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Claypool’s alleged weakness: Ignorance

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* Forrest Claypool received wide plaudits from editorial boards and pundits when he was appointed to run the Chicago Public Schools, but Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, who has recovered from cancer and is running for another term, points out Claypool’s greatest weakness to the Sun-Times…

Asked how Claypool is faring as CEO, Lewis said, “I think he’s a technocrat. And I think he’s making huge errors. I think he’s alienating a lot of people.” […]

Lewis said she has talked to Claypool and his chief education officer, Janice Jackson, but “much less” than she did with the former CEO, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, who was about Lewis’ age and had spent years in the classroom.

“I don’t have that much to talk to him about ’cause he doesn’t know anything about education,” she said.

I wish they’d followed up on his alleged errors and how he’s alienating people, but the point about not knowing anything about education is something that nobody really talked about when he got the top CPS job.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:29 am

Comments

Who appointed this guy to run the Chicago Public Schools? What job qualification were used to hire him?

Comment by Mama Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:34 am
Well, if Karen Lewis doesn’t like him, I’d say that’s a point in his favor.

Comment by so... Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:36 am
> but the point about not knowing anything about education is something that nobody really talked about when he got the top CPS job

No one talked about because Chicagoans are conditioned to accept people in leadership roles that have no experience in the field they are leading.

Confer: Forrest Claypool, Frank Kruesi, Ron Huberman, Rosemarie Andolino…and that’s just off the top of my head.

Comment by Springfield, Please! Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:36 am
And yet people think Karen Lewis knows something about education? She’s never taught in a system that could educate its students to even minimal standards.

Comment by Downstate Illinois Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:37 am
From someone who likes CTU and isn’t a big Claypool fan:

Since Claypool doesn’t know anything about education, that means Lewis should have more to talk about with him, cause he needs to be educated on the topic.

Comment by chi Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:38 am
The position is a manager, as long as he surrounds himself with people who know then it really shouldn’t matter. Lewis’ job is to through stones to mitigate the reductions or lower increases the teachers will be receiving in the future. Really looking forward to hearing how step increases are for the kids again, rich stuff.

Comment by PMcP Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:38 am
“She’s never taught in a system that could educate its students to even minimal standards.”

So according to you, no teacher at CPS knows anything about education. Right. Smart analysis.

Comment by chi Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:39 am
I would assume that Forrest was sent there to get the finances in order, and at least finally give the 5th floor an honest assessment of what is going on with the books at CPS. Negotiate a contract with the CTU, and THEN, worry about teaching Johnny to read..

Comment by Not Rich Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:40 am
was huberman qualified to run the schools? was duncan? was vallas? does the school
s ceo need an educator in that role?

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:47 am
DI, if that’s the case, why did Gov. Rauner pull all those strings to get his kid in a Chicago Public School?

What’s your interest in trafficing in ignorant stereotypes, anyway?

Not Rich, it’s not reasonable to think that Emanuel did not have an “honest assessment” of school finances before Claypool arrived, unless you’re accusing him of gross neglect and incompetence.

Claypool is Bill Daley Lite, without the name. When the heat’s on and you have to toss someone under the bus, you plug in Claypool for a while as a placeholder.

Good work if you can get it.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:56 am
Claypool “didn’t know anything” about transit before he came to CTA, yet he seemed to do a pretty good job there.
It’s probably fair to say that experience administering another governmental entity is better experience for heading the school system than having taught in a classroom.

Comment by Father Ted Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:56 am
The person who appointed Claypool doesn’t know anything about education either.

