* I’ve heard about the existence of this “magic lobbyist list,” but I haven’t seen this email sent by Mike McClain to several people last December. Kudos to Dan Mihalopoulos and Dave McKinney at WBEZ…
Shortly before last Christmas, consummate Springfield insider Michael McClain sent an email to what he called the “Magic Lobbyist List.” […]
“There are now a little less than two dozen on the list,” McClain wrote in the email, which WBEZ obtained. “So, I would ask what has been asked in the past.”
McClain then directed the remaining members of the list to help him arrange for any new, potential clients in Springfield to hire the right lobbyists for the upcoming, 2019 legislative session at the Illinois Capitol. […]
“A Friend of ours and myself have gone through the ‘magic list’ and frankly culled quite a few names from the list,” McClain told the surviving members of the group.
He asked them to do “what has been asked in the past” — to help him coordinate who would get lobbying deals with companies that needed their interests represented in Springfield.
“If you have a potential client come up to you and seek you as a lobbyist but you cannot for whatever reason please engage him/her and try to get him or her to consider a recommendation from you,” McClain wrote. “Please call me then and I will have a conversation with someone and get back to you asap.”
(T)he group email about the magic lobbyist list and interviews with Democratic insiders indicate McClain worked alongside Madigan in a much broader effort to arrange for trusted lobbyist allies to enrich themselves by representing powerful private interests in Springfield.
The email also offers the first evidence suggesting the speaker himself had a role in connecting lobbyists with clients whose fortunes rely heavily on his favor.
I think the best way to describe this list is to compare it to “made men” in the Outfit. He even used the phrase “A Friend of ours” in the email.
…Adding… Let’s go back to the Tribune’s story from earlier today. This was buried at the bottom…
The [October 2018 McClain] email thanks an undisclosed list of recipients for help on a “secret” project involving campaign fundraising for House Democrats in targeted contests on the November 2018 ballot. […]
“We always called you the ‘Most Trusted of the Trusted,” McClain wrote. “So, again, on behalf of Himself, I thank you for ALL your work to help him and the Caucus.” […]
In the email, McClain goes on to say he’s reviewed a “magic Excel sheet,” and makes a request [for more contributions]. […]
“Remember either the checks themselves have to be tendered to Mary or copies of them in order to be placed on the excel sheet as tendered,” said McClain, a reference to Mary Morrissey, the executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
So, the party was tracking contributions from McClain’s “Most Trusted of the Trusted” list.
* I told you in October that retired lobbyist Dick Lockhart was very ill. He was flooded with calls, texts, emails and visits from his old friends after that. His son sent me a text a little over a week later saying he was still going strong and at home.
I received a call from a friend of his a couple of hours ago and then received this email with the same basic message…
Rich! I am sending this on behalf of Dick’s family.
It is with heavy hearts that Dick Lockhart’s family is notifying friends of his peaceful passing this a.m. at his home.
* I was content to ignore this story because Bourne’s district is so overwhelmingly Republican that the dude basically has no chance…
A Democrat from Coffeen says he plans to run for a seat in the Illinois House against Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond.
Chase Wilhelm, 35, will be making his first run for elected office. […]
Wilhelm is currently a member of the Army Reserve. Until recently, he was on active duty most recently stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa with the Special Operations Command.
Wilhelm said he has a master’s degree in religion and society from Princeton Theological Seminary and a doctorate in ethics from Garrett-Evangelical in Evanston. He took a job as a chaplain with the Department of Corrections in October, where he makes $79,488 a year.
President Trump won the district by 37 points. The only statewide Democrat to win it has been Secretary of State Jesse White (of course).
* But then this overkill press release arrived and I figured I’d post it…
“This week, Democrat Chase Wilhelm announced his candidacy for state representative in the 95th House District, but it didn’t take him long to dodge the Madigan question and hedge his position on abortion. The people of the 95th District want a conservative leader who will stand up to Madigan and oppose the Democrats’ radical, pro-abortion agenda. They have that in Avery Bourne. That’s why clear majorities of voters have elected her twice.
“Don’t let Wilhelm fool you. He will accept campaign support from Madigan, and, if elected, will vote for Madigan and stand idly by while he pushes his radical agenda. If Wilhelm won’t stand up to Madigan or the Democrats on abortion, what else will he let them get away with?” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Joe Hackler
Chase Wilhelm, a Democrat from Montgomery County, announced his intention to run for state representative in the 95th House District, which is currently held by Republican State Rep. and Pro-Life leader Avery Bourne.
Almost immediately, Wilhelm hedged his views on abortion, saying, “While I recognize where I am at, I also definitely recognize a woman’s right to defend and protect her body.”
Would Wilhelm have opposed taxpayer-funded abortion in House Bill 40 or late-term abortions in the Reproductive Health Act? Based on Wilhelm’s vague platitudes, we don’t know.
And then, Wilhelm refused to answer whether or not he would support Mike Madigan for another term as Speaker of the Illinois House: “Wilhelm did not commit to either supporting or rejecting Michael Madigan as House speaker.
“‘The bottom line is going to be what’s best for my district,” [Wilhelm] said. “Like a lot of things, the conversation is bigger than a yes or a no.’”
Don’t let him fool you - Wilhelm will accept campaign support from Madigan, and, if elected, will vote for Madigan and stand idly by while the Democrats push their radical agenda on the people of Illinois.
What else will Wilhelm let the Democrats get away with?
To be clear, Rep. Bourne could jet to Paris for the next year, post her expensive purchases and scrumptious dinners on Facebook and still win. Seems odd the ILGOP would get this fired up, but, whatevs. It’s still a free country.
* The Illinois State Board of Education’s new emergency rules are here. I’ve skipped over a few things, so if you have a question, you should first click on the link to see if you can find it addressed in the new rules.
* Old rule…
Isolated time out and physical restraint as defined in this Section shall be used only as means of maintaining discipline in schools (that is, as a means of maintaining a safe and orderly environment for learning) and only to the extent that they are necessary to preserve the safety of students and others. Neither isolated time out nor physical restraint shall be used in administering discipline to individual students, i.e., as a form of punishment.
