CHICAGO — Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool should resign immediately "for his efforts to dismantle and sabotage" Chicago's public schools, the leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union said.
The resolution, adopted Wednesday evening by the union's House of Delegates, came before the first of four unpaid days for teachers ordered by Claypool to save $35 million to help fill a $215 million hole in the CPS budget caused by the state budget impasse.
Teachers plan to protest the furlough days at City Hall starting at 10 a.m. Friday. Students will not miss class, since the unpaid days off previously were set aside for teacher training.
The resolution adopted by the union's House of Delegates, accuses Claypool and the Chicago Board of Education — all appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel — of "frivolously lining the pockets of wealthy investors" while students suffer the effects of deep cuts to school budgets.
Emanuel said Claypool — who briefly served as the mayor's chief of staff and head of the CTA — has his "complete confidence."
Claypool has done "an incredible job" leading CPS, Emanuel said.
"Instead of throwing stones at each other, everyone who cares about Chicago's schools and Chicago's students should be focused on coming together to fight for fair funding in Springfield," Emanuel said.
The union has long been critical of Claypool's leadership.
Days after reaching an agreement on a new contract, Vice President Jesse Sharkey told DNAinfo that Claypool was "unfit to lead the district."
In 2016, Claypool presided over 1,250 layoffs of teachers and support staff members and cuts of about $185 million as he sought to close what CPS officials said was a $1.1 billion budget deficit.
Nearly 60 percent of the teachers who were laid off were later rehired in full-time teaching or administrative positions, said Michel Passman, a spokesman for the district.
At its Feb. 22 meeting, the School Board is expected to consider more cuts to fill the gap created when Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill that would have given CPS $215 million to pay employees' pensions.
Rauner said he vetoed the bill because Democratic leaders had not done enough to solve the state's pension crisis and reach a long-term deal. State budget talks ground to a halt over the governor's demands for term limits and a property tax freeze.
