Chicago Public Schools, Illinois
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City of Chicago School District 299 is the largest
school district in
Illinois and is located in Cook County. It contains 675 school buildings, including 122 high schools. In the 2009-2010 academic school year, student enrollment reached 409,279.
[1]
[edit] The good
- The Board of Education members are listed.[2]
- The Board’s meetings calendar is published.[3]
- School policies and guidelines are published.[4]
- Employee position roster includes job title, employee name, salary and union affiliation, if any.[5]
- 2011-2012 budget is published, including tax information.[6]
- Comprehensive annual report published.[7]
[edit] The bad
- Contact information for the members of the Board of Education is not published.
- Although the calendar is posted, Board agendas and minutes are not published.
- Although is comprehensive annual report, it does not include audits, contracts, and lobbying information.
[edit] Budget
- The 2011 total appropriation is $5.2 billion.[8]
- In 2009, the Government Finance Officers Association presented Chicago Public Schools the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.[9]
[edit] School Board Members
| Name
| Board of Education Role
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| David Vitale | President
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| Jesse Ruiz | Vice President
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| Henry Blenan | Member
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| Dr. Mahalia Hines | Member
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| Perry Pritzker | Member
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| Andrea Zoop | Member
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| Rod Sierra | Member
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[edit] Administration and Performance Corruption
- In June 2011, allegations arose that the Mayor’s office and the Chicago Board of Education are packed with charter school supporters that therefore do not critically review the true performance of charter schools and are unduly harsh on public schools (the Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, appoints members to the school board). Member Penny Pritzker, an outspoken supporter of charter schools and harsh critic of public schools, allegedly going so far as to attack the Chicago Teacher’s Union, was appointed by Mayor Emanuel and donates millions to the expansion of Chicago charter schools.[10]
- In April 2011, allegations of corruption were spurred when Chicago schools banned homemade lunches, thereby increasing business for the district’s food provider funded by the federal government. Parents and students rally against the rules and the attempt by the districts to strip them of their rights to make their own nutrition decisions. In fact, even snacks that a teacher believes to be unhealthy are confiscated and not returned. [11]
- In February 2010, the former head of Triumphant Charter School in Chicago, Helen Hawkins, was accused of using the school’s AMEX credit card for personal use. The investigation focused on $250,000 of unusual charges, including $30,000 spent at Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Skymall Airline catalog, and purchases made at Louis Vuitton and Coach.[12]
[edit] School Costs
In early 2010, projected budget deficits reached approximately $1 billion. To compensate, the school district will not restore more than 1,000 central office and citywide position cuts. Additionally, the school district will decrease funding for magnet programs, reduce funding for after-school/enrichment programs, reduce transportation costs, reduce tuition rates for charter schools, eliminate positions not supported by enrollment formulas, implement continued cuts to CPS central office services and delay the capital plan to draw down reserves.[13]
[edit] Public employee salaries
- Main article: Chicago Public Schools employee salaries
[edit] Stimulus Spending
The Chicago School system received more than $750 million in bonds supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to build new schools, expand and renovate existing buildings and reduce debt servce.[14]
[edit] External Links
[edit] References
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