New rule…
Time out and physical restraint as defined in this Section shall be used only for therapeutic purposes, or to the extent necessary to preserve the safety of students and others. Neither time out nor physical restraint shall be used as a form of punishment.
* Old rule…
“Isolated time out” means the confinement of a student in a time-out room or some other enclosure, whether within or outside the classroom, from which the student’s egress is restricted.
New rule…
“Time out” means a behavior management technique that involves the monitored separation of a student from classmates with a trained adult for part of the school day, usually for a brief time, in a non-locked setting
* Old rule…
If an enclosure used for isolated time out is fitted with a door, either a steel door or a wooden door of solid-core construction shall be used. If the door includes a viewing panel, the panel shall be unbreakable.
New rule…
If an enclosure used for time out is fitted with a door, the door shall not be locked at any time during the time out.
* Old rule…
An adult who is responsible for supervising the student shall remain within two feet of the enclosure.
New rule…
An adult trained under this Section who is responsible for supervising the student must remain with the student at all times during the time out
* Old rule…
The adult responsible for supervising the student must be able to see the student at all times. If a locking mechanism is used on the enclosure, the mechanism shall be constructed so that it will engage only when a key, handle, knob, or other similar device is being held in position by a person, unless the mechanism is an electrically or electronically controlled one that is automatically released when the building’s fire alarm system is triggered. Upon release of the locking mechanism by the supervising adult, the door must be able to be opened readily.
The new rule deletes all of that language.
* Old rule…
“Physical restraint” as permitted pursuant to this Section includes only the use of specific, planned techniques (e.g., the “basket hold” and “team control”).
New rule…
“Physical restraint” as permitted pursuant to this Section includes only the use of specific, planned techniques (e.g., the “basket hold” and “team control”). A physical restraint shall not impair a student’s ability to breath or speak normally. Prone or supine physical restraint shall not be permitted.
* Old rule…
A student shall not be kept in isolated time out for longer than is therapeutically necessary which shall not be for more than 30 minutes after he or she ceases presenting the specific behavior for which isolated time out was imposed or any other behavior for which it would be an appropriate intervention.
New rule…
A student shall not be kept in time out for longer than is therapeutically necessary. No less than once every 15 minutes, the trained adult must assess whether the student has ceased presenting the specific behavior for which the time out was imposed
* Old rule…
A written record of each episode of isolated time out or physical restraint shall be maintained in the student’s temporary record.
New rule…
In a form and manner prescribed by the State Superintendent, a written record of each episode of time out or physical restraint shall be maintained in the student’s temporary record.
* Old rule…
Each district, cooperative, or joint agreement whose policy permits the use of isolated time out shall provide orientation to its staff members covering at least the written procedure established pursuant to Section 1.280(c)(2) of this Part.
New rule…
Each district, cooperative, or joint agreement whose policy permits the use of time out shall provide training.
* Newly added rules…
No later than 48 hours after any use of time out or physical restraint, the school district or other entity serving the student shall, in a form and manner prescribed by the State Superintendent, submit the information required under subsection (f)(1) to the State Superintendent.
The State Superintendent reserve the authority to require districts to submit the information required under subsection (f)(1) for previous school years. […]
Any adult who is supervising a student in time out or applying physical restraint shall be trained in de-escalation, restorative practices, and behavior management practices. […]
Any use of time out or physical restraint permitted by a board’s policy shall include:
1) the circumstances under which time out or physical restrain will be applied;
2) a written procedure to be followed by staff in cases of time out or physical restraint;
3) designation of a school official who will be informed of incidents and maintain the documentation required under this Section when time out or physical restraint is used;
4) the process the district or other entity serving public school students will use to evaluate any incident that results in an injury to the affected student;
5) a description of the district’s or other entity’s annual review of the use of time out or physical restraint, which shall include at least:
A) the number of incidents involving the use of these interventions;
B) the location and duration of each incident;
C) identification of the staff members who were involved;
D) any injuries or property damage that occurred; and
E) the timeliness of parental notification, timelines of agency notification, and administrative review.
k) Complaint Procedures
1) Any parent, individual, organization, or advocate may file a signed, written complaint with the State Superintendent alleging that a local school district or other entity serving the student has violated this Section. The complaint shall include the facts on which the complaint is based; the signature and contact information for the complainant; the names and addresses of the students involved (and the name of the school of attendance), if known; a description of the nature of the problem, including any facts relating to the problem; and a proposed resolution of the problem to the extent known.
2) The State Superintendent shall only consider a complaint if it alleges a violation occurring not more than one year prior to the data on which the complaint is received.
3) The State Superintendent must issue a written decision to the complainant that addresses each allegation in the complaint and contains findings of fact and conclusion; the reasons for the State Board of Education’s final decision; and orders for any action, including technical assistance.
4) The complaint procedure under this Section does not limit, diminish, or otherwise deny the federal and State rights and procedural safeguards afforded to students with disabilities.
* Meanwhile, Rep. Jonathan Carroll’s bill is now online…
Prohibits a school district employee or volunteer or an independent contractor of a school district from placing a student in seclusion; defines seclusion. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of seclusion in a court-ordered placement, other than a placement in an educational program of a school district, or in a placement or facility to which other laws or rules apply. Requires State Board of Education rulemaking. Effective immediately.
…Adding… I asked Rep. Carroll for his take on the new ISBE rules…
I think it’s a start. I think there’s more work that has to be done. And I’m frustrated that we have to go through these pounds of cures instead of ounces of prevention. We have to make sure that there’s a lot more accountability and at this point ISBE has not shown much of that.
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce has once again collected the results from its annual paid Holiday Survey which indicates how Illinois employers and their employees will be handling paid holidays in 2020.
The Chamber’s Annual Holiday Survey is an instrumental tool for many Illinois businesses in helping them to make a decision on holiday benefits for employees. It has, for many years, been regarded as the standard to follow. The results provide a good indicator of what employers will be doing in 2020 and are provided by a good cross-section of businesses from across Illinois. […]
Compiled from hundreds of responses from Illinois businesses of all size and industries, the survey indicated that the average number of paid holidays for Illinois workers is 8.2 days, up very slightly from 2019. The average number of paid personal days is 2.9 days, identical to 2019.
