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Public enemies and hypocrisies

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* All politicians love to highlight their enemies…

“The power of the teachers union has been overwhelming. Chicago has given and given and given. It’s created a financial crisis that the Chicago schools face now,” Rauner told reporters outside his 16th floor office in the Thompson Center hours after CPS officials released a new spending plan that counts on $480 million in pension help from Rauner and the General Assembly that so far hasn’t gone anywhere.

“We believe the right answer is to empower: The people of Chicago, the voters of Chicago, the mayor of Chicago, the school board of the Chicago Public Schools should be enabled to decide what gets collectively bargained and what doesn’t so they don’t end up with the teachers union having dictatorial powers, in effect and causing the financial duress that Chicago public schools are facing right now.”

Rauner restated his belief that changes in collective bargaining should be statewide, and not just for Chicago, if there’s an attempt to alleviate CPS’ cash crunch for the coming school year.

* And they all have their own hypocrisies…

At the same time, Rauner said he opposed proposals to create an elected school board in Chicago, something the CTU backs, citing Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s efforts to challenge the union. Chicago is the only school system in the state with an appointed board of education and Rauner said he believed voters in other school districts should have the option of choosing an appointed school board.

Yep, he’s for voter empowerment except for when he’s not.

The same goes for currently elected judges, whom he wants to appoint.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:15 am

Comments

Rauner, anti-union? No surprise there.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:23 am
It’s always a “loser” to parse out elected versus appointed positions and making the case for one over the other when theoretically, more likely than not, you will find yourself boxed in where your words for one run counter for your case for another.

Rauner vilifying the judicial, calling the branch “corrupt” is far mor damaging than trying to decipher if judges should be appointed or elected. “Why?” Does Rauner want to “own” an appointed judge that later Rauner finds “corrupt” according to “win the day” parameters?

I sometimes feel Rauner, personally, can’t help himself, spews out some talking point, then neglects to remember his own verbal hypocrisy. A loose cannon aimed at his own foot.

Maybe, when prepping the Governor, remind him that pivoting off a new “belief” that counters his old stance isn’t winning “the day”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:25 am
just in case anyone thought his involvement in charter schools was about anything but union busting…

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:27 am
So Rauner’s calling for appointed school boards downstate?

Comment by olddog Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:28 am
A very strange view of negotiation that sees it leading to the “dictatorship” of the other side.

All power to me, or disaster.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:29 am
Rauner’s consistency is his inconsistency.

Comment by Buzzie Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:30 am
I always think of the Governor criticizing activist Judges and then looking for some sort of “roadmap” for pension reform from the IL Supremes. You have to look past the rhetoric and focus on the actions.

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:31 am
A governor appointing judges is anti-voter power, but there’s not really any voter power in the current judicial election system either. We need some sort of merit system. You could even argue that the governor appointing the judges gives voters slightly more power because that would go into the equation of who to elect governor - again, only because of the reality of the current system.

At the end of the day I’m for CPS Board elections because I do favor voter power, but only if the elections are not buried in the off-year election where the mayor isn’t on the ballot.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:32 am
I wonder who he envisions making the downstate school board appointments. Our local school district covers four towns and has students that live in three different counties.

Comment by Nilwood Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:35 am
How long will the Rauner followers continue to follow blindly his hypocrisies?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:35 am
Rauner apparently forgot that his pal Daley got a pension holiday that created the unhealthy CPS pension crisis. It wasn’t the unions who insisted on the City not paying the employer’s contribution for more than a decade.

Comment by nona Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:36 am
Rauner apparently forgot that his pal Daley got a pension holiday that created the unhealthy CPS pension crisis. It wasn’t the unions who insisted on the City not paying the employer’s contribution for more than a decade.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:37 am
Put an end to the BS teachers strikes where the teachers loose no pay from the strike because they are paid for the school days added to make up for the strike. The losers are parents (who lose work or pay for child care), the taxpayers, and always last and least - the children.

Comment by Huh! Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:38 am
“How long will the Rauner followers continue to follow blindly his hypocrisies?” Forever. They’ll latch on to the part they want to hear and ignore the rest.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:39 am
The mystery is whether he is even aware of his own hypocrisy. The longer he talks the more we see evidence of borderline narcissistic personality disorder.

Comment by D.P.Gumby Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:39 am
I’m curious how the Beth Purvis email debacle will play out- considering she can be possibly linked to Ty Fahner.

