* Tribune…

The governing body of the Chicago Teachers Union called for the “immediate resignation” of schools chief Forrest Claypool on Wednesday, a symbolic gesture that also denounced budget cuts and layoffs implemented by the city amid ongoing budget turmoil.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who appointed Claypool to lead Chicago Public Schools in 2015, responded by saying he had “complete confidence” in the former mayoral chief of staff and Chicago Transit Authority chief.

* DNAInfo…

Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool should resign immediately “for his efforts to dismantle and sabotage” Chicago’s public schools, the leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union said.

The resolution, adopted Wednesday evening by the union’s House of Delegates, came in advance of the first of four unpaid days for teachers ordered by Claypool to save $35 million to help fill a $215 million hole in the school district’s budget caused by the state budget impasse. […]

The resolution adopted by the union’s House of Delegates, accuses Claypool and the Chicago Board of Education — all appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel — of “frivolously lining the pockets of wealthy investors” while students suffer the effects of deep cuts to school budgets.

OK, but how is Claypool allegedly lining those pockets and why?

* For the answer, go to the CTU resolution…

WHEREAS, the efficiency measures proposed by Chicago Public Schools and imposed by the Chicago Board of Education have led to mass privatization, costly contracts, program cuts, mass layoffs, and an increased inefficiency of our public school services all while frivolously lining the pockets of wealthy investors

RESOLVED that the Chicago Teachers Union calls for the immediate resignation of CEO Forrest Claypool and a member vote of no confidence for his efforts to dismantle and sabotage the Chicago Public Schools; and be it further

So, basically what the CTU is talking about here are the CPS privatization programs. Coincidentally, part of the Senate’s grand bargain would expand those very same Chicago Public Schools privatization standards to the rest of the state.

The CTU probably should’ve been more specific, citing dollar amounts or specific privatization failures. This is, after all, a hot topic. But it’s not just some empty personality fight over who should resign.

* From last week…

One of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s campaign contributors is in line to get more business from the city’s school system.

The Chicago Board of Education will vote Wednesday on three new contracts — worth around $500 million over three years — that will further privatize the management of school building engineers. One of the two companies listed on the board report is SodexoMAGIC, a company that NBA-star-turned-businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson has a stake in.

Johnson donated $250,000 to Emanuel’s 2015 reelection bid through an organization he established called Inner City Youth Empowerment, LLC. If approved by the board, the new contract would expand a pair of contracts awarded in 2014 worth $340 million.

When SodexoMAGIC and Aramark began overseeing the cleaning and management of school facilities, principals complained about dirty classrooms and a lack of communication.

Some documentation of those complaints are on the CTU’s website.

* And those complaints against Aramark included this one from last June…

Students at a West Side Chicago public high school were surprised to find something extra in their breakfast Wednesday morning - mold.

CPS is now investigating what went wrong after a box of expired breakfast snacks was served at the West Town Academy.

“I opened the package and once I opened it I noticed the corner had mold on it,” said student Janiah Dean. […]

CPS has launched an investigation and Aramark, it’s vendor that supplies food to the school, says: “Unfortunately, at West Town Academy today a student received (food) that did not meet our high quality standards. Out of an abundance of caution, we immediately removed the product line and are working to determine how this happened. The incident appears to be isolated and did not pose a health risk to students.”