CORE Files Suit Against the Board of Education for Hiding Budget Numbers
SUIT FILED 5/20/10
Huberman won't come clean with the actual budget numbers.
Teacher’s group sues CPS over access
May 20, 2010
A union group that is vying for power in Friday’s Chicago Teachers Union election has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Board of Education, claiming it is in violation of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
The complaint comes one day before a hotly contested union election, where CORE is among the most serious challenges to the incumbent president, Marilyn Stewart. The elections, and lawsuit, come amid the most serious budget crisis in recent years.
A projected $600 million shortfall has prompted the school district to threaten teacher layoffs and increased class sizes. That, in turn, has brought recriminations from teacher groups who say the district’s fiscal house is not in order.
Several of the union slates have said they doubt schools CEO Ron Huberman’s budget deficit claims, and are seeking to evaluate the figures for themselves.
The lawsuit states that the district is in violation of the Freedom of Information Act law, which requires public agencies to respond to requests for information within five days of receiving them.
The district said the request was unduly burdensome, and is seeking a review from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office on how to proceed.
Chicago Tribune Education Reporter
