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* Will there be state legislative fallout from yesterday’s Barbara Byrd-Bennett indictment? Ald. Burns doesn’t think it’ll be too bad…
It threatens to damage the credibility sorely needed to get the $480 million in pension help from Springfield needed to avert a devastating round of mid-year budget cuts that, Schools CEO Forrest Claypool has warned, could cost thousands of teachers their jobs and send class sizes soaring through the roof.
“There’s a reputation about Chicago anyway. If you’re a DownStater or a suburban legislator who hates Chicago, this confirms why you don’t like Chicago,” said Ald. Will Burns (4th), the former state lawmaker now chairing the City Council’s Education Committee.
“But if something is going to be done for Chicago, the city cannot be the only beneficiary. Suburban and Downstate schools have to benefit as well. So, in the grand scheme of things, I don’t think Barbara’s indictment is hurtful. Part of the reason why is there is new leadership at CPS.”
Burns noted that Emanuel replaced Byrd-Bennett with his chief of staff Claypool, whose reputation for integrity is unblemished at the Chicago Park District, City Hall, Cook County government and the CTA.
* But…
But downstate and suburban lawmakers, many of them already CPS skeptics, say the Byrd-Bennett case will make a “yes” vote on an emergency aid bill more difficult.
“We want to know where the money goes. Until you get rid of the corruption and the wasteful spending that’s already occurring, then we have no desire to send you anymore money,” said State Rep. Jeanne Ives.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who hired Byrd-Bennett in 2012, issued a statement saying “CPS students, parents, teachers and principals deserve better.”
But a Republican state lawmaker said “better” in his view, might be his bill that would allow local governments to declare chapter nine bankruptcy.
“Certainly, there is a case to be made that CPS is beyond fixable,” said State Rep. Ron Sandack.
Your thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:04 am
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I’m not sure that emergency aid for CPS was in the cards regardless of the B3 indictment.
Comment by Stones Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:12 am
=“Certainly, there is a case to be made that CPS is beyond fixable,” said State Rep. Ron Sandack.=
Certainly a case for an elected CPS School Board.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:13 am
It was difficult to see how the votes were there before the indictments.
Plus, when “The Owl” hoots, “The Owl” hoots because he’s told to, so I’m not seeing the Governor on board either after yesterday.
Plus, if Rahm couldn’t deliver for the Governor, with the “anti-Chicago” framing mixed in, the 5th Floor is really in a bind.
No sympathy, as the Chicago Mayor owns the School Board.
Too many moving parts against helping CPS, especially when CPS can’t help themselves.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:17 am
This will be used as another excuse to justify not helping CPS. Of course, the OWL will be there to help with his bankruptcy mantra with his hope that bankruptcy court will abrogate labor contracts and pension benefits.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:20 am
1. There was never, ever, ever going to be more money for Chicago. The Turnaround Agenda is one giant poison pill designed to ensure there is not a vote on a tax hike.
2. It is going to put the kibosh on efforts to advance charter schools and other vehicles for turning public schools into profit centers.
3. It might lead to action on Martwick’s bill to make the school board elected once again.
Comment by Juvenal Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:20 am
And Jeanne Ives and Sandack were somehow going to be yes votes before the indictment? Ridiculous and lazy reporting.
Comment by Short but Slow Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:23 am
=Certainly, there is a case to be made that CPS is beyond fixable=
There’s also a case to be made that Illinois is beyond fixable if it doesn’t recognize the benefit of helping its greatest asset, the city.
Comment by chi Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:23 am
who are the in house and consultant lobbyists for CPS? Yes, FC has some good points, but there’s also some need to balance him and the lobbyists may be able to do that.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:24 am
As a reason for urgency in passing a budget, CPS is at the bottom of the list.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:26 am
Tne Chicago media shouldn’t have even run that ridiculous, banal statement from Emamuel. Are they going to let him get away with acting like he’s some distant, disinterested, sorrowful observer?
B3 was his pick, as was every other school board member who signed off on the comtract in question. Tney were all picked to run the schools per Emanuel’s directin. He has a lot of explaining to do as to how all this went down on his watch.