* Holidays and percentage of firms providing a paid holiday…
New Year’s Day 2017 - Wednesday, January 1 - 96.0%
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (observed) - Monday, January 20, 22.7%
Lincoln’s Birthday - Wednesday, February 12 - 4.2%
President’s Day (Washington/Lincoln Day) - Monday, February 17 - 21.3%
Casimir Pulaski’s Birthday (observed) - Monday, March 2 - <1%
Good Friday - Friday, April 10 - 32.4%
Memorial Day - Monday, May 25 - 94.5%
Independence Day - Saturday, July 4 (30% of noted observe on Friday, July 3) - 95.6%
Labor Day - Monday, September 7 - 94.8%
Columbus Day - Monday, October 12 - 12.5%
Election Day - Tuesday, November 3 - <1%
Veterans Day - Wednesday, November 11 - 18.5%
Thanksgiving
Wednesday, November 25 - 6.5%
Thursday, November 26 - 96.5%
Friday, November 27 - 68.9%
Christmas
Thursday, December 24 - 50.9%
Friday, December 25 - 96.0%
New Year’s Eve
Thursday, December 31 - 30.7%
Employees Birthday - 2%
Floating Holiday (1 or more days) - 5.2%
Jewish Holidays (1 or more days) - About 1%
Average number of paid holidays - 8.2; Average number of paid personal days - 2.9
Number of firms responding - 351
* Percentage of firms from each industry classification responding…
Manufacturing - 22.7%
Services - 13.1%
Finance/Banking - 2.2%
Retail Trade - 4.5%
Wholesale Trade - 3.4%
Insurance/Real Estate - 5.4%
Utility/Transport/Communications - 3.7%
Construction - 3.9%
Non-Profit/Association/Chamber of Commerce - 18.8%
Government - 7.1%
Other - 14.8%
Another outside group is advertising in the 13th Congressional District and featuring pictures of U.S. Rep. RODNEY DAVIS, R-Taylorville. But this time, the group agrees with Davis on impeachment.
American Action Network, a Washington, D.C.-based group, is running TV ads in the district thanking Davis for “standing against impeachment and focusing on the issues that matter to us.”
This comes even as ads have continued to run this week from a group called Defend American Democracy, featuring a Marine veteran from New Jersey who served in Afghanistan and who calls on Davis to “hold the president accountable for risking our national security and abusing his office to benefit himself.”
Economic Club of Chicago Chairwoman Debra Cafaro asked Pritzker why lawmakers shouldn’t let voters change the state’s pension protection clause to control the growing cost of public sector pensions.
“To even working-class me, that seems like a fair way to address the shared sacrifice that we all have to make to get Illinois on the right track,” Cafaro said.
Ventas Chairman and CEO Debra Cafaro received more than $25 million in total pay [in 2017], more than double what she earned in 2016, as the company switched to a new compensation system for its top executives.
Ventas, a Chicago-based real estate investment trust that specializes in senior housing and medical properties, paid Cafaro $25.3 million in 2017, including stock awards totaling $17.4 million, up from total compensation of $9.7 million in 2016, according to a company proxy filed yesterday.
People do rise from the working class to high positions of power and wealth (as Cafaro most certainly did) and they may still consider themselves working class at heart. But, c’mon, they’re no longer working class when they make $25 million in a single year. A person making the median income would have to work about 397 years to earn what she raked in during just one.
So, with respect, maybe it’s not all that believable for a successful CEO to advocate cutting retirement benefits for people who worked for modest pay their entire lives by claiming to currently be one of them.
* I’m taking Oscar to the groomer and then I may run a couple of errands. Please keep the conversation Illinois-centric and be nice to each other. Thanks.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Heading back to pick him up, so you’re on your own again. Previous rules apply.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Yeah, he’s not happy with me at the moment for putting him through that experience, but I think it’s a nice haircut…
The watchdog overseeing the Chicago Public Schools has received nearly three complaints per school day since last year of sexual misconduct by adults against students.
And out of all 535 cases reported since the start of October 2018, there are 239 that are still open and under investigation, according to the watchdog.
Those new numbers were released Wednesday by CPS Inspector General Nicholas Schuler as he detailed his office’s investigative work at the Board of Education’s monthly meeting.
Among those new cases in the past year, 228 involved a teacher while 81 involved a security guard — meaning 4.7% of security guards were the subject of an allegation.
That’s a darned high percentage of security guards. Sounds like it’s time to revamp the vetting process.
Of the closed cases, investigators have substantiated 67 allegations against adults, mostly involving “concerning” behavior and not rising to the level of sexual abuse or assault. Seven substantiated cases involved a sexual act or abuse and another 12 were about improper touching that was deemed less than sexual abuse.
As a result of those substantiated cases, 57 adults were fired, resigned or retired after the completion of the investigations while another 96 have been pulled from their job while the inspector general examines the cases. Seventeen cases have involved police and criminal prosecution.
As the battle rages over who will take criminally charged former state Rep. Luis Arroyo’s House seat, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday said a new ethics task force should place a top priority on whether Democratic ward committeemen are “picking replacements properly.”
“I made it clear from the beginning that I want to make sure that the people of the district get represented properly,” the governor said. “There’s no air of corruption around the person who gets appointed and also be elected.” […]
“I think this is something that the new ethics commission that’s been created should look at,” Pritzker said at a Chicago State University event. “Among the very first things they should look at is are we picking replacements properly so that we avoid problems.”
Legislators last week passed a resolution to create the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform to take up the many issues unearthed by federal investigations into Arroyo, state Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, and state Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago.
Under House rules, any member of the House or voter in the 3rd District has 90 days to file a petition challenging whether Delgado’s appointment was legal. A petition would trigger an investigation by a House committee that could ultimately lead to Delgado being removed. That would require approval from a three-fifths majority of the full chamber.
Brown said that, as of Wednesday afternoon, no challenge petition had been filed with the clerk’s office. He declined to say whether Madigan would file the challenge himself after his warning was ignored.