Moreover, the comparison to Hillary’s private email scandal makes Rauner’s transparency claim look rather suspect.

Comment by Ipso Facto Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:40 am
@anon:

Thanx for your post. Spot on. Would have been nice if they had just made regular contributions, instead of building planters in the middle of the street or giving away pro football team stadiums with Socialist Government Entitlements!

Comment by Jack Stephens Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:43 am
Channeling Scott Walker must be very life affirming.

Comment by chiatty Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:43 am
Flip Flop

Comment by highspeed Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:43 am
cps employees should pay a share of the pickup for their pensions and should not get a state deferred reprieve; may cause a technical drop in net pay - but better that than increasing overall taxpayer burden…again

Comment by simply stated Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:46 am
The greatest flaws in democracy are on display when the participation in the process is at too low a level. When that happens it affords too much power to special interest groups who can, in fact, use public money to hyper-influence the process.

Elected school boards in Chicago would give the CTU an opportunity to completely gut the systems and the finances. While I never buy the whole “Detroit” thing here, having a full board of CTU stoolies would put us right there with no hope of recovery.

I sympathize with the Governor, but I can’t agree with him on appointing school boards elsewhere in the state. No doubt many have done more than their share of damage, but the process depends on people having some choice. Even when they don’t fulfill their obligation and privilege to be involved (and they don’t!!)

Chicago is different. It may sound hypocritical, but the balance of power there is too tenuous. In this case, because of the number of people and the amount of money, a different solution makes sense. That being said, the appointment should reflect the will of the communities being served.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:47 am
==CPS officials released a new spending plan that counts on $480 million in pension help from Rauner and the General Assembly that so far hasn’t gone anywhere==

Trying to extort Rauner and Madigan is not likely to work well.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:50 am
Don Wilson of DRW fame makes an appearance as an Education Co-Chair.

Comment by Ipso Facto Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:55 am
===I sympathize with the Governor,…===

Aaaaannnnnd, “scene”.

- A Guy -, c’mon. Having sympathy isn’t a way to excuse hypocrisy.

===Elected school boards in Chicago would give the CTU an opportunity to completely gut the systems and the finances.===

What do you base this on?

Here’s something I know;

Rauner, and the checkbook a he controls, parked over $29 million to…

“…completely gut the systems and the finances.”… of the state of Illinois by attempting to influence General Assembly races… in both parties.

That’s real. That’s happening now. That’s not speculation.

You’re worried about CTU deciding the outcomes of CPS schoo board races? Yeah, ok, well if the governor and the checkbooks he controls, can’t keep up with CTU monies, yeah, I sympathize with the Governor too, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 9:57 am
OW - not to speak for A Guy but I know that in the suburbs the school districts are always putting up take hike or bond referendums in off-year elections, and it doesn’t take a genius to know why. It seems pretty ironic for you of all people to cite Rauner’s checkbook democracy as the counterbalance to this. And though I’d opt for direct elections (hey, we get what we deserve), I think the law should be changed to allow CPS to go bankrupt.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:04 am
==Elected school boards in Chicago would give the CTU an opportunity to completely gut the systems and the finances.==

Based on your previous arguments, I do not believe that the CTU is politically strong enough to pull that off.

Moreover, the “someone I don’t like might win!” standard proves way too much.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:10 am
===It seems pretty ironic for you of all people to cite Rauner’s checkbook democracy as the counterbalance to this.===

Me, “of all people”, what’s thstcsuppose to mean?

What I’m doing is pointing out the “sympathetic” - A Guy - is worried about CTU controlling the outcomes of CPS races and their plans if the succeed, while ignoring Rauner, and the checkbooks he controls, between Citizens For Rauner, IllinoisGO, and the Turnaround Agenda PACs over $29 million parked to, literally…

“…completely gut the systems and the finances.”… of the state of Illinois by attempting to influence General Assembly races… in both parties.

That’s the point, the irony.

So, your point is kinda lost on me.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:12 am
“The greatest flaws in democracy are on display when the participation in the process is at too low a level. When that happens it affords too much power to special interest groups who can, in fact, use public money to hyper-influence the process.”

