so cute.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 5:21 pm
So Smalltown. You believe when a house that a teacher lives in has marijuana growing rooms and is filled with drug paraphenalia she should be let off scott free just because she says it is her husbands?
I will pass your comment on; I am sure there are plenty involved with drugs that would be happy to know that finger pointing at another person will get them right off the hook

Comment by Doctor H Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 5:36 pm
Doctor H, just what the heck is so evil about marijuana?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 5:56 pm
- So Smalltown. You believe when a house that a teacher lives in has marijuana growing rooms and is filled with drug paraphenalia she should be let off scott free just because she says it is her husbands? -

No, I think they should both be let off scott free because I think it should be legal. But that wasn’t my point in the first place. What evidence do you have that the teacher was ever impaired in the classroom?

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 5:58 pm
Prison Guards, State Police, Truck Drivers, Public utility operators, non teachers, Student athletes and allot more I haven’t listed have mandatory drug testing. Why should someone we trust and allow to educated our children not be drug tested! The only reason you would not want to be tested is if you have something to hide. I have over the past few years been randomly drug tested. I have no problem with it. But I do see teachers being arrested in the news daily for drug offenses. I would like to see a state law enacted, where all education staff would be drug tested randomly by an outside agency. I don’t want my child in the care of a teacher using illegal drugs. In the past year two local school teachers have been charged and convicted for possession of illegal drugs. I hope there is a bill introduced and passed for mandatory drug testing of teachers in the next legislative session. If the teachers are so against it, I ask WHY!

Comment by Bob Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 6:05 pm
===The only reason you would not want to be tested is if you have something to hide.===

Or you value your civil liberties.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 6:06 pm
===In the past year two local school teachers have been charged and convicted for possession of illegal drugs.===

Where?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 6:08 pm
Regarding the random drug testing at Illini Bluffs District 327, the Board/Administration position and the Union position are on the District website at www.illinibluffs.com, which is a result of SB7. I am going to side with the Board/Administration (BOE) because I think Random Drug Testing is a strong deterrent to taking drugs, the kids safety and interest should come first, the Board and Administration have agreed to random drug testing if the teachers agree, the non certified employees and bus drivers already to do random drug testing, and I believe athletes are also subject to random drug testing. It seems to me the Board/Admin has made random drug testing a priority for their schools and I have no problem with that.
As far as the liberties violation, nanny state, and the $6,000 it will cost, those are good points, but I feel it’s more important to make the learning environment as safe as possible and it seems to me $6,000 is a reasonable cost to do that. The “reasonable cause” the IFT and BOE would negotiate in an MOU undoubtedly would be full of union hoops.
I am just talking about this case, pls don’t extrapolate.

Comment by Mark Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 9:50 pm
=Doctor H, just what the heck is so evil about marijuana=
Am I in error, or is it still against the law in Illinois?

Comment by Doctor H Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 10:32 pm
Doug Barlett is an IDIOT!!! Has any one vetted this nut? Check Fenwick high School, Chicago Hope Academy. Any kid that had douglas barlett, as a Teacher fell two grades behind after they left his class. For the life of me I don’t know how in the hell did this man was able to in cps’ for over twenty years. I would’nt let him teach daycare.

Comment by R U KIDDING ME!!! Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:11 pm
Mention his name to his EX she probably jump on a plane in move out of the country!!!! LOL

Comment by R U KIDDING ME!!! Thursday, Aug 25, 11 @ 11:18 pm
–Why should someone we trust and allow to educated our children not be drug tested! The only reason you would not want to be tested is if you have something to hide. I have over the past few years been randomly drug tested. I have no problem with it.–

You wouldn’t mind if the police randomly stopped by to take a look around the house, would you? What’s the matter — something to hide?

I have a dream, people, when all God’s children will be judged by the content of their character, and not the content of their urine.

Congratulations on passing your urine tests. Hope you didn’t have to study too hard.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 4:50 am
So how are those achievement scores?

Comment by Larry Mullholland Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 7:09 am