Emanuel Defends Fire Department Hiring Preference For CPS Grads
(CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel is defending the Chicago Fire Department's hiring preference for Chicago Public School graduate, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, who is a possible candidate for mayor, says giving CPS graduates a leg up on other fire department applicants is unfair to students from private or religious schools.
Mayor Emanuel sees it as evening the odds.
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"Encouraging the graduates of CPS to be able to apply for city jobs throughout the city just like we do for veterans and other types of preferences ensures that the city of Chicago will benefit from all parts of our city and the doors of opportunity to all Chicagoans," Emanuel said.
Lewis says it would be better if CPS provided better educational resources. The mayor points to rising test scores and graduation rates and says the system is already doing that.