Cook County’s Public Guardian is urging a federal judge to accelerate a lawsuit that challenges the Department of Children and Family Services practice of allowing foster children to languish in psychiatric hospitals beyond medical need if the agency can’t find a place for a child, saying the situation has gotten worse.
Even though the suit was filed a year ago, the judge has yet to decide whether to dismiss the class action lawsuit. Lawyers for the state have repeatedly won extensions to offer additional information to support its efforts to dismiss the case.
The case could affect hundreds of foster children, but a ruling earlier this year by U.S. District Judge John Lee has also stymied efforts to allow the public guardian and state officials to begin collecting evidence to prove their arguments by issuing subpoenas.
“Over the past year since Plaintiffs filed suit, the problem has objectively worsened,” according to Wednesday’s filing. “Children are spending more time locked in psychiatric hospitals; Plaintiffs are at risk of being stuck [beyond medical need] under the same practices and policies that caused them to be class members, and the potential class size grows by the day.” […]
While DCFS officials said at a September hearing that they had added beds through state contractors in order to alleviate the problem, sources tell The Daily Line those beds are mostly considered shelter beds — beds not meant for a permanent placement.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is pleased to share the endorsements of Illinois Democratic Leaders:
Governor JB Pritzker
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator Tammy Duckworth
Congressman Bobby Rush
Congressman Danny Davis
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
Congresswoman Robin Kelly
“Today, we couldn’t be more proud to come together to endorse Kim Foxx for re-election as Cook County State’s Attorney.
Under Kim’s leadership, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has blocked the Trump administration’s discriminatory attempt to threaten immigrants who seek public health services, which would have created a crisis for both families and our public health. She has taken on the gun lobby – and won, defeating a challenge to the county’s assault weapons ban. Kim is a leader who stands up to a man in the Oval Office who uses our city as a punching bag and isn’t afraid of the NRA, which is hellbent on letting guns flood our streets.
Kim Foxx has brought reform to Cook County, and her leadership has inspired reform across this country. Kim represents the future of our Democratic Party, standing for justice while rejecting the fear-mongering of those who are set on reversing the progress we’ve made.
We are confident and ready to hit the ground running to re-elect Kim Foxx.”
* This Tribune story by Ray Long and Jason Meisner is fascinating because it includes emails from Mike McClain to his inner circle of friends and allies…
For months, federal authorities have been looking into payments made to a former political operative for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as part of a sweeping investigation into ComEd’s lobbying practices.
Now, newly obtained emails show that Michael McClain, a close confidant of Madigan, orchestrated the contracts that saw money flow from current and former ComEd lobbyists to the ex-aide.
All told, more than $30,000 went to Kevin Quinn, who had been ousted by Madigan in early 2018 after being accused of sexually harassing a female campaign worker. At the time, Madigan called the campaign worker “courageous” for making him aware of the unwanted advances and inappropriate text messages.
* But the story is also interesting because it explains something I’ve been wondering about: Why do federal prosecutors even care about these payments?…
The Tribune has reported that federal authorities are zeroing in on payments made through ComEd’s vast network of consultants to some individuals who seemed to have done little actual work. The payments were aimed at currying favor with certain lawmakers while circumventing lobbying disclosure rules, the source added. Authorities believe the payments to Quinn, which the Tribune first disclosed in July, are an example of this, a source has said.
So, apparently, the G believes the payments to Quinn, the brother of Madigan’s alderman Marty Quinn, were designed to curry favor with a lawmaker. Would that lawmaker be Speaker Madigan? His spokesman had this to say…
“If a group of people were attempting to help Kevin Quinn, the speaker was not a part of it.”
…Adding… Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena)…
This confirms that the Speaker’s response to the harassment of his employees was nothing more than window dressing while he continued to put political victories and fundraising ahead of his staff and the people of Illinois. As a female legislator, I find this insulting and hope my Democrat colleagues start to confront this disgraceful behavior in their caucus.
The Illinois Education Association (IEA) said Wednesday the practice of using seclusion rooms – where students are placed alone in a room and observed from the outside by an adult – should no longer be used. Instead, a workgroup should be formed to look at alternative, long-term solutions that value safety and restorative practices.
“We know that safety is priority number one with our students, especially those who have traumatic pasts and who have special needs,” said Kathi Griffin, IEA president. “Seclusion takes safety out of the mix and adds fear and torment. Calm rooms, or reflection rooms, should provide caring adults, helping to support students and to teach them strategies for self-regulation.”
The IEA has been working for nearly five years to bring these concepts to its 135,000 members across the state of Illinois. It has partnered with the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and many other community partners to educate teachers and support staff on restorative practices since 2014 in order to prevent situations exactly like those outlined in the reporting done by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica.
“Plywood and cement walls are a ‘cell’, not a room meant to provide safety and support. We applaud the Illinois State Board of Education for coming up with emergency rules to try to provide immediate relief to this situation, but we’d also ask that a workgroup or taskforce be formed that includes all stakeholders – including parents – that helps determine how schools can wrap safety and support around struggling students, keep all students safe and determine how all of this work can be funded,” Griffin said.
“There is nothing more important to this state than its children. It speaks to who we are as a people how we are going to handle this crisis going forward. It’s imperative it’s handled the right way.”
Nineteen other states have banned the practice of seclusion rooms.
* Press release…
IFT President Dan Montgomery’s statement responding to the Chicago Tribune’s and ProPublica’s investigative report on the use of isolated seclusion and ISBE’s response
“The Illinois Federation of Teachers does not support the use of isolation as a form of school discipline, and as a parent and former teacher, I was disturbed to read yesterday’s report. We agree with ISBE’s decision to end the practice but that in itself does not solve the problem. The IFT would like to see a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to this issue and a broader discussion about how schools can sensitively address discipline and behavior issues.”
“Schools in every part of Illinois are in desperate need of supports for students such as counselors and mental health services, as well as training for teachers, staff, and school leaders who care for students each and every day. The IFT looks forward to working with ISBE and other partners to equitably address school discipline issues.”
* Attorney General Kwame Raoul…
I am appalled and share the outrage rightly expressed by many upon reading reports of the apparent widespread use of isolation rooms as disciplinary measures in Illinois schools, which seem to disproportionately impact vulnerable children with behavioral and emotional disorders.
