Another secret CPS job fair, March 31, 2010 at Reilly Elementary School, but...
In the ongoing cat-and-mouse game with Chicago Public Schools engaging in secret job recruitment fairs and hiring events, a tip to a clandestine fair in Area 1 of the Chicago school district came into SubstanceNews.
The tip led Substance reporters to Frank W. Reilly Elementary School, 3303 North Lawndale Ave. on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, where they were greeted with pink signs proclaiming, "Wednesday JOB FAIR has been Canceled."
On further observation, it was evident people were going in and out of the building dressed to get a job with folders and paperwork in their hands.
When asked for a hand-out some from some of the people entering the building, the paper was hidden and individuals scurried away.
Later in the day, this reporter entered the school building and asked the person at the front desk, "Did I miss the job fair?"
The answer was "Yes you did."
The person at the front desk was Diane Bryniarski, who seemed to be the person in charge of the event at the front desk in the foyer of the school, she then went on to say "Well there really wasn't a job fair we just collected resumes."
Then she asked me for a resume to which I answered "Oh, I must have forgot mine."
The answer to the question about who sponsored the job fair the response was, "The Area 1 Instructional Office for general education positions."
It was obvious for the amount of resumes in the boxes behind the desk that hundreds of people attended the event. It was later learned that Diane Bryniarski is an Assistant Principal at Belding Elementary School, 4257 N. Tripp.
Just last month another tip to Substance lead to uncovering of 700 CPS jobs posted on out-of-state websites advertising hundreds of positions in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). This was reminiscent of the exposure of the ‘Invitation Only’ job fair planned for July 31, 2009. That event became public when a teacher uncovered it and questioned it during the July 22, 2009 Board of Education meeting.
It should be noted that there was no public announcement or documentation of the "Original" Job Fair that was canceled on March 31, 2010.
Later, this reporter contacted CPS (Communications Department) by email about this event with the following questions:
On 3/31/10 11:32 AM, "john kugler" wrote:
Is CPS holding a secret job fair at Reilly Elementary School--3650 W. School St. today?
Why did Leslie Ackerman, state that the Job Fair has been canceled?
Why are there signs on the doors that the job fair is canceled but people are going in and out of the building holding resumes?
Is this an invitation only job fair?
What is the purpose of the meeting at Reilly Elementary School--3650 W. School St. today?
Please forward all materials relating to the job fair and/or meeting that is now taking place at Reilly Elementary School--3650 W. School St.
RESPONSE ON THE JOB FAIR FROM CPS COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF MONIQUE BOND
Substance got the following response form Monique Bond:
Re: Secret/Canceled Job Fair @ ReillyES
From: Monique Bond (mdbond1@cps.k12.il.us)
Sent: Wed 3/31/10 7:31 PM
To: kuglerjohn@hotmail.com; rhuberman@cps.edu
Cc: Csubstance@aol.com
John,
I have been able to research this matter and there appears to be some confusion. No job fair at Reilly Elementary has been formally coordinated with Central Office. Ms. Ackerman was being proactive and responsible in stating that the job fair in question did not exist and was canceled.
There is no meeting at Reilly. The signs were displayed to inform the public that no job fair was being conducted to avoid any confusion.
We do not host invitation only job fairs. In fact, when we are sponsoring official job fairs, they are publicly advertised and we encourage any interested applicants to apply on line when we are formally accepting applications.
I should also note that coordinating any official job fair at this time would require resources and logistical planning – both of which we are constrained budgetary.
By: spam face
uh, wachoo think
"There is no meeting at Reilly."
It depends on what your definition of the word "is" is. Meaning, there was, but is not.
"The signs were displayed to inform the public that no job fair was being conducted to avoid any confusion."
This is a bald faced lie and one that a $10 per hour propagandist could write.