THE LOOP — Mayoral candidate Jesus "Chuy" Garcia chided the Board of Education Wednesday for fighting a federal discrimination suit.
Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-Chicago) appeared at Chicago Public Schools' Board of Education meeting Wednesday to urge the district to "stop fighting the Department of Justice, accept responsibility for this shameful conduct and enter into negotiations" with the feds.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed suit against CPS a month ago, charging that Scammon Elementary School Principal Mary Weaver had discriminated against pregnant teachers. The suit followed up on a case filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Garcia cited how "to date, this board has taken no action against the principal," adding, "In fact, you have dug in your heels."
Weaver has dismissed the suit as old news, saying it "has been repudiated by me multiple times within the last four years" and insisting, "There is no validity to the allegations lodged against me." She has charged the suit was "suspiciously timed" after she raised issues recently over CPS contracts with Aramark and Sodexo.
Garcia said the board has "a legal responsibility to obey the civil-rights laws of our nation, as well as a fiduciary responsibility as board members to protect the taxpayers of Chicago." He added that "the path you have set us on leaves pregnant teachers unprotected and exposes all taxpayers to potentially huge settlement payments."
At the meeting, CPS General Counsel James Bebley said "we are in discussions with the Justice Department." "We can't comment on it, unfortunately," added board Vice President Jesse Ruiz.
In a statement issued later, CPS spokesman Bill McCaffrey said taht "Chicago Public Schools does not tolerate the kind of discrimination or retaliation that is alleged to have taken place at Scammon Elementary and is strongly committed to creating a workplace that values and respects all employees. CPS is preparing its response to the suit, and stands behind its commitment to its Comprehensive Non-Discrimination Policy and to the fair treatment of pregnant employees."
Government officials are usually granted priority in addressing the board during its public-comment session, but Garcia was kept waiting about 30 minutes until he formally requested an opportunity to go ahead of others.
Garcia is running against Mayor Rahm Emanuel and three other challengers in the Feb. 24 municipal election.
Anthony Edwards, of the neighborhood grassroots group Action Now, delivered a petition signed by 2,400 people calling for the resignation of board member Deborah Quazzo over alleged conflicts of interest. Quazzo has seen companies she owns stock in increase their business with CPS since she joined the board 18 months ago. Mayoral candidate Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) has previously called for her resignation.
"This is a conflict of interest and it is happening right here," Edwards said.
"Conflicts of interest exist in this world, and the key thing is that they be disclosed," Ruiz responded. Board members Andrea Zopp and Henry Bienen also stated their support for Quazzo, as did CPS Chief Executive Officer Barbara Byrd-Bennett.
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