* The Sun-Times on the new GOP plan for Chicago…
Radogno denied the idea is to dismantle traditional public schools in CPS in favor of charters.
“That is absolutely not true,” she said.
“It allows the state Board of Education to remove the current Chicago Public Board of Education and create an independent authority for CPS until the State Board of Education determines that CPS is no longer in financial difficulty,” Radogno said.
Durkin added that 24 states already allow local governments to declare bankruptcy, as the Republicans’ still-to-be completed legislation would do.
Sen. William Delgado, chairman of the Illinois Senate Education Committee, criticized the move.
“The governor has forced the state into a financial crisis, and now he wants to take over one of the biggest public school systems in the nation,” Delgado said in his written statement.
“I find it hard to believe that this decision has the best interest of CPS students and families in mind,” the statement continued. “We need to get CPS back on level ground, not force it into bankruptcy and then allow the governor to treat it like another business.”
I don’t think anyone’s talking about forcing CPS into bankruptcy.
* Press release…
Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) issued the following statement in response to the Republican proposal to take over the Chicago Public Schools:
“With this maneuver, Gov. Rauner has laid bare his true intentions. His purpose in stubbornly refusing to work with CPS, even at the risk of costing the jobs of thousands of teachers, is now clear: to force our public schools into layoffs and bankruptcy, in order to promote his political agenda.
“Bankruptcy and some type of state receivership could allow the Governor to vacate agreements and contracts such as pension obligations, health insurance and other benefits, and above all, the collective bargaining rights of teachers and other public employees.
“Instead of the GOP trying to highjack city government and our public schools and public services, long-term, attainable solutions for state funding are required.
“I support Sen. Andy Manar’s education funding bill as being fair and equitable for both the city and entire state. This bill is a good starting point to begin to repair the damage rather than inflicting more harm.
“What we need now is an open and honest discussion based on the goal of providing quality education through our neighborhood schools throughout our entire city.
“As a duly elected representative of the people of my neighborhood and of my city, I vigorously object to the Governor’s undemocratic attempt to disenfranchise the people of our city.
“Chicago should not allow itself to be bullied by Gov. Rauner and the Illinois GOP.”
Ald. Lopez represents the 15th Ward, which includes Back of the Yards, Brighton Park, Gage Park and West Englewood. There are seven elementary schools and three high schools in his ward.
Disenfranchise Chicagoans?
Huh?
…Adding… From 47th Ward in comments…
And everyone is taking the bait. Sigh.
Rauner can’t run Springfield. Why on earth would anyone think he’s serious about taking over CPS?
This is all a distraction to divert attention from the looming state budget disaster. This ploy is ridiculously transparent. I have a better chance of taking control of Google than Rauner has of taking over CPS.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Oy…
Well, at least CTU and Rahm have something in common these days.
*** UPDATE 2 *** 47th Ward was prescient…
“Giving control of our children’s future to a governor who can’t pass his own budget, who is racking up billions in unpaid bills, and who is crippling higher education across the state makes zero sense,” Emanuel spokeswoman Kelley Quinn said. “With just a few weeks to go before delivering a second budget address without having passed his first budget, it’s clear the Republicans in Springfield are trying desperately to distract from their own failures.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Sen. Heather Steans…
State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago 7th) issued the following statement today on the announcement by Republican legislative leaders that they plan to file legislation allowing for a state takeover of the Chicago Public Schools:
The Chicago Public Schools educate nearly 400,000 students, almost 90 percent of them from low-income households. Five percent are homeless. Almost one-fifth are learning English as a second language. Yet against the odds and starved of resources, the state’s largest school district is achieving higher test scores and graduation rates for its students.
But the irresponsible agenda Gov. Rauner’s legislative allies rolled out today isn’t a reflection of those realities; it’s another politically motivated distraction from what the state and its public schools really need.
They portray their plan as merely a matter of fairness – adding CPS to an existing law allowing for state intervention in certain districts. But this could not be farther from the truth.
Illinois’ current intervention law does not require or even allow bankruptcy; in fact, Illinois does not permit any unit of government to declare bankruptcy, and the current situation in Michigan demonstrates the serious pitfalls of rushing to release governments from their financial obligations. In addition, CPS educates more than 14 times the number of students in the largest district currently eligible for state intervention. The State Board of Education is simply not equipped to manage such a large, complex and diverse system of schools.
The bottom line isn’t changing: Illinois needs a balanced budget, and Illinois’ public schools desperately need adequate and fairly distributed resources. Today’s announcement distracted from these difficult but essential objectives. If the governor and his allies in the General Assembly want to treat Chicago students fairly, they should start by supporting parity for CPS in state education funding and contributions toward teacher pensions.
Emphasis added.
