Even as CPS opens more new schools, children with special needs have a tougher time finding options. Placements in private therapeutic schools are scarce, and some charters are reluctant to enroll them.
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Why's CPS Staying Out Of Civitas Case?
By: Alexander Russo / May 15, 2009
I was surprised to read at Progress Illinois that CPS is staying out of the debate over recognizing charter school teachers at three CICS schools (An Update On The Charter School Union Drive).
Lawmakers who sent a letter to Huberman also noted the Board's strange silence on the issue. WBEZ's Linda Lutton has the letter here.
I would have thought that they would opposed unionization, since they've been trying to create more charters and contract schools under Ren10 and haven't generally been pro-union. Any ideas why they'd want to stay out of this one?
Why's CPS Staying Out Of Civitas Case?
CPS is staying out of it because they have a law department whose lawyers know labor law.
Why's CPS Staying Out Of Civitas Case?
I'm not surprised CPS is making sure the lawyers take a close look at this before taking any public stand on the question. As I understand it, Civitas is staking its case against unionization on the grounds that it is a private entity and the teachers are employed by this private entity. However, Civitas is the private, for-profit subsidiary of a non-profit group (CICS) that runs public charter schools.
What happens if Civitas ever tried to make the same argument (it's a private organization not bound by laws pertaining to public entities) to refuse to comply with some remaining oversight provision CPS required of it? We know charters are exempt from most public school regulations, but they still have to turn data over to the district, still have to serve special education students (at least some charters do this by hiring CPS itinerant teachers--I'm sure Rod, annie sullivan and others could say more about that), etc. It seems to me CPS could undermine it's own authority over Civitas if it too strongly supports their argument against unions.
Why's CPS Staying Out Of Civitas Case?
Ah, this is what happens when politics meets politics. State Dems are being supported by the unions. They will most likely not support or create an obstacle for unions.