I am encouraged that the Illinois State Board of Education has committed to taking immediate action, including filing emergency rules to ban the use of isolation practices. I urge the ISBE to work with the General Assembly to explore legislative solutions to more permanently address the use of isolation rooms, and my office is ready to work with the ISBE and the General Assembly on this issue.
* Just yesterday, ProPublica Illinois and the Chicago Tribune published a dramatic, yet painstakingly researched story on what amounted to torture of public school students by the very adults who were supposed to nurture and educate them.
One day later, the Illinois State Board of Education has been forced to issue emergency rules to stop this blatant child abuse and initiate an investigation.
That, my friends, is impact journalism at its best. So, I’d like to ask you to consider contributing to ProPublica to make sure it can continue publishing stories like this. Click here.
* Also, keep a kind thought in your heads for all Tribune reporters today. Their company’s top shareholder is now this outfit…
Michael Ferro, the largest shareholder in Tribune Publishing Co., sold his 25% stake in the newspaper company for about $118 million to Alden Global Capital LLC, a hedge fund known for making deep cuts to newsrooms. […]
Alden is the backer of MNG Enterprises Inc., which tried unsuccessfully to acquire Gannett Co. for $1.36 billion earlier this year. It also was rebuffed in its efforts to gain board seats at Gannett, owner of USA Today and the Arizona Republic.
Workers at Gannett were concerned that a MNG takeover would take a knife to its operations. MNG, owner of the Denver Post, St. Paul Pioneer Press and other daily newspapers, is known for heavy layoffs. […]
“Alden has a well-established history of harming media institutions and journalists,” the [Chicago Tribune Guild] said. “Still, no matter who owns these shares, we promise to fight as hard as we can to protect our members, improve our company and serve our readers.”
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced today that it will take emergency action to end the use of isolated seclusion in Illinois schools. ISBE also will take steps to improve data collection on all instances of time-out and physical restraint in schools, as well as immediately begin investigating known cases of isolated seclusion to take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action.
“Isolated seclusion will end now; it traumatizes children, does lasting damage to the most vulnerable and violates the most deeply held values of my administration and the State of Illinois. The use of this unacceptable practice in districts around the state for several years is appalling, and I am demanding complete and immediate accountability,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I have directed ISBE to take immediate action to ban isolated seclusion in Illinois schools, investigate any case where isolated seclusion was used illegally in the past, and mandate strict reporting on any form of time-out moving forward. I also pledge to work closely with the General Assembly to take additional steps to codify these emergency rules and take any additional steps to protect all the children of this state.”
The emergency action follows the publication of an investigation into the misuse of isolated time-out and physical restraint in Illinois schools.
“The data and stories from students and parents are appalling, inexcusable, and deeply saddening,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “The practices of time out and physical restraint have been misused and overused to a shocking extent; this must stop today. ISBE condemns the unlawful use of isolated seclusion, and we will take immediate steps to ensure the traumatic treatment described in the investigation never happens to another Illinois student.”
ISBE will ban the use of isolated seclusion in any educational entity serving public school students in Illinois. ISBE also will institute a new data collection to increase accountability and transparency for all instances of time-out and physical restraint, among other changes detailed below.
Unlawful use of time-out and restraint includes using these practices as a form of punishment. Time-out and restraint are lawful only when used to protect the safety of students and staff in certain rare crisis situations. ISBE will take action against any educational entity serving public school students that is violating these regulations.
“As educators, we work hard to make our schools trauma-responsive – but first and foremost, our schools must be trauma-free,” continued Ayala. “Our schools must be places where all students feel and are safe. We welcome additional feedback and dialogue as we work together to address this urgent problem and implement stronger protections statewide for students’ mental, physical, and social-emotional health.”
The Illinois Education Association (IEA), which represents more than 135,000 members, supports ISBE’s emergency actions.
“The IEA supports ISBE’s swift and decisive response to the reports of unlawful and egregious misuse of time-out and physical restraint in Illinois schools,” said IEA President Kathi Griffin. “The IEA supports banning the practice of isolated seclusion; this practice inflicts trauma upon children and has no place in Illinois schools. The IEA is committed to fully engaging in the rulemaking and legislative processes to institute the necessary protections for all students’ physical, mental, and social-emotional health.”
ISBE will take the following steps impacting all public schools, cooperatives, private special education facilities, and other educational entities serving public school students:
• File emergency rules today to:
o Ban all isolated seclusion practices;
o Allow time-out with a trained adult in the room and with an unlocked door, but only for therapeutic reasons or protecting the safety of students and staff;
o Ban physical restraints that could impair a student’s ability to breathe or speak normally, and institute strict parameters on when physical restraint is allowed;
o Require all educational entities to submit data to ISBE on all instances of physical restraint or time-out used during the current (2019-20) and past two school years (2018-19 and 2017-18);
o Require all educational entities to submit data to ISBE within 48 hours of any instance of physical restraint or time-out;
o Eliminate the option for parents or guardians to waive notification of instances of physical restraint or time-out.
• Issue an advisory notice today to school districts, superintendents, and special education cooperatives reiterating the emergency rules and guidance.
• Create a required State form for school districts to use to document and to provide thorough information to parents and guardians when time-out or physical restraint is used.
• Add a physical inspection of time-out spaces to the monitoring conducted by Regional Offices of Education.
• Issue updated guidance and provide technical assistance to the field on appropriate uses of time-out and physical restraint.
Additionally, the Governor’s Office will file a complaint on behalf of all known cases of isolated seclusion to expedite the investigative process and require a report to be returned within 60 days of the notification. ISBE will make determinations whether the educational entity violated federal or state special education requirements.
ISBE will work with lawmakers and stakeholders on legislative action and will issue further communication as these steps are taken.
KSED #801 is a special education cooperative whose Central Office is located in Centralia Illinois. KSED #801 partners with its thirty member school districts within the Clinton, Marion, and Washington Counties. KSED strives to provide integral special education services, support, and leadership to our member districts and the needs of the students within their districts.
