Chicago City Wire

Ariel Johnson of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools took part in the Senate Education Committee hearing on SB0577 and after a dispute was asked by Sen. Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) to revise her opening statement.

Johnson who urged a no vote said that the measure needs to be studied by all parties involved.

“I know that not all parties have been brought to the table on this so I am looking forward to continued conversations regarding this with the senator and CTU,” Johnson said. “We’re looking for a no vote on this unconstitutional bill that is pre-empted by federal law.”

When asked by Hastings if that was the case, state Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Summit) said that Johnson’s statement was incorrect. According to her, her staff was told that the Network of Charter Schools would tell the committee that she did not meet with them, but in fact, she did, and that the arguments at the meeting were different from the arguments at the hearing.

“I’m going to ask if you would like to revise or amend your statement that you introduced the committee to when you first introduced it to committee,” Hastings asked Johnson to which the latter replied: “No I would not. I’m not dishonest.”

Hastings reminded Johnson if she is aware that, based on her statement, she is calling Villanueva a liar.

“No, I’m not,” Johnson said. “The senator gave us 15 minutes before the bill was supposed to be called to meet and at that time, she spent seven of those minutes criticizing and berating our team.  I just can't express enough how disappointing it is that the senator is expressing this in this way.”

SB0577 would require that the renewal of charter schools and new charter school proposals include a union neutrality clause. It would also provide that the school would be barred from expressing a position on the matter of whether its employees unionize.

An amendment by the Senate Committee was adopted which added a provision concerning the subcontracting of work performed on or about the premises of a charter school to the definition of "union neutrality clause."