Barbara Byrd-Bennett, once Rahm Emanuel’s choice to lead the Chicago Public Schools, was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison for her role in a kickback scheme intended to gain her hundreds of thousands of dollars. She has lost her job, her career, her reputation, and now, her freedom.
One of her co-conspirators received a sentence of seven years, another got 18 months.
MORE BREAKING NEWS: Cook County judge rejects CPS lawsuit seeking more money from the state. The district may close schools June 1 because of lack of funding.
Judge rejects CPS’ state funding lawsuit, gives district option to refile
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-chicago-schools-funding-lawsuit-ruling-met-20170428-story.html
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Whoo boy. On one hand, I have zero sympathy for BBB – she pretended to be fair and supportive while stabbing teachers and public education in the back to suck up to her boss. But, on the other hand, she’s just a pawn and the one who should be locked up is still free to ruin the city of Chicago (and will most likely be re-elected in 2019).
As for closing schools June 1, that’s when schools should close. CPS runs school way too far into the summer. But on the other foot (I’m out of hands), closing schools because of lack of funding is just horrifying.
I’m getting whiplash trying to respond to this news.
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Byrd-Bennett was another crooked grad of the Broad Academy along with the notorious John Deasy. Eli Broad trains them in his own image it seems
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Any chance Emanuel can go to jail for bad personnel choices or, does he have no accountability?
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Off topic- The Hill reported on research by The Intercept, “Congressional Republicans are offering donors chances to meet with Congressional staff in exchange for campaign donations”. While that may violate ethics rules, apparently the Gates-funded Aspen program titled, Senior Congressional Education Staff Network, doesn’t. Is that because Aspen tacked the meaningless words, “non-partisn” onto the program’s description?
The terminology needs to change from “bi-partisan or non-partisan” to “oligarch building” and democracy destroying”.
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I agree with you.
I also wonder what will happen if funding for CPS schools does not happen. Throw the kids out on the streets. Open the unemployment line for teachers and other school personