Beulah McLoyd: Kickbacks Pay!

Chicago Public Schools press release, Sept. 24, 2015: "Chicago Public Schools (CPS) today announced that Beulah McLoyd, a distinguished principal who has served as the principal at Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School, has been appointed to lead the new Walter H. Dyett High School. Because the new Dyett High School is opening next school year – and accepting freshmen applications in October – CPS appointed McLoyd to oversee planning and preparation at the school to ensure it is ready to provide a high-quality education to its students on day one."

Highlights of CPS Inspector General report, Jan. 5, 2015: "In another scheme, a businessman allegedly kicked back more than $111,000 to the unnamed employee “in connection with $216,000 worth of purchases” from the high schools.

The employee resigned while under investigation. Five other employees who helped with the scam were fired or resigned.

The principal of Michele Clark Academic Prep “facilitated” the scheme by giving the conniving employee her computer password, the report states.

But Beulah McLoyd was let off with a “warning resolution” and allowed to keep her job, it adds. McLoyd could not be reached."

Funny, the CPS press release neglects to mention McLoyd is also distinguished at facilitating kickbacks for fraudlent purchases.

The crack team of Forrest + Janice must be dead set on ensuring the revamped Dyett is doomed to fail.

Reform Hits Fire Festival

Redmoon Theater must be in the midst of reform. Their Kickstarter page for the 2nd Annual Great Chicago Fire Festival House Burning Festival is awash in reform-y buzzwords:

"The Great Chicago Fire Festival is a celebration of Chicago’s neighborhoods, and of the spirit of grit and resilience in its citizens. Last year’s Fire Festival wasn’t everything that we wanted it to be. We spent months in neighborhoods all over Chicago celebrating the grit and resilience of our city’s people, and were able to bring many of the talented artists we met along the way to the riverfront with us to share their work. Unfortunately, our failure to ignite overshadowed the festival’s seven months of programming and the amazing work by our community collaborators."

Grit. Reslience. Amazing work. Community collaborators. Yep, a Thought Partner is moonlighting at Redmoon Theater. Perhaps their Thought Partner suggested they get the full reform experience by having to beg for supplies, too, as they are on the artist equivalent of Donors Choose.

Welcome To The No Fun Zone

WCT realizes that CPS is currently a no money zone, but we didn't realize the beginning of the 2015 school year was also the start of the no fun zone. 

Students at some schools were greeted with following rule changes:

• No outside food, even food brought from home, may be consumed (good luck to students trying to avoid fried, breaded foods, Aramark must be paid!)

• No visible celebrations of birthdays (i.e., balloons) are permitted

• Policing of footwear to exclude flip-flops and sandals

Really? 

Happy Labor Day

"The only effective answer to organized greed is organized labor." -Thomas Donahue

WCT has scoured the internet for remarks by Rahm Emanuel and Bruce Rauner thanking, or simply recognizing, workers in our city and state on Labor Day. Our search turned up nothing.

Many CPS teachers spent some part of their weekend working so the first day of school goes as smoothly as can be expected. Not even Forrest Claypool, or any member of the Board of Education, could force an empty thanks to any teacher, aide, or paraprofessional.

Since they won't say it, WCT will: Thank you and Happy Labor Day!