Mayor Emanuel Says Byrd-Bennett Right To Step Aside In Light Of Federal Investigation
CHICAGO (CBS) -- After a brief vacation, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has returned to Chicago and offered his first public comments since the scope of the federal inspection into the Chicago Public Schools came to light, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
Mayor Emanuel first spoke at the luncheon of the Ounce of Protection Fund, an early childhood group, with visible evidence that he had some sun.
"I was on vacation," Emanuel said. "This is what blood pressure and a tan looks like."
Afterward, Emanuel talked with reporters about the CPS investigation, offering his first supportive comments about CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, even as he agreed with her taking a leave from her job.
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"Barbara has played a central role in the gains that Chicago children have made educationally over the years as CEO of CPS," Emanuel said. "Without a doubt, given the investigation, she needs to be focused on that."
Asked if he'd give a vote of confidence to Chicago School Board President David Vitale, who previously defended the no-bid contract under investigation, the mayor said look at the whole board.
Byrd-Bennett, along with at least three other CPS aides, is a focus of the federal probe, along with the Wilmette-based SUPES Academy, which offers leadership training to principals. SUPES received a $20 million no-bid contract in 2013, right after CPS closed 50 schools.
The three other CPS officials are: chief of staff Sherry Ulery; Tracy Martin, head of strategic services; and Rosemary Herpel, a senior project manager.
In a memo to staff, the CPS interim CEO Jesse Ruiz announced that no-bid, is no-more, and called for an independent review of the CPS contract process, one defended by Chicago School Board President David Vitale last week.
"I think Jesse Ruiz did the right thing, by ordering a review of the process and if anything is found about SUPES what actions are to be taken," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.
Ruiz says if wrongdoing is found in connection with the SUPES contract, CPS legal counsel is preparing options to terminate it.
Governor Rauner called the growing scandal a symptom of a failing system.
"I hope there's been no wrongdoing," Rauner said. "But Chicago Public Schools has been a source of patronage, cronyism… massive bureaucracy. It hasn't really served the families and the parents and the children well for a long time."
Rauner says he plans to meet with Mayor Emanuel soon to get his thoughts about changes needed at CPS.