If you include public employee pension fund management fees as “public money”, I’d say that’s a pretty accurate representation of how Bruce Rauner found himself in the governor’s office.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:15 am
@ simply stated: “may cause a technical drop in net pay”

What the heck does that mean? If there’s less money in someone’s paycheck, that’s real, not “technical”. Try reducing your mortgage payments or rent and telling the bank or the landlord that it’s a mere “technical” drop in the payment.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:18 am
Bruce just wants go get rid of Teachers Unions. He doesn’t quite have the nerve to to challenge the First Responders or the Downstate Prison Unions.

I’m concerned about his health…..this obsession is a problem.

Oh, and by the way…..there is no such thing as “right to work”. It DOES NOT give you a Right that previously did not exist. Like when Women got the Right To Vote.

Comment by Jack Stephens Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:20 am
Lake County Dem: Agree with you on both points.

Different situations can favor appointment (by elected representatives), or direct election, for the best government. We shouldn’t get stuck in an ideological stance.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:20 am
=== “How long will the Rauner followers continue to follow blindly his hypocrisies?” ===
== Forever. They’ll latch on to the part they want to hear and ignore the rest. ==

To be fair, Skeptic, there’s plenty of cognitive dissonance on both sides; it’s not limited to those who support Governor Rauner.

Comment by thunderspirit Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:21 am
He also loves a statewide charter commission that can basically ignore the actions of a locally elected school board. Maybe he would be ok with elected school boards if teachers were not allowed to vote.

Comment by Obamas Puppy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:22 am
==Different situations can favor appointment (by elected representatives), or direct election, for the best government.==

I think there’s some wisdom there. The needs of Cook County and Union County are very different.

That being said, CPS’ track record doesn’t speak well of its current status.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:24 am
==Rauner said he believed voters in other school districts should have the option of choosing an appointed school board.==

Then why can’t voters in Chicago have the option of choosing an elected school board.

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:24 am
He’s just being flexibly rigid in his thinking. No problems here. Facts are, Rauner doesn’t have to do anything. This CPS funding crisis can totally be handled by the Chicago Democrats.

So, right now, it’s their fight. Rauner has said his piece, now he can just sit back and watch. Not his problem.

Comment by Judgment Day (on the road) Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:25 am
While I’m sure Rahm likes the support for his appointment powers, I suspect that when it veered into provoking CTU, he went into “Don’t do me any favors” mode.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:26 am
Willy, I think the Governor and his checkbooks CAN keep up with CTU. I’m pretty grateful for that in fact.
If you had any personal experience with that system (maybe you have, I don’t know), you’d understand that it has never, ever been about the kids there and it’s always been about the teachers and employees in the system. 20% great schools and 80% failing schools reeks of a third world country. People who care deeply about education couldn’t allow that to happen, Could they?

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:33 am
When you want to kill unions, you conveniently forget that the folks who actually run the schools.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:47 am
Te voters elected officials who negotiated all these deals with the union. i.e. Any of the things Rauner wants changed can be negotiated. The Union did not pass a law or steal any of what they have. Everything in the contract was agreed to ultimately by those who had been elected.

Under the current system Rauner himself is showing how negotiations by an elected official can control what is agreed to and what is not.

There is no need to remove these as subjects of bargaining. In fact, Rauner is trying to take away what other duly elected officials have agreed to. This technically disenfranchises voters who supported elected officials, such as Ryan, Thompson and Edgar who agreed to these provision in the union contract.

There is no need to prohibit these being topics of discussions, or to disenfranchise voters. If the Rauner goes 4 years without ever reaching a deal with the union, then voters will indicate if he is doing the job they want or not in the next election.

This is not about the voters, just the opposite, its about removing what the voters supported in the past.

Rauner did not run on a platform of taking away collective bargaining. In fact he hid from it. So his election does not reflect a mandate to this agenda.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:48 am
- A Guy -,

The Governor’s hypocrisy and making this about students and education and …

… that goes away when the Denied, Winnetka-Living Daughter was clouted into Payton Prep, denying a worthy child a chance at a “20%” better education.

The Governor cares less and less about the education, but more about “who” can be appointed, and how it can help Rauner, personally, or his Winnetka-Living Daughter.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 10:57 am
OW - apologies if I’m getting lost in the ironies. This strikes me as a chicken/egg thing: Rauner’s checkbook isn’t coming out of nowhere, it’s a counterbalance to the kind of union domination of Illinois politics (to the point that it nearly controlled the GOP primary). Unironically I’m not sure where you stand here: - mocking fake sympathies aside, are you are concerned about CTU dominating direct-board elections? I think that’s a real danger, but again, democracy should trump.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:01 am
I’ve had experience with dealing with the CPS local school councils, and if similar results come from electing the school board I’d have to say its a bad idea.