Are we to believe that the school board did gymnastics in order to let a $20 million no-bid contract and no one from the Fifth Floor was watching?
The federales said B3 and the Supes schemers are “cooperating.” On what? Who’s upstream?
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:27 am
An elected school board would take the political cronyism out of this equation. Not that it’s a perfect idea, but look what politicians running anything involving large sums of money results in? They did a great job of screwing honest pension contributors out of their money.
Comment by AnonymousOne Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:31 am
Shoddy reporting. It mentions downstate lawmakers but the story only contains two quotes, both from suburban districts.
Comment by Under Influenced Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:38 am
If all you have in your head is a cartoon stereotype of Chicago, then with literally millions of people living daily in it, Chicago critics will have plenty with which to condemn it.
If you come from the part of Illinois with that mind set, you will need to reflect it with your approach to this news.
On the other hand, if it is all you have to make a decision on this important issue, then you aren’t suitable for a place at the table where this important issue is discussed.
We all have to look beyond our prejudices, stereotypes and fears to see beyond our limitations with an open mind, and use our God-given gift of empathy to do the right thing.
This is an issue for the entire state, not just Chicago - the sooner our anti-Chicago mindset is put aside, the quicker we can help one another, regardless of our Illinois address.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:43 am
Emanuel hired B3 based on support from one of the other indictees, and now he talks about the public trust being violated. Wordslinger is correct, now Rahm acts like a sad puppy and of course will get a total pass from the media.
Comment by James the Intolerant Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:44 am
This is EXACTLY the stuff that irritates downstate voters,republicans,independents and conservative Dems. And the word irritates isnt strong enough language.there comes a time when bad business ethics,and/or, corruption,.drives the compassion from our hearts.this only fuels the claim that throwing money at the problems solves nothing.
Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:44 am
As a Chicago resident with kids in CPS, I actually agree with the downstaters.
The CPS admin. is completely corrupt and completely incompetent. Above principal level, there does not seem to be anybody who cares about the children or is able to handle a budget.
Until there is a major house-cleaning, I can’t see bailing them out.
By the way, under “CPS will be CPS”, Ogden School parents raised over $100,000 in 24 hours to save the jobs of two teachers. CPS is now talking about cutting funding to Ogden. CPS admin just doesn’t get it.
Comment by Gooner Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:46 am
Sandack should be the spokesman the Law Offices of Peter Framcis Geraci. Bankruptcy is the solution to every problem with that “conservative” Republican.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:59 am
=Certainly, there is a case to be made that CPS is beyond fixable=
Never quite understood what this means. At the end of the day, there WILL be public schools in Chicago, and there WILL be some central authority responsible for them. From there, everything else IS a “fix” for CPS.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 9:59 am
College of DuPage anyone?
Comment by Unmm Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:00 am
P.s. Chicago (Cook County) does provide three times the Income Tax revenue of all the other Counties combined in this State!! A little fact the downstaters seem to forget!! I might be a little biased as a Chicago Resident.
Comment by chiagr Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:03 am
Umm, that’s very funny, and true.
Ives and Samdack didn’t see that COD was operating like a private Versailles for its prez and board?
A community college with a world-class wine cellar. Cant make something like that up.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:04 am
Bankruptcy shouldnt be the solution to every problem,but I sure as heck know raising taxes isnt the cue-all either.
Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:06 am
“This will be used as another excuse to justify not helping CPS. Of course, the OWL will be there to help with his bankruptcy mantra with his hope that bankruptcy court will abrogate labor contracts and pension benefits.”
Beautiful. Nailed it.
Comment by Politix Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:07 am
BDD, for Sandack and his boss bankruptcy has nothing to do with taxes. They’re operating under the delusion it will allow munis to walk away from pension obligations. Hasnt gone down that way in tne courts.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:09 am
How can they bankrupt a school district that is one of the 10 largest in the United states??? In 2010 CPS was the 4th largest in the Nation. So Rauner and Sandack are mistaken if they can force bankruptcy on CPS. Just as it is not legally possible for a state to declare bankruptcy!
Comment by chiagr Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:13 am
I wouldn’t take Rep Ives’ opinion as representative of most Republican downstate legislators — on any issue.