Bridges Learning Center (BLC) is a therapeutic education center that serves students with severe behavioral, emotional, and developmental disorders. Self-contained classrooms are located at BLC that provide services to students enrolled in grades kindergarten through high school.
The mission statement for the Bridges Learning Center is to
“provide a safe, caring, and therapeutic learning environment where students with emotional, social, and educational challenges can best develop the skills and character necessary to achieve at his or her highest potential and transition to a successful future.”
By 8:35 a.m. on Dec. 19, 2017, all five of the timeout “booths” at Bridges Learning Center near Centralia were already full. School had been in session for five minutes.
Each booth is about 6 by 8 feet, with a steel door. That day, one held a boy who had hung on a basketball rim and swore at staff when they told him to stop. In another, a boy who had used “raised voice tones.”
Two boys were being held because they hadn’t finished classwork. Inside the fifth room was a boy who had tried to “provoke” other students when he got off a bus. Staff told him he’d be back again “to serve 15 minutes every morning due to his irrational behavior.”
None of those reasons for seclusion is permitted under Illinois law.
Yet, over the course of that one day, the rooms stayed busy, with two turning over like tables in a restaurant, emptying and refilling four times. The other three were occupied for longer periods, as long as five hours for the boy who hung off the basketball rim. In all, Bridges staff isolated students 20 times.
Seclusion is supposed to be rare, a last resort. But at Bridges, part of the Kaskaskia Special Education District in southern Illinois, and at many other schools, it is often the default response.
Bridges used seclusion 1,288 times in the 15 months of school that reporters examined. The school has about 65 students.
According to the Tribune/ProPublica Illinois analysis of Bridges records, 72% of the seclusions were not prompted by a safety issue, as the law requires.
Only 65 students and yet forced seclusion was used 1,288 times in 15 months? That place needs to be investigated pronto.
* Meanwhile, this is from Hope School in Springfield…
Rich,
In today’s Capitol Fax, you write about the ProPublica/Chicago Tribune article about the widespread use of “isolation rooms” to deal with children experiencing behavioral issues. We also read that alarming article and wanted to share Hope’s stance on these rooms and our own answer to providing the best care for our students.
At Hope, we specialize in educating children who represent a broad spectrum of learning styles and abilities. We recognized years ago that so-called “isolation rooms” are not an appropriate answer to the behavioral needs of children, nor are they appropriate for use on any child with a disability. Hope utilizes open sensory rooms for our students to elect to use them who need a quiet space to cope with overwhelming sensory stimuli, or to re-regulate. These rooms are located within classrooms and the students are always near their peers and the classroom staff. Students are not permitted to enter the room unless accompanied by a staff person. The goal of these rooms is to be a calm atmosphere where students can choose retreat. The rooms do not have a door so the children are free to come and go. Our trained behavioral staff monitor each classroom to ensure that these rooms are being used correctly at all times. For children with sensory issues, a room such as this has been proven to be helpful in dealing with the overwhelming feelings they may experience in a situation where they become overstimulated.
We strive to provide the very best learning environment for all of our students. The idea of isolation rooms is antiquated and does nothing to help a child learn. In fact, it does the exact opposite. At Hope, our mission is to educate our students in the most inclusive environments, which is why we focus on adapting our classroom environments to help our children learn and grow to the best of their abilities.
The Illinois Supreme Court will decide whether a Southern Illinois woman whose Firearm Owners Identification card was revoked in 2012 after the Illinois State Police were notified she had been convicted of misdemeanor battery.
The court on Tuesday heard a direct appeal from Wabash County Circuit Court, filed by the Attorney General’s office after a county judge ordered the state police to return her FOID card, finding the revocation unconstitutional. […]
When Justice Mary Jane Theis asked Johnson’s attorney David Jensen, of New York-based firm David Jensen PLLC, why Johnson didn’t instead file a federal lawsuit, Jensen said the federal application of the law to Johnson’s case was irrelevant.
Jensen told the justices that the federal law doesn’t necessarily matter to Johnson, as she could easily buy a gun from a non-licensed firearms dealer, build her own gun or buy a gun that falls under the definition of firearm under state law Illinois, but not according to federal law.
“The question here is: Is she entitled to a FOID card, which is what’s necessary to exercise Second Amendment Rights under Illinois Law?” Jensen said.
The 3rd District, which stretches from Montclare east to Central Park in Avondale, is over 65 percent Hispanic, mostly Puerto Rican. But there is a sizeable white voter base. [Sen. Rob Martwick] is backing his longtime political operative Dave Feller, who lives in Portage Park, in the March 17 primary. Feller did not present his credentials on Nov. 15, calling the meeting a “sham. Let the voters decide.” [Sen. Iris Martinez], who is running for Circuit Court Clerk, said the replacement of Arroyo by a non-Latino would be “racist.”
Nine candidates appeared [at the ward committeeman meeting to choose the replacement] on Nov. 15: [Eva-Dina Delgado, who was chosen to replace Arroyo], firefighter Joaquin Vasquez, Belinda Cadiz from the 33rd Ward, Ruth Cruz and Otilio Serrano from the 30th Ward, Alonzo Zaragosa, a perennial candidate against Berrios in the 31st Ward, former 1st Ward alderman Jesse Granato, TV broadcaster Ruben Calderon, and Jacqueline Baez, who announced months ago and is circulating petitions for both state representative and for 36th Ward committeeman, which will set up a three-way contest for Arroyo’s party post between her, Feller and Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th), Arroyo’s ally. But Vasquez, Baez and Zaragosa walked-out with [Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa] (but Vasquez came back), sources said.
The March 17 primary will feature Feller, Delgado and Baez against Nadia Carranza, a teacher and CTU member who is Ramirez-Rosa’s candidate, and also backed by state Representative Delia Ramirez (D-4). Ramirez-Rosa is a “democratic socialist” and chairman of the Chicago Socialist Party, and he and his organization will be working fervently for Bernie Sanders. To win, Delgado needs equally fervent support from Reboyras, Villegas and Alderman Felix Cardona (31st), who is running for the retiring Berrios’s post.