First of all, practically no one would care enough to vote for tis, except those folks drawing a paycheck from the unions, CPS, or the Chicago Dem machine. When both sides of the negotiating table are working to expand and enrich the unions and bureaucracy, the results are typically bad for the kids and taxpayers. Holding the mayor accountable for board seems to make a lot more sense. The LSCs were rife with racism and corruption for the few jobs they controlled. I remember at Curie HS when there a majority Hispanic LSC was elected. they fired a very effective and well liked African American principal and tried to give the job to someone from “La Raza” (THEIR Race). Eventually that was rescinded after public outrage. I saw really great building engineers forced out because they were Lithuanian and the LSC and the principal they hired was African American. Let’s just say that the politically connected replacements for them were something less than competent. I remember we had a crew at one school (costing about $450/hr)waiting for a valve to be closed that needed to be closed by a local 143, and the building engineer wouldn’t do it because she wasn’t going to risk breaking one of her unnaturally long fingernails.

It’s long past time the GA should prohibit teacher strikes. Last time I looked, Illinois was only one of nine states that still was willing to sell out the kids and taxpayers by allowing public union strikes, CLEARLY against the public interest.

Comment by Arizona Bob Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:01 am
A hodge podge of garbage talk by the governor.

First, we are a republic and not a democracy.

Who would appoint the school board? Other elected officials? Superintendents (may personal favorite /s). That has some GOP advantage given that outside of Cook County there is an overwhelming GOP advantage.

It was stated earlier- voting works unless someone we don’t like gets elected.

@Aguy- the system works, if people do not care enough to vote that is on them. If the teachers from CTU vote more, that is the way it goes. I am not a particular fan of CTU, especially some of the things that come from their leadership, but that is system we have.

I think you and others may be looking for a “benevolent dictator” that matches your personal values. (In fairness, we probably would all like it if we could get that)

Not gonna happen.

The way to get Illinois back on top is to start paying our bills and paying them on time. THAT, would be a major SHAKE UP!

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:15 am
Rauner said he was “cautiously optimistic” that “leaders here in Chicago “are beginning to acknowledge the need for structural change and beginning to move in a direction that’s consistent with the reforms we’ve been advocating for many, many months.”

Man, he is delusional. Wanting teachers to contribute more to their pensions is one thing. Authorizing locals to wipe out everything that can be collectively bargained, to save millions, is just not going to happen. How does he see movement in his favor?

Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:20 am
My point is my first comment, and I don’t think I could be any clearer.

As to CPS and electing versus appointing, it wouldn’t bother me at all if they elected the board members. Those races would be fascinating, given any Chicago Mayor in office needs a strong school system to show a city under their leadership is doing all it can for the betterment of all Chicagoans.

City-wide, board districts, 2 year, 4 year terms, it would change the political landscape, probably most for the occupant on the 5th Floor at City Hall.

If I need to be “sold” on the elected aspect, I’d like to see the structure of the board in design, terms, and probably most importantly, it’s independence and how far an elected board could go, and how far an elected board can’t go.

The hypocrisy of Rauner, however, is in the absolutes his rhetoric frames his own narrative.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:22 am
thunderspirit @ 10:21 - You’ll get no argument from about that.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:28 am
Why not allow the election of 3 of the 7 school board members? It would allow the citizens to have some voice on the board. It would prevent special interests (CTU) from gaining too much control. The mayor would be more selective of his appointees with less openings to fill. You’d have a bit more diversity of thought on the board overall.

Can’t we iterate to solutions? Why does everything have to be all or nothing?

Comment by nixit71 Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:33 am
Chicago voters in 37 wards favor an elected school board for the Chicago Public School system.

“The measures, placed on individual ward ballots after the mayor’s allies blocked a citywide referendum on the issue, passed with “yes” totals ranging from 83 to 93 percent in all 37 wards.”

The appointed CPS board has not worked to the advantage of the children. It is time for change!

Comment by Enviro Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:36 am
===Other elected officials? Superintendents (may personal favorite /s)===

JSM, why’d you mark this snark? In a quasi-systematic way, this is exactly how people come on to school boards. Superintendents very actively work hard to select members of the community to serve on boards. Nothing illegal about it. They even provide some platforms for these selected folks to become known in the community. Known enough for an off year, turnout election for sure.

