*** UPDATED x1 *** Purvis out
Monday, Sep 11, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This was not unexpected. After great effort, she helped shepherd through the education funding reform bill, so her work is mostly done. Not to mention that the governor’s office is not a pleasant place to work…
Secretary of Education Dr. Beth Purvis will be leaving the Office of the Governor on Friday, Sept. 15. Dr. Purvis will be joining a national nonprofit organization where she will oversee educational philanthropy.
“Beth has been a tireless advocate for Illinois children and families,” Gov. Rauner said. “We are deeply grateful for her efforts.”
Dr. Purvis co-chaired the governor’s education transition subcommittee, where she first announced the state’s goal of ensuring Illinois children, regardless of zip code, have access to high-quality programs from cradle-to-career.
During the past two-and-a-half years, Dr. Purvis worked with leadership of the 17 state agencies that oversee educational programing, chaired the P20 Council, co-chaired the Early Learning Council and chaired the Illinois School Funding Commission in order to deliver on the governor’s promise of a “children first” administration.
“It has been a privilege for me to work with Governor Rauner and his team,” Dr. Purvis said. “I am proud of what we have accomplished and know that his administration will continue to ensure that Illinois children have access to high quality programs that will prepare them to be engaged community members with meaningful and rewarding careers.”
Emily Bastedo, who has served on the governor’s legal team and as the First Lady’s chief of staff, recently was promoted to senior adviser to the governor and will assume oversight of the governor’s education policy team. An attorney, Bastedo has been a member of the governor’s senior team for the past two years and has worked closely with Dr. Purvis in preparation for this transition.
Bastedo is good people and served on the Elmhurst school board for four years.
*** UPDATE *** From the two GOP leaders…
The following is a statement from Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) on Illinois Secretary of Education Dr. Beth Purvis’ announcement that she will be leaving on Sept 15.
“Beth Purvis has been an education pioneer whose leadership and commitment to our students have helped put Illinois at the forefront of school funding. I wish her great success in the next chapter of a career that will leave a positive impact in Illinois for generations to come.”
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) released the following statement on the departure of Illinois Secretary of Education Dr. Beth Purvis:
“Dr. Purvis played a critical role in fixing our state’s broken school funding formula. She worked collaboratively to reform several education initiatives and increase state funding for PK-12 to record levels. She will be greatly missed by all and I wish her nothing but the best in her next endeavor.”
* And this is from Gov. Rauner’s former chief of staff Richard Goldberg…
The students, parents and teachers of Illinois owe Dr. Purvis a great deal for her outstanding leadership in bringing historic bipartisan education reforms to fruition. It never would’ve happened without her dedication and commitment to the children of Illinois.
- Egg - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 3:44 pm:
What’s the capfax rubric for “good people?” Seems like a fun standard that serves to warp all subsequent media coverage.
- walker - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 3:45 pm:
Education funding reform was a long-overdue, very big deal, and she deserves credit for what she accomplished there.
- The Captain - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 3:49 pm:
Yikes. Odd that this is announced on a Monday instead of being last Friday’s news dump. She’s leaving this Friday, by most job standards that’s a quick divorce but by Rauner standards it’s practically a lifetime.
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 3:52 pm:
She’s being replaced?
What are the purposes, then, of the governor-appointed State Superintendent of Education and Chair of the State Board of Education? Collect milk money?
Where are they going to hide the salary of the new Rauner redundancy? Maybe IDOT, to ensure the roads are smooth when all the Illinois high school grads drive out of state to college.
- DeseDemDose - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:00 pm:
“They” are so arrogant that they don’t bother to hide salaries. Look at Munger and her staff. “They” don’t even have to collect milk money. That would be too much work.
- Nearly Normal - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:04 pm:
I wonder what nonprofit Purvis is joining? Anybody know?
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
–I wonder what nonprofit Purvis is joining?–
The one that pays the most?
- Henry Francis - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
Perhaps the more interesting question is who replaces Bastedo as Lady Di’s chief of staff?
- Sue - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
Word- your lack of class knows no bounds. Purvis who has a Phd was brought in to revamp Illinois’ worst in the nation education funding system which has been attempted by several previous administrations including 12 years of all D rule. The legislation passed and with the job finished why hang around and be lambasted by mopes like yourself?
- Sonny - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:12 pm:
Tech wunderkind Hardik Bhatt and now ed czar Purvis out-ski. Superstars c-ya.
- Careerist Candor - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
=Bastedo is good people……=
Good people hired to do bad things like Goldeberg and other Rauner staff.
- dominionhinny - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
Don’t let the door hit you Doc.
- Jibba - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
If she was brought in to pass Ed funding reform and the job is done, what will her successor do? Maybe get rid of Meeks instead and keep Purvis? I see no accomplishments of his…
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:26 pm:
–Word- your lack of class knows no bounds.–
LOL, if you knew my unexpressed opinions as to your comments, you’d know that not to be true.
But perhaps you could explain the necessity of a made-up “education czar” hidden away as a contract worker at DHS for $250K, and a Superintendent of Education pulling down the same at ISBE?
Is Rauner building an Ark? Two of everything?
- Smalls - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:27 pm:
- “Purvis will be leaving the Office of the Governor on Friday, Sept. 15″ -
That makes me wonder what day between now and Friday she will be escorted from the building.