Whether Delgado does or does not get seated is a critical factor. She can position herself as a martyr, a pristine victim of either Arroyo’s wrongdoing or of Madigan’s arrogance. Or, as Martwick predicts, she will be revealed as a self-promoting insider with connections to Arroyo. It is a fact that Delgado, who now works for Peoples Gas, Edison, was a lobbyist in Springfield for Chicago for many years, and that her husband Erik Varela has a top county job under Toni Preckwinkle and multi-tasks as a lobbyist for Union Pacific. Arroyo, chair of the House Latino Caucus, put Varela on the board of the Latino Caucus Foundation, which doles out college scholarships, primarily to children of undocumented immigrants who can’t get aid elsewhere. This “Arroyo connection” will surely surface during any expulsion hearing. Delgado’s name ID will rise exponentially, but not necessarily favorably.
The 3rd District primary turnout in 2016 was 15,860 and in 2018 was 7,906. Whoever gets 33-36 percent will win. About 4,500 votes will do it. That leaves out Feller and Baez. Give the edge to Carranza, who will have CTU money and no baggage.
I’ve been telling subscribers about Carranza for a while now. She is definitely one to watch and Feller’s presence on the ballot could siphon some “regular” votes away from Delgado.
…Adding… From the Cook County President’s office…
Erik Varela no longer works for Cook County and hasn’t for some time. He left the County more than a year ago. Additionally, he never multi-tasked as a lobbyist for Union Pacific while working for the County. He left his County position to take the Union Pacific job. There was never an overlap in employment.
I want the voters to have a representative that is chosen in a proper fashion, that will truly represent them and not be part of an air of corruption. It’s important to me that we look closely at this process and ask the question ‘Is this the right process?”
He also noted that the House will now decide whether to seat Delgado and noted that Speaker Madigan has already said what he plans to do.
ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune published the results of an investigation this morning into the use of isolated time-out and physical restraint in Illinois schools. The stories from students and parents and the data the reporters collected and analyzed are appalling, inexcusable, and deeply saddening. The practices of isolated-time out and physical restraint have been misused and overused to a shocking extent; this must stop today.
ISBE condemns the unlawful use of time-out and restraint, which includes using these practices as punishment. ISBE will take action against any school district that is violating the law.
The Illinois State Board of Education will take immediate steps to address this urgent problem and implement stronger protections for students’ mental, physical, and social-emotional health.
As educators, we work hard to make our schools trauma-responsive – but first and foremost, our schools must be trauma-free. Our schools must be places where all students feel and are safe.
…Adding… The ISBE knew this story was coming and waited until after the fallout hit to issue a statement of outrage. From the original story…
Informed of the investigation’s findings, the Illinois State Board of Education said it would issue guidance clarifying that seclusion should be used only in emergencies. Officials acknowledged they don’t monitor the use of isolated timeout and said they would need legislative action to do so.
…Adding… To the handful of folks defending this barbaric practice in comments, I point you to this passage from the original article…
In Illinois, it’s legal for school employees to seclude students in a separate space — to put them in “isolated timeout” — if the students pose a safety threat to themselves or others. Yet every school day, workers isolate children for reasons that violate the law, an investigation by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois has found.
Children were sent to isolation after refusing to do classwork, for swearing, for spilling milk, for throwing Legos. School employees use isolated timeout for convenience, out of frustration or as punishment, sometimes referring to it as “serving time.”
*** UPDATE *** Gov. JB Pritzker was asked for comment today by reporters at an unrelated event. He called the forced isolation practice “appalling,” said it was “unacceptable” and pledged to “make a change.”
Pritzker said the State Board of Education will be implementing emergency rules for now. He said long-term solutions, like perhaps more funding, would be looked at, but wanted some short-term issues addressed as soon as possible.
“Under my watch these are things that should not happen,” Pritzker said.
In fall 2015, Glacier Ridge Elementary School in Crystal Lake first used its Blue Room, a padded space that allows school workers to place students in “isolated timeout” for safety reasons.
Students were secluded in that room more than 120 times during the 2015-16 school year, according to records obtained by ProPublica Illinois and the Chicago Tribune. Yet the district, in its required reporting to the federal government, said it hadn’t used seclusion at all that school year.
Crystal Lake District 47 is an example of how even with federal reporting requirements, it’s nearly impossible to know how often some Illinois schools seclude children. An investigation by the Tribune and ProPublica Illinois found widespread use of seclusion but little transparency.
All public school districts are required to report their use of seclusion and physical restraint to the U.S. Department of Education as part of its Civil Rights Data Collection, which the department uses to help investigate discrimination complaints and to ensure districts follow federal policies. The data is collected every other school year and published online.
Because the Illinois State Board of Education does not monitor the use of seclusion or restraint in public schools, the federal data is the only systematic way for communities to determine whether and how frequently those practices are being used in their schools.
Some public schools, however, either reported incorrect data or failed to submit any information — making it difficult for parents to know with certainty whether their children’s school secludes or restrains students. A spokeswoman for Crystal Lake District 47 said its failure to report accurate data was a mistake.
To determine whether Illinois districts complied with reporting requirements, the Tribune and ProPublica Illinois filed requests under the state’s Freedom of Information Act with 75 randomly selected districts where the federal data showed no instances of seclusion for the 2015-16 school year. Those requests asked for records documenting the use of seclusion or restraint from 2015 through the end of 2018 — records that Illinois law requires districts to keep.
In addition to Crystal Lake, five districts provided records showing they had used seclusion or restraint in 2015-16 despite indicating to the Department of Education they had not.
Unreal.
* I told you yesterday that Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook) is filing a bill to end these seclusions. He also texted me this…
I was so upset when I read this I filed something immediately. This practice has to stop.
You’re isolating children who on top of everything else feel isolated. Imagine being different from your peers and the response to your challenges is being isolated. Just terrible.
As a former special education teacher, I can tell you that these children already feel isolated. We need to focus on teaching coping strategies and make sure these kids do not feel alone. By putting them in isolation, it’s reinforcing that they’re different and that his/her challenges are his/her fault. It is not and we need to make sure our children are safe and protected.
