Chicago Board Reduces Job Fairs for Displaced Chicago Teachers
While continuing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to recruit new teachers from outside Chicago, Chicago is now cutting back on recruiting veteran teachers to continue working in the nation's third largest schools system.
Chicago's two "CEOs" at the April 22, 2009 Chicago Board of Education meeting. Above (center in white shirt and tie), 'Chief Executive Officer' Ron Huberman and 'Chief Education Officer' Barbara Eason-Watkins (to Huberman's right) have ordered a cutback in job fairs for local Chicago teachers despite the fact that hundreds have been pushed out of their jobs by CPS this year and are facing no school to return to in September 2009. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.Teachers displaced by the most recent rounds of school closings, consolidations, turnarounds, phase outs, and position cuts in Chicago may find it more difficult to secure a position for the upcoming (2009 - 2010) school year in Chicago due to CPS’s Human Resources Department’s move to limit the number of job fairs this year. In previous years, HR sponsored at least three large-scale job fairs during the summer, one in each month. In two separate phone calls to the Human Resource Department on April 22 by Substance, employees confirmed that there are only two upcoming job fairs planned for employees seeking jobs for the 2009-2010 school year. The first fair, for high school teachers only, will be held this Saturday, April 25, 2009, from 11:00 to 2:00 at the University of Illinois at Chicago Forum (725 W. Roosevelt Rd). The second fair, for both high school and elementary teachers, will be held on Friday, May 15, 2009, from 12:00 to 3:00 at McCormick Place (2301 S. Lake Shore Drive). This second fair is taking place on a school day, while classes are in session. Elementary teachers wishing to take advantage of their only opportunity to meet principals from all over the city will be forced to take a personal business day in order to attend the May 25 event.
With a large number of teachers already displaced from last year’s closings, turnarounds, and 20th day cuts, this year’s newly jobless teachers are already facing the daunting prospect of having to compete against hundreds of other applicants. On February 22, 2009, over massive protests, the Chicago Board of Education voted to "phase out," "turnaround" (i.e., reconstitute), consolidate, or close 16 public schools. In virtually every case some teachers are losing their jobs; in some, the number is several dozen.
Chicago's new public schools public relations chief Monique Bond (above at the April 22, 2009 meeting of the Chicago Board of Education) only issues press releases of CPS events involving Mayor Richard M. Daley to corporate media who will report favorably on the mayor and the schools. Requests by Substance for comments from CEO Rob Huberman or President Michael Scott are also ignored by CPS since Bond was appointed to her $145,000 per year job in February 2009. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.CPS appears to be making this process even more difficult by doing away with the traditional summertime job fairs, while at the same time spending huge amounts of money to recruit teachers from outside Chicago.
While cutting back on local jobs fairs,, CPS continues to try to attract and recruit new teachers from all over the country using their “Discover Chicago” Bus Tours.
There are eight dates remaining for teachers from across the country to sign up for what the CPS Human Resources website describes as “a unique approach to enjoying the Chicago Public Schools, staff and neighborhood communities.” These tours feature “enlightening, exciting 1-day and 3-day experiences that include teacher recruitment information sessions, school visits and more!”
Posted to SubstanceNews 3:30 a.m. April 24, 2009.
Comments:
By: Liz Brown
teacher
I went to the CPS job fair April 25. In a booklet handed out to all comers, on the inside front cover is this: Upcoming Teacher Career Fairs Friday 5/15/09, Tuesday, 6/30/09, Friday, 7/31/09. All listed locations were UIC Forum (725 W. Roosevelt Rd) however HR says McCormick Place. Plus, on the 4/25 floor plan there was an "Invite Only Event Entrance" for an "elementary high needs event."
By: Kristine Mayle
Teacher/Reporter
The CPS Human Resources calendar has added an additional job fair. As of today, the calendar lists two upcoming fairs. May 15th (still on a school day) and now June 30th. According to the calendar, both events will be held at McCormick Place. http://www.cps-humanresources.org/Careers/EventSearch.asp
By: Anonymous
Form Political Actions Groups with 100\\\'s of Displaced Teachers
The Board and Union have made it almost impossible for many to secure a job as a cerified veteran teacher regardles of state law that only requires 3-4 years of experience to secure your position and be tenured. When are we going to form political actions groups to stop this corruption of the educational system? Principals are the agent of change -- not teachers. If schools are failing it\'s poor leadership.
By: Carol Pocica
Teacher
It is really a sad day when the board puts so many experienced and dedicated teachers to the back of the class. It seems that we don't matter. In my case the school I am at is closing due to low enrollment. We are being praised by the state and city for many educational accomplishments such as test scores, science fair, young authors, and an Illinois Honor Roll Spotlight School, but yet they won't help us relocate. ( Oh, I am sorry they are on May 15 when we are in school doing the job we want to do.)It is a dark day when teachers who can teach and do beyond what they are asked to do are treated as if they are inexperienced and unwanted. It is as if we are being put out to pasture like animals. Good luck to all in their job search.