Comment by walker Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:22 am
Rahm attempted to turned CPS into a political/news factory. But it keeps blowing up in his face. Gooner is on point: few people with any authority in Central Office, under Rahm, care about the kids. It’s been all about politics and PR—go through the names of the people Rham had/has over there, none of them are education people. JCB was the closest Rahm came to giving an education person a little authority, and that was stripped away within months.
CPS under Rahm has been a total failure. Nothing good has happened over there. Nothing. Yet the Chicago media, outside of the CPS beat reporters, continues to pull punches with Rahm and CPS.
The state isn’t (and wasn’t) going to bail out CPS. The question now should be, “does the state have to step in and take some or all control away from the mayor?” If anyone thinks otherwise, then they’re fooling themselves.
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:24 am
Allowing bankruptcy and emergency management would be nothing short of a disaster. It has played out atrociously in Michigan. It does nothing to solve the real revenue issues faced by governments and literally undermines our fundamental structures of democracy.
There was a bizarre editorial in the Sun Times today that correctly pointed out that this corruption stems from the overly centralized power of the mayor’s office. It then proceeded to advocate for a partially elected school board with the majority of members still appointed by the Mayor. I can’t stand the condescending paternalism that some parts of the state don’t deserve democracy.
Comment by Sacks Romana Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:28 am
Isnt democracy best represented when positions of importance havw elected officials instead of appointed ones?
Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:32 am
I’m guessing that if there is a state bailout of CPS, which is remote, given the current fiscal meltdown, you’ll see a return of some iteration of tne School Finance Authority, with some form of state control of school finances.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:36 am
The investigation continues… There may be more fallout at CPS. That alone will create pause for everyone in supporting any help to the current fiscal problems. This one is very bad for Rahm.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:39 am
This will also be a huge problem for Zopp. Stepping away now also looks bad for her. Kind of a mess…
Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:41 am
To dale/hp Rahm has made a mess of the Board and the Main Office. But a lot of good has also happened in CPS classrooms. Making Principals more accountable for how their Teachers are in the classroom has helped the Children a lot. The Graduation rate has gone up. The schools that are offering IB curriculum are flourishing! So the finances may be a mess but in alot of schools there are improvements. The current proposed cuts by Claypool would undo all the progress they have made!!
Comment by chiagr Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:44 am
==JCB was the closest Rahm came to giving an education person a little authority==
Do we forget B3 that quickly?
Comment by Anderson Villy Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:46 am
CPS had 6 of the TOP TEN HIGH SCHOOLS in the State of Illinois in 2015.
Comment by chiagr Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:53 am
Allowing local governments in Illinois to declare Chapter 9 Bankruptcy is not the answer.
Comment by Mama Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:56 am
” on its face”
Comment by Sue Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 11:00 am
Mayor Rahm Emanuel needs to release his control over the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The IL State Board if Education needs to take control of CPS.
Comment by Mama Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 11:09 am
++- chiagr - Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 10:44 am:++
Thank you for telling us about the good things that are happening at CPS.
Comment by Mama Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 11:13 am
Word: “the Supes schemers are “cooperating.””
Where’d you hear that? Find only B3 supposedly cooperating. Could be the Supes people are who the Feds are after.
Comment by Chris Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 11:16 am
“An elected school board would take the political cronyism out of this equation. ”
Wha? Huh?
Elected school board would be politicians, too. It just moves the needle in *who* the cronies are. Or do you think that the *elected* College of DuPage board took cronyism out of the equation?
Comment by Chris Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 11:18 am
My mistake. I knew there was some king of super member contribution, but I thought members dues went to other stuff to. What do members dues pay for that fair share doesn’t? Just curious. Sorry about the typos. The keyboard on my phone doesn’t autocorrect very well.
Comment by Me too Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 11:23 am
Most people in Chicago who pay attention to CPS was suspect of the B3 appointment and we firmly believe this is only the tip of the iceberg. We remain suspect of the whole Charter school movement because we are all aware of the corruption, as demonstrated by B3, in how these schools are developed. It is interesting the timing of this news because we also know that the Mayor would have never been elected if the information was leaked during the election time table.
