I drafted this today after contemplation over the sexual abuse allegation crisis at Chicago Public Schools.  I hope this encourages partnerships on the issue.  I hope it encourages that which students must be guaranteed most: safety.

As a Representative to Disney Magnet Elementary Local School Council, I was pained to read the Chicago Tribune article and report(http://graphics.chicagotribune.com/chicago-public-schools-sexual-abuse/) citing more than 400 incidents of sexual abuse had occurred within CPS buildings over the last 7 years.  

This is tragic.

This can not continue.

This can not happen again.

In a detailed report, excellently summarized by Illinois Raise Your Hand, https://www.ilraiseyourhand.org/sex_abuse_report_released_statement, it was found that on behalf of CPS, there were no centralized guidelines or standards for how to handle reports of sexual abuse, including that some principals reported not knowing that there were mandatory sexual education curricula.

Soon after the report’s publication, CPS announced it was launching a new office, The Office of Student Protections.

Now a month after announcing the office, I urge CPS to continue to develop this strategy, but with the input, guidance, and oversight of the Local School Councils of the City of Chicago.  We are the elected representatives of the schools that CPS administers.

A RESOLUTION

OF

THIS LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL

 

WHEREAS, Local School Councils are comprised of representatives of constituencies, including Parents, Teachers, Staff and Administration, Community Members, and in High Schools, even students.  It is therefore their duty to speak on behalf of their interests implied in their election, and

WHEREAS, the above named Local School Council, via their vote of approval of this resolution, state that the Board of Education of Chicago Public Schools, in light of recent investigative reports involving allegations of sexual misconduct, have failed in their primary purpose of maintaining a safe learning environment, and

Whereas, do to this failure, further oversight is absolutely necessary over the correction of this egregious lack of good judgement and commitment to appointed responsibility; and

THEREFORE, this Local School Council, through this vote affirming the statements of this resolution, assert:

 

• 1) A dually agreed upon administrative process should allow the elected representatives of the schools of CPS, namely, those elected and serving on the respective Local School Councils, to establish a means for their oversight of CPS’ response to the allegations of misconduct, and,
• 2) Local School Councils should have oversight in the adoption and implementation of any new protocols, procedures, and curricula addressing this crisis to be implemented by their respective schools.