All that being said, a smaller community district can be advised and woken up on issues if the board goes too far. In a metropolis like Chicago, that would be very difficult to do. That is why I (hypocritically???) support appointing a board in such a large district. People may not pay much attention to a school board race, but they do pay a lot of attention to a mayoral race.

CTU could ruin a city. Their budget is equal or greater than the size of the whole city budget. Any parent with enough resources, even barely enough- send their kids to private school. The biggest reason people move out of the city is to get into a better school district. CTU as a whole, has never focused on the kids. It’s always been about the teachers.

In a suburban district, that conduct would have any board member or Superintendent drummed out in a heartbeat, no matter how many teachers or other school employees (of which there are many) voted. Simply put, you can’t get away with nearly as much outside of a big system like Chicago.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:36 am
Bruce’s focus is not on the kids. His focus is on his own personal finances.

Comment by Jack Stephens Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:51 am
An elected school board in Chicago would result in a hell of a floor show and a hell of a campaign.

The CTU is in favor of an elected school board since they think it would be economically advantageous to them.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:53 am
=why’d you mark this snark?= Because it was. I may encourage someone to run, but I do not elect them other than my one vote. I find it better to stay out of anything more active than encouraging someone to run, regardless of their perspective.

That has been my approach and it has worked very well for me. What others do is up to them, although I do not know many that are more active unless there are open spots, which is becoming more common these days.

= is to get into a better school district.= I thought it was taxes and the lack of a competitive job environment. No? That is the narrative these days.

If people are too apathetic to get involved then they are the ones responsible for that. We teach a very hearty civics education curriculum here. Those that are not involved may have the right to be unhappy and complain, but they only have themselves to blame.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:53 am
==Elected school boards in Chicago would give the CTU an opportunity to completely gut the systems and the finances.==

The record shows an appointed board isn’t doing so well with CPS finances. It is speculation without evidence that an elected board would be much worse.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:56 am
Me = is to get into a better school district.=

JSM ==I thought it was taxes and the lack of a competitive job environment. No? That is the narrative these days.===

The first quote deals with people of school age children.

The second case (really made by others) deals with everyone else.

Both apply.

I’m pleased to hear you stand clear of school board manipulation. Many of your colleagues are not as “hands off” as you are. I suspect you know of what I’m speaking.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:10 pm
===The record shows an appointed board isn’t doing so well with CPS finances. It is speculation without evidence that an elected board would be much worse.===

Dude, come back after the alarm goes off, you wake up and splash a little water on your face. Oy.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:11 pm
How about this: “The power of the has been overwhelming. Chicago has given and given and given. It’s created a financial crisis that the Chicago schools face now.”

The crisis is not just due to the teachers wanting to be paid more. The folks with money hate paying taxes, so they put on pressure to keep their taxes low. That tension creates the crisis.

What Rauner hates is the whole concept of people with a different (non-wealthy/worker) perspective having a political voice and having the power to force management to bargain and share the wealth.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:16 pm
Illinois tests 100% of its students on the AC and the average score is 20 with 26% of students reaching benchmark scores that indicate success in college.

Thank a teacher not the legislature or school boards.

Comment by Liberty Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:17 pm
“ACT report on Chicago” The average ACT Composite score for the virtually 100 percent of Chicago Public School graduates who took the test in 2006 is higher than the average ACT Composite score for the self-selected group of college-bound Chicago Public School graduates (approximately 40 percent) who took the test in 1999.

I thought Rauner believe in rewarding performance?

Comment by Liberty Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 12:22 pm
–It may sound hypocritical…—

Only because it is absolutely, 100 percent hypocritical.

It’s okay for voters to elect school boards in every community but Chicago. Sez you.

You don’t even live in Chicago, but you take it upon yourself to harrumph that the people who live, pay taxes and send their kids to school in Chicago should not have the same rights as you.

I guess they aren’t the informed, thoughtful person you prove yourself to be every day.

It’s hypocritical and a whole lot worse.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 1:02 pm
=Thank a teacher not the legislature or school boards.=

I will go along with your thoughts on the legislature but your comment on school boards, or at least what you imply, is off base.

Certainly teachers and paraprofessionals are the front line in education. Every good school board and administrator knows that.

Most Board’s of Education do a great job supporting teachers, but that is often not understood by teaching staff since they often do no understand the role of a school board member or do not see the support in action. Budgets and contracts are the smallest part of the role.