- Norseman - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:29 pm:
Sue, I haven’t been hearing a lot about Purvis’ contributions to reform. I suspect that’s because she didn’t have much to contribute. The praise for Manar has been extensive. Barickman has even been credited with an important role. I will give Purvis credit for not being an IPI sycophant.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:31 pm:
The second she said, “the governor likes 90%…” she was toast. Classic gaffe.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:32 pm:
==Word- your lack of class knows no bounds.==
If you so prioritize decorum over an efficient government, I might suggest there’s a few other things to train your ire on first, before you get to message board comments.
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:42 pm:
–Ignore Wordslinger, most people do. He is a bitter old retired hack who lives to post bitter comments on message boards.–
I thought I was Steve Brown.
The news of my retirement is surprising. Where do I sign up for all that free stuff I’ve heard so much about?
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:43 pm:
I miss thee already Beth. It seems like you were never here at all.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:59 pm:
You mean the governor doesn’t need a “secretary of education”?
- MyTwoCents - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:04 pm:
For the people defending Purvis’ hidden $250K salary my question is if it was a Democratic administration what would your reaction be? Also, do you support finding “waste, fraud and abuse”?
- Henry Francis - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:13 pm:
2 cents - I don’t think anyone in the Quinn administration was paid more than $140k. Hidden or not.
This isn’t a democratic republican thing. This is a Rauner arrogance thing.
- walker - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:23 pm:
Sue: I don’t get your criticism of Word’s comment. Given that Purvis has successfully completed her key mission, why does she need to be replaced at such a high level and cost?
That is more a criticism of Rauner’s spending choices, than of Purvis. Why does Rauner continue to spend such large sums, more than previous governors, for his own senior staff, while significantly cutting lower level staff?
That’s a fair question. No?
- Because I Said So.... - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:25 pm:
For an ‘education czar’ the destruction of higher education under her watch was deplorable. She made it clear from the start she was only concerned with K-12.
- JS Mill - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:29 pm:
=Purvis who has a Phd was brought in to revamp Illinois’ worst in the nation education funding system which has been attempted by several previous administrations including 12 years of all D rule. The legislation passed and with the job finished why hang around and be lambasted by mopes like yourself?=
That is not correct. She was not brought in to revamp ed funding although she ended up as part of that process. She was not the driving force, she was not the one to push it from the start. It landed in her lap and, to her credit, got on board and helped move the process.
Before you start hanging up the bunting, you may want to get your info straight.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:38 pm:
When you make an assertion that turns out to be false, you lose credibility.
It’s as simple as that.
And when you make a false assertion about a commenter, you poison the entire conversation.
Now have a seat, Postbot.
– MrJM
- Retired Educator - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 6:46 pm:
On a lobbying day for a local university, we had the opportunity to meet with Beth Purvis. She was polite and professional.
- Jocko - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 6:50 pm:
To the update:
I like how Brady, Durkin, and Goldberg overlook the fact that Dr. Purvis’s job was redundant and a drain on taxpayer funds.
- PULiaison - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 7:17 pm:
Purvis is a compassionate and smart lady. She did the best with what she had available to her. I was suspect of her when she entered but am sad she is leaving.
- Morty - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 7:42 pm:
==Word- your lack of class knows no bounds.==
Word, considering Sue’s other insights I would regard that as high praise
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 7:43 pm:
Didn’t Rauner’s failed AV remove everything she wanted? Seems like a disconnect in implementing what the boss wanted.
- DeseDemDose - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 8:05 pm:
Purvis at $250,000 per year with vague compliments and accolades for everything that Rauner tried to Veto? How goofy do they think we are? That crock is coming from people that that stopped a .48 hour raise for home health care workers. Sickening.
- Thoughts Matter - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 8:42 pm:
I’m sure she was polite and professional. Doesn’t mean we needed a Secretary of Education in addition to a Superintendent of Education and a State board of Education. Plus we didn’t even pay her out of Education funding.
Can anyone explain why there are 17 agencies involved in Education programming?
- Thoughts Matter - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 8:48 pm:
Bhatt’s leaving?
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 9:56 pm:
word, apparently you need to be a bit more uh, “annonin” with your identity.
- Two pennies - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:22 pm:
Who paid the fired Rich Goldberg a penny for his thoughts?
Is he trying to pull a Pat Quinn?
- IllinoisInsider - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 8:21 am:
I’ve worked with Beth Purvis before. She is the definition of “smartest person in the room.” Unflappable, confident, and a stickler for both details and the big picture, her departure is a huge loss for the Rauner Administration.
- Publius - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 8:28 am:
Do governors office added what to the public school funding bill?
Oh yeah, tax credits for donations to private school football recruitment efforts? Oops did I type that out loud
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 9:04 am:
Is she going to work for CPS?
I mean if she’s as responsible for this deal as everyone makes it seem, then she got the governor to sign the bailout he’d vetoed AND throw in another $7 million more for CPS than was in SB 1.
CPS should snatch up that kind of talent.
- A guy - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 9:17 am:
Sling, your fan club looks to be expanding exponentially.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 10:09 am:
Guy, and the irrelevance and shallowness of your comments remains constant.