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:57 am
Rahm put someone he trusted into the role, someone above reproach ethically. Claypool brought multiple members of his CTA team with him for the same reason.
Whether you think the CTA ran effectively under his watch - there were not ethical nightmares out of the leadership team.
I think that may have been Rahm’s first priority with the change. In that scenario, you choose someone you know and trust.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:00 am
It’s odd that we have had a series of alleged budget experts running the schools, and all they have done is to run CPS into a financial ditch. If education is the mission of CPS, why not have an educator run it. He or she could hardly do worse on the finances

Comment by Truthteller Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:04 am
Thought I read that Lewis had a reputation as an excellent science teacher. (and I’m no fan of Lewis as union president)

Comment by Chicago PR Guy Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:04 am
“I wish they’d followed up on his alleged errors…”

When has anyone ever stopped Karen Lewis from saying something she wanted to say? If Lewis had examples of those “errors,” no reporter could shut her up.

This is more empty rhetoric from a CTU that has no solutions and no ideas, other than raising taxes.

Comment by gopower Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:04 am
Snark-free, how much of the CPS mission is education anyway?

Facilities management, transportation, food services, contracts, health & retirement plans,and finances in general consume the lion’s share of the superintendent’s time.

Comment by gopower Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:08 am
From what I have heard, it is a consultant free-for-all over there right now. A whole bunch of finance consultant recent graduates running around who may have excellent microsoft excel skills but don’t know a thing about running a large system of education.

Comment by sss Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:11 am
Forrest did not get appointed because of his educational expertise or experience with CPS. His own child attends private school.

Comment by nona Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:11 am
Forrest Claypool probably didn’t know much about parks either. His job isn’t to improve educational outcomes, although one hopes they won’t slip any further on his watch. His job is to stop the financial bleeding if possible.

He is a technocrat, and I don’t think that’s a negative term. Forrest has shown repeatedly that he gets results for his boss. That’s the job folks, whether you like him or not.

I wish him well.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:16 am
All of you applauding Claypool for his work at the CTA have obviously not had to deal with Ventra.

Comment by Urban Girl Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:18 am
All of the snarky comments about whether Claypool is qualified or not (a question for which I have no opinion) is really nothing more than a smokescreen to the larger issue: “is the CPS system so irreparably broken that is cannot be fixed?”

Can anyone point to a date and time when CPS wasn’t broken?

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:26 am
oops, meant to write: “is the CPS system so irreparably broken that it cannot be fixed?”

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:27 am
chi-

I’m thinking Forrest Rump doesn’t believe he needs to be educated about anything. There’s nothing he isn’t an expert on-just ask him. The only person more arrogant than he is McCarthy.

Comment by Michael Westen Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:30 am
===obviously not had to deal with Ventra===

I use Ventra everyday and never had a problem. I’m aware that others have had some problems, but like I said, my experience with Ventra has been fine.

Do you have a specific complaint related to Claypool’s management ability or are you just trolling?

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:33 am
Again we have Karen Lewis starting her campaign by calling ‘the man’ names. Really? Is that what moves the membership to vote for her?

It’s just her positioning herself in her campaign. Sad to think that all that creative energy is not being used to get better outcomes for the students.

Comment by plutocrat03 Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:34 am
Colin, it’s not irreparably broken, but the financial practices as dictated by the last two mayors have been excessively boneheaded.

Those SWAP deals — in which the lapdog school boards basically made casino bets that their credit ratings would never go down, even as they willfully failed to address issues that agencies said would trigger a downgrade. — should be looked at by the federales.

Some bankers made a load of money off actions by the school board that were beyond all reason.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:40 am
=Colin, it’s not irreparably broken…=

Word, the financial debacle is just one part of many moving parts as to why the system may be irreparably broken. The others are, in my opinion: a lack of support for the students at home, a disengaged teacher base (who, like police officers, feel overwhelmed by their jobs and the roles they play) and the fact that there are two CPS systems (one for inner city kids and the other a “magnet” system for students who excel (or have parents with clout and/or money).

I would propose breaking up the CPS, decentralizing it into 4 school districts, North, Northwest, South and Southwest. In it’s current state, the CPS is “too big to succeed”.