Isolation rooms are, in theory, used to help calm an individual down through separation and reflection. Except these rooms can often act as a form of torture to an individual in crisis. Trust me, I know first-hand how painful being isolated can be. My childhood was very difficult. I was diagnosed with ADHD at a time where people still didn’t quite understand the disorder. There were many interventions used including isolation timeouts in a locked closed space. I am 45-years old and still have nightmares because of this treatment.
Due to my challenges, I was already ostracized by my peers. Getting invited to birthday parties and playdates was a rare occurrence. My life was isolation. In response to my challenges, I would be locked into a small room. I can recall every detail from the smell, lighting and texture of the carpeted walls. There was a small window on the door. One constituent who contacted us through social media shared that he still has scars on his knuckles from punching the carpeted walls because panic had set in. This treatment was, and continues to be, beyond cruel. We isolate criminals instead of using the death penalty. Think about that for a second; we use the same intervention on children that’s used on our worst criminals.
I very rarely talk about my past because it is very painful for me to do so. Simply writing this blog post, and recollecting my past experiences is giving me anxiety. Isolation was my personal Hell. I begged my parents to take me out of that school and when they did, it changed my life. My struggles didn’t go away, but I learned better coping strategies without having to be isolated. Thank goodness I was one of the lucky ones. Others are not so fortunate. It was my experience with this that helped shape my decision to become a Special Education teacher, and make sure that future students are not subjected to this kind of treatment. Now, as a legislator, I am working on a bill to ensure this practice stops entirely in our state.
I am drafting legislation to stop this practice in Illinois. It is a battle I must and will fight. No child should ever be isolated when he or she is in crisis. When around 40% of states already recognize how this treatment is wrong, hearing that Illinois uses this more than any other state is horrific. There will be opposition to my efforts, but I’ll be ready. To the 12-year old boy who’s still inside of me dealing with this pain, I will do everything in my power to not have others feel the same way.
* Related…
* The Quiet Rooms: How children are being locked away in schools across Illinois: Lakeidra Chavis, reporting fellow for ProPublica Illinois, and Jennifer Smith Richards, Chicago Tribune data reporter joins The Roe Conn Show with Anna Davlantes to discuss how children are being locked away in so-called “quiet rooms” in schools across the state.
The woman who says she’s “close” to having the votes lined up to become president of the Illinois Senate is laying out a detailed agenda, including ethical reforms, professionalizing her party’s election operation and standing up to House Speaker Mike Madigan.
In an interview, Sen. Kim Lightford, D-Maywood, confirmed what at least some Springfield insiders have been rumoring the past couple of days, that she is well on her way to securing the votes she’ll need to succeed John Cullerton, who is retiring in January.
Lightford wouldn’t give me any numbers but allies say she has a solid 14 votes on her side at the moment with another five or six heavily leaning that way. “It’s headed her way,” said one Democratic caucus member, adding that female lawmakers in particular are united in a desire to elect the Senate’s first female president ever.
Lightford only will need votes from only 21 of the Senate’s 40 Democrats to get the job—assuming her party unites around her after the campaigning and provides the total of 30 required for the actual election. That’s no sure thing, says Sen. Don Harmon-Oak Park, who along with Chicago colleague Elgie Sims is still running. “She’s far from 30 votes. I think I’m going to win.”
“Senate [Democrats are] diverse [and have] always led in tackling difficult problems,” said Harmon. “It is my goal to protect the working families of Illinois and bring sensible ethics reform to our state.”
Lightford, now Senate Majority Leader, promises a progressive agenda.
“John has served for over 40 years and he’s a traditionalist,” said Lightford. “And it’s just time for some different changes to take shape.”
Lightford acknowledges her bid is not quite as dramatic as it would have been a few years ago, now that African-American women already serve as Mayor of Chicago, President of the Cook County Board and Cook County State’s Attorney.
“I would love the opportunity to serve as Senate president,” Harmon said. “I ran for the office 11 years ago when John Cullerton was first elected, and I expect that I will be a candidate again this time. I’m just still working my way through talking to a handful of colleagues I haven’t connected with.”
But on Saturday morning, [Democratic Party of Oak Park] volunteers were urged to go to the far South Side of Chicago to gather signatures for the nominating petitions for state Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) to put her on the ballot for the March primary. DPOP volunteers helping Collins get on the ballot could influence Collins to vote for Harmon as Senate president in January.
DPOP volunteers, guided by Harmon, have been sent to help out many Democrats across the state over the years.
“My colleagues recognize my track record and experience in helping others,” Harmon said. “That’s what a good Senate president would do, help 40 Democrats get re-elected. And as we go into redistricting and the 2022 election when all the senators will be on the ballot, that’s a critical skill.”
On a 3-2 vote, the Effingham City Council voted to allow the sale of adult-use cannabis within the city limits.
Actually, the vote was 2-3, since the motion before the Council was to prohibit cannabis sales. Mayor Mike Schutzbach and Commissioner Merv Gillenwater voted for the prohibition, while Commissioners Hank Stephens, Larry Micenheimer and Libby Moeller voted against the measure and to allow sales.
In a separate motion, the Council voted 5-0 to set the tax rate on cannabis sales at 3%. Sale of adult-use cannabis in Illinois will be legal as of January 1, 2020. […]
About 10 people spoke on the issue ahead of the vote, almost evenly divided between those supportive of or opposed to the sales.
Chicago voters take note: With one of your Illinois House seats open and one of your state Senate seats about to go vacant, you may think you should choose the two new legislators who’ll represent you in Springfield. To which we offer a full-throated Sit down, losers. Also Get lost, Fuggedaboudit and several coarser expressions.
Because you, little voter, have … no say in this. None whatsoever. Instead, Democratic Party swells are busy arranging who’ll replace Luis Arroyo, a disgraced and departed representative, and John Cullerton, a senator who’s about to retire.
The editorial board goes on to advocate for special elections to fill these and other vacancies. I have zero problem with that idea, although I can see some arguments against it, including costs and low turnout during special elections.
But, one thing not mentioned in the editorial is that Chicago ward committeepersons and Cook County Township committeepersons are elected. Elsewhere, precinct committeepersons are elected and they, in turn, elect their county party chairs.