The BoE members job is almost always thankless, there is no reward except for the filling a role few want and supporting kids, teachers, and administrators and doing their best to provide the best opportunities for kids.

Teachers need to see the BoE as a partner in the battle with the ILGA and Governor, not another enemy.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 1:20 pm
Lest we forget, Chicago has the only appointed community college trustees (City Colleges of Chicago) and the same goes for its park district.
All are mayoral appointees.

Comment by Under Further Review Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 1:55 pm
Rauner also worked very hard against HB 397…a bill that takes away the states right to place a charter school where a locally elected school board has denied it. Like Rich said, “he’s for local empowerment, except…”

Comment by A Parent Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 2:05 pm
Seriously, there’s a concern that an elected school board could screw up the district’s finances?

Daley and Emanuel have exercised dictatorial power over CPS finances for decades. How’s that “gravitas” thing working?

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 2:34 pm
Chicago voters overwhelmingly prefer an elected school board, an increased minimum wage and a millionaire’s tax.

So you’re right–it’s not a democracy, it’s a republic.

Our appointed School Board authorized “mastermind” David Vitale to gamble with the taxpayer’s dollar on all those credit swaps– that are now being called in by his banker buddies, costing the taxpayers millions.

Good riddance.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 3:39 pm
anonymous 3:39 was me

Comment by James Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 3:41 pm
Guy, is there a time when you envision the taxpayers, parents and citizens of Chicago will be sufficiently engaged and responsible, by your non-resident standards, to elect their own school board, like every other district in the state?

Ten years, 20 years?

Maybe an elected board could turn around that “third world” school system you wrote about earlier.

And it might not have the financial “gravitas” of a Daley or Emanuel, but I think less of that is long overdue.

Your arguments are a laugh riot. The reason all those boards are appointed in Chicago is to concentrate power in the mayor’s office. That’s it.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 4:54 pm
“I’m concerned about his health…..this obsession is a problem” Yes, Please get really sick and go away…………………………….

Comment by oldhp Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 5:00 pm
=== Wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 4:54 pm:

Guy, is there a time when you envision the taxpayers, parents and citizens of Chicago will be sufficiently engaged and responsible, by your non-resident standards, to elect their own school board, like every other district in the state?===

Sure. When the size of the school district isn’t several times bigger than the next closest one. Why don’t you expound about all those great elected school boards around you in Maywood, Bellwood,that are elected vs. your fine system in Oak Park. In less than one mile from you, you can get one of the finest educations this state has to offer OR you can be provided with the worst possible education in the country. No system is perfect by any means, but if you think the CTU has intimidated the daylights out of school board members now (I do!), just wait until they pack the board with all of their stoolies. They won’t just bankrupt the system in short order, they’ll bankrupt the entire city. They don’t care about anyone else but themselves. It ain’t about kids, it’s about money. Always has been there. Roll the dice Sling.

You want to make the case to appoint better members, I’m all over it with you.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 5:17 pm
Guy, so Chicago, Maywood, Bellwood — any other communities you think should not have elected boards?

Maywood and Bellwood aren’t so big — your claimed reason for being against Cnicago. Why aren’t they ready for democracy?

Do the people in those three communities have something in common that leaves you to believe they are incapable of self-government?

Finally, the mayor’s office runs the Chicago schools, not the board. Daley and Emanuel ran the finances into tne ground all on tneir own. Pretending otherwise is dishonest.

And what’s a “stoolie?” What is that supposed to communicate in this context?

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 5:47 pm
Guy, the only definition I can find for “stoolies” in a respectable dictionary is short for “stool pigeon,” slang for a police informant.

Is that what you’re trying to say? That CTU members are police informants?

How does that make sense?

What does “stoolies” mean to you? Give us a synonym.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 6:01 pm
@- A guy - Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 11:36 am:

===Other elected officials? Superintendents (may personal favorite /s)===

JSM, why’d you mark this snark? In a quasi-systematic way, this is exactly how people come on to school boards. Superintendents very actively work hard to select members of the community to serve on boards. Nothing illegal about it. They even provide some platforms for these selected folks to become known in the community. Known enough for an off year, turnout election for sure. ===============

Don’t know what district you are in, a guy, but lots of places here in downstate where an appointed board would be populated by toadies of the superintendent or other person making the appointment. You think corruption is bad now? This would make it even worse.

Comment by Lynn S, Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:24 am