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:48 am
===The position is a manager, as long as he surrounds himself with people who know then it really shouldn’t matter === Like what Trump says he’ll do as president …

Comment by Really? Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:48 am
Claypool didn’t know much about parks, CTA or city hall so no change there. The bigger difference is there a zillion laws and rules in place that governor the every move. Some put there by educators, do gooders, reformers…you name it. Much more challengin’,

Comment by Anonin' Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:49 am
For those criticizing Karen Lewis - many believe she would be mayor now if not for her health issue arising. I don’t think that is off the table in the future if she is physically up to it.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:50 am
= I don’t think that is off the table in the future if she is physically up to it.=

I am sorry to disappoint you, but that IS off the table. She can’t get elected, and she knows it. Three years is a long time, my friend.

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:52 am
IF, and this is a big IF with Rahm, there is a strong Chief Education Officer, it shouldn’t matter that Forest has not education experience because he won’t be over seeing education policy.

Love or hate her, Karen’s a pretty straight shooter, so if she’s taking a shot a Forest, reads to these eyes that Forest either is making education policy decisions (or flat out ignoring them). That’s why she mentioned that she hasn’t spoken with Janice Jackson, who is supposed to be over seeing education policy, much.

BTW, agree that Ventra stinks compared to the old Chicago Card. No clue why CTA got rid of a system that seemed to be working just fine according to everyone.

Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 11:55 am
The other challenge with appointing a CEO is that over the last several years of constant management changes, CPS has ruptured its talent pipeline.

Between pink slips, jumping ship, and department re-consolidations, a ton of experienced and talented administrators have left (or been squeezed out) over the last 5-7 years.

Comment by Anderson Villy Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 12:05 pm
Claypool is only a great manager in the minds of his bosses and the fawning media. During his second stint as Chief of Staff, the Hired Truck Program (you remember that, right) began during his first month. He was also Chief during the hiring scandal for which Sorich Slattery and McCarthy went to prison. Which begs the question, is it worse if Forrest the great manager did know about these problems, or if he didn’t?

Comment by Michael Westen Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 12:06 pm
Claypool is a Machine Long Time Liberal Democrat Politician. That is reason he is in that position. Do not think for one second this would be about else.

Comment by Cannon649 Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 12:11 pm
Ms. Lewis has always had both fans and detractors. But many hoped that her recent scary brush with mortality might have caused her to rethink things a bit, and try to manage or at least smooth out some of the anger and rough edges. Clearly that did not happen. In a city well known for political incivility there are few currently in public life who do more to outwardly demonstrate that incivility than Karen Lewis does.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 12:13 pm
- Colin O’Scopey -
Might want to clean your lens if it doesn’t see the next three years as preliminary to a run for mayor. Pretty sure Rahm knows that, and that’s part of the reason he wanted his own guy and friend at CPS knowing she’s on her way back and planning to use the disaster at CPS as her primary platform.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 12:14 pm
==- Downstate Illinois - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 10:37 am:==

Yes, there are no good schools or good teachers in CPS. That’s why our billionaire suburban Republican governor lied about his daughter’s residency and and used his clout to push her into the slot of a deserving resident student at one of the best high schools in the state.

Paul Vallas has been saying a financial control board needs to come back. He is right.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 12:16 pm
@Lincoln Lad

=Might want to clean your lens if it doesn’t see the next three years as preliminary to a run for mayor.=

A “run for mayor” and getting elected are two different things. Let’s say we agree to disagree on KL’s chances of getting elected Mayor of Chicago?

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 12:23 pm
Not knowing anything about education could be a plus in this instance. When organizations need fixing it is unwise to call upon insiders. They give you more of the same, except with new acronyms.

Comment by Keyser Soze Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 12:32 pm
Criticizing Claypool for not knowing anything about education is not fair. He has the perfect qualifications to head Rahm’s CPS. He had the same qualifications to run CTA, the Parks and to be Chief of Staff. That is, the ability to say with frequency, “Yes Mr. Mayor. Shoe shine today?”