Comment by THINKER IN CHGO Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 11:23 am
Anyway, it seems then that it is simply a private donation to a PAC, which grumpy thinks are fine.
Comment by Me too Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 11:25 am
Third party medication is definitely what is needed. That’s the most appropriate freudian slip or ac fail I’ve ever seen.
Comment by Me too Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 11:31 am
Call it what you will bankruptcy, emergency management or some creative PC term.
CPS needs to change quickly and in a major way.
They need to deal with their problems and ‘kick the can’ fixes or a token HR type “change” is not the long term solution.
Comment by Cannon649 Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 11:46 am
Chris, the Trib story says the Supes have been cooperating from the very beginning of the investigation. They turned over the B3 emails without a subpoena.
She was upstream. So, who is it now, going forward?
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 12:00 pm
When in doubt, one can safely presume that anything regarding Barbara Byrd-Bennett will make things worse for CPS schools, CPS students and their families.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 12:01 pm
=This will also be a huge problem for Zopp. Stepping away now also looks bad for her. Kind of a mess…=
Zopp is toast.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 12:10 pm
CPS is but another tree in a destitute forest. Unless Chicago and Springfield learn how to print money, the game will soon be over. Might major layoffs and debt defaults in Illinois trigger a national emergency? We’ll see.
Comment by Keyser Soze Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 12:43 pm
– the game will soon be over.–
Hysterical, in every sense of the word.
What happens then, a great cleansing flood? What in the world are you talking about?
Not exactly the spirit that won the west there, Keyser.
Can you seriously look back in history and conclude today’s problems are that dire?
That’s just weak and sad. Cowboy up.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 12:49 pm
iirc, it was a BGA reporter who broke this story.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 12:55 pm
FKA, Catalyst.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 1:00 pm
Exactly Wordslinger!! All the kids and Teachers at CPS are just going to go where??? There were 396,683 students (2014-2015 school year in CPS). You think the Governor can pretend they don’t exist??? Try again!! Let the State take over CPS and give them the money. This train wreck was conjured up by Daley and Edgar back in 1995-so it is time to stop it!! Time to reinvent the wheel-whether Rauner wants to do it or not. And bankruptcy or non performing Charters are not the answer!!!
Comment by chiagr Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 1:43 pm
I think the bill being called an “emergency aid bill” is SB 318. As it exists it does not have the support in the House to pass, not only because of the funding for the CPS pensions but also because it sunsets the entire school funding system in Illinois without a concrete replacement.
Senator Manar who is the key sponsor of the bill as advocated for funding redistribution between districts considered to be property tax base wealthy to property tax base poor. Several different schemes have been proposed and there has been no where near a consensus on how to go forward. I do not think the indictment of Bennett will help the situation of CPS in Springfield, but SB 318 has more problems than just the CPS bailout component of the bill.
Comment by Rod Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 2:18 pm
Chiagr- changing who is in control might afford better management/accountability but it won’t add any new money toward the Schools. Anyone who thinks their is a Springfield fix is simply daydreaming. Springfield does not have 500 million to throw over to CPS. And as an aside does anyone anticipate either Rahm or the Democratic legislature agreeing to a Detroit style trusteeship for CPS. Come January, CPS will be forced into layoffs. It really comes down to paying pension obligations and other legacy retiree benefits to the detriment of today’s education needs. The teachers may be entitled to their benefits but that doesn’t leave much spare change lying around to pay the active teachers now employed.
Comment by Sue Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 2:25 pm
Just curious as an outsider. What is graduation rate(or dropout rate) from CPS last year?
Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 2:25 pm
BDD, not curious enough to invest 10 seconds on the google. I guess you’re entitled to be dependent on others work.
66.3 percent in 2014.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 2:37 pm
===Just curious as an outsider. What is graduation rate(or dropout rate) from CPS last year?===
Google
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 2:37 pm
Wordslinger.sorry I am not originally from the Windy City.now that I have moved there, I guess being dependent on others just kinda rubbed off on me. I need to move back to Springfield and become a normal(haha) human being again.my buzzzz.
Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Oct 9, 15 @ 3:32 pm