Claypool Not Ruling Out Civil Rights Lawsuit Against State Over School Funding
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool took issue with Governor Rauner's statement on school funding.
The governor said, "Not only did Chicago Public Schools ask for the current arrangement, they are benefiting from a special deal," and "CPS gets an extra 600 million more every year than school districts with similar student demographics."
Claypool's response?
"I don't know what special deal it is when you get a fraction of what children in the rest of the state receive by the state. Even though they're 86 percent low income and 85 percent minority.
"That's not a special deal. That's a raw deal."
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Mayor Emanuel and CPS officials have not ruled out a federal civil rights lawsuit to try to get more state money to fund Chicago schools.
Governor Rauner in his budget address today criticized any possibility of a lawsuit like that. He says a lawsuit against the state would "set back funding formula reform for years to come," and he said a lawsuit "ignores reality."
After Rauner's speech in Springfield, Chicago Schools CEO Forrest Claypool once again refused to rule out a lawsuit against the state.
"Look, the best solution is a legislative solution and that is what we're pursuing," Claypool said. "Obviously we're not going to ignore any tool we have to protect our kids."
Claypool says an educational funding system that is "separate but unequal is one that cannot stand."
Claypool says when he listened to Governor Rauner, he thought of reverse Bible scripture - that "the first shall remain first and the last shall remain last."