Comment by Michael Westen Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 12:33 pm
Maybe Lewis and Claypool can go to dinner together and fight over who picks up the pension.

Comment by nixit71 Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 12:58 pm
My first posting here. From what I recall with Claypool - he’s a “fix-it” guy. Rahm brings him in to cleanup/straighten out the messes. Yes, it would be nice to have someone with education background - but CPS is like any other business persay. Plus, I’d assume he’s got plenty of staff to help him out. But you don’t need a background in education to know that by requiring teachers to pay their full share of their pensions is NOT a paycut.

Comment by TheDoctor Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 1:12 pm
Saw the headline. Knew it had to be Karen Lewis.

He might not know much about teaching; she might know less about financial control.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 1:35 pm
Karen Lewis hasn’t lost her sense of indignation, that’s for sure. Poor decision on her part to engage like this. But not surprising.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 2:03 pm
The idea that a new outside vision might find good solutions for CPS, ignores the fact that the problems we’re in didn’t begin until we started bringing in those new outside visions. Claypool comes from CTA just like Huberman did.

One of CPS’s problems is a lack of institutional memory. They keep rearranging the deck chairs so much that they don’t remember disastrous things they tried even five years ago.

There are a lot of issues that can cost CPS a lot of money. It seems they targeted special ed for cuts this year and that’s about the worst place they could. Federal law suits flow from these kind of decisions. CPS has made some horrible decisions like privatizing the custodial staff that were thought of by these management types and are currently costing CPS millions.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 2:16 pm
“I would propose breaking up the CPS, decentralizing it into 4 school districts, North, Northwest, South and Southwest. In it’s current state, the CPS is “too big to succeed”.”

Great idea, especially if the tax dollars are divied up by district as well.

Comment by Tone Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 2:47 pm
has anyone here done any analysis of the Chicago Public Schools? layer upon layer of nonsense that must be set in order to get enough money to the classrooms. it’s a mess over there and Karen just cares about her members.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:02 pm
I don’t think the President or CEO of GM can run most of the machines on their assembly line, or design a fuel-efficient 6 cylinder engine either

Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:17 pm
=I don’t think the President or CEO of GM can run most of the machines on their assembly line, or design a fuel-efficient 6 cylinder engine either=

Maybe not, but Mary Barra worked her way up the ranks from inside. Kind of the exact opposite as Claypool. She began working at GM at age 18 and held several jobs in the engineering department so while she may not be able to design it herself, she would be very qualified to spearhead any design project.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:26 pm
The biggest problem facing CPS is the financial crisis that was exacerbated by the fact that the previous two CEO’s were educators. Instead of attacking Forrest Claypool, who has been on the job for two months, Karen Lewis and CTU should be taken to task for lobbying against Cullerton’s bill that would have provided some pension relief for CPS. Since 1982 when you factor in COLA’s, STEP’s and Lane pay increases teachers Chicago public teacher’s salaries have grown 500%!! They are among the highest paid in the United States! Also, they only contribute 2% of their pay towards their pensions. The CTU is the major reason why there is a huge budget deficit. I would say to Karen Lewis thank god an educator is NOT running CPS.

Comment by Teve Demotte Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:34 pm
Schnorf’s point is well made. Mary Barra is the exception to the rule. Her predecessor, Dan Akerson, a smart numbers guy who came from the private equity world, may have been hard-pressed to tell the difference between a V-8 and a V-6 on his first day.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:52 pm
And Karen Lewis doesn’t know anything about running a municipal agency, so Claypool has nothing to talk to her about??

Why do they need to talk about common experiences? The Agency head *should* be a technocrat, and the union boss is a union boss. So?

Comment by Chris Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 4:01 pm
Just a question. Has any pension fund ever truly recovered when it has reached funding levels near 50%?

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 6:10 pm
Blue Dog, recovered from what?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 6:22 pm