A teachers union leader in Illinois is seeking answers from Juan Salgado, chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago, over a lackluster response to a report of possible deception and misleading data.
The Better Government Association (BGA) reported Nov. 13 on an open letter sent to Salgado that day by Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600 President Tony Johnston.
In the letter, Johnston takes issue with Salgado's response to the BGA article and notes its criticism of a previous chancellor.
BGA reported that previous Chancellor Cheryl Hyman resigned in 2016 after a faculty no-confidence vote of her leadership. BGA described efforts by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel to promote the success of schools throughout his tenure by “boast(ing) a dramatic success under his watch in doubling the number of degrees awarded” and named Hyman as “the architect of that program,” casting aspersions on Emanuel’s optimistic appraisals.
Also in the letter, Johnston asked why it was so hard for BGA to get the information it needed to look into questions around possibly misleading statistics.
“We are especially concerned that BGA has had to file a lawsuit in order to gain access to public records and documentation,” Johnston wrote. “What has the BGA asked for in this lawsuit and why is CCC not providing BGA with the data requested?”
Johnston also asked about student metrics and suggested Salgado’s responses to questions made in good faith left much to be desired.
Specifically, Johnston asked about two totals – the number of degrees awarded and the graduation rates for Chicago colleges.
"The BGA also says that the two statistics – the number of degrees awarded and the graduation rate – are not the same, though Mayor Emanuel conflates the two," Johnston wrote. “Could you explain the difference in how these are calculated?”
In remarking on how politicians can have a negative impact on education, Johnston made other specific statements about those who are alleging there may have been efforts to mislead the public.
"We know that we are living in a time when politicians and foundations have sought to discredit the value of public education and the burden is on all of us to fight as fiercely as we can to maintain its undeniably important role in our society,” Johnston wrote. “If CCC is using misleading measures to present its successes, this plays directly into the hands of those who wish to eliminate or defund public education.”
In the letter to Salgado, Johnston called for meetings to discuss claims and responses and try to figure out what is going on in the City College system.
Copies of Johnston’s letter to Salgado were sent to 5,000 members of the Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600, which represents faculty and staff at city colleges and other community colleges in Cook County. Media outlets around the Chicago area also received copies according to BGA.
The letter and its claims are likely to generate debate about the future of Chicago education, whether officials are reporting gains accurately and whether it’s incumbent on citizens to push for more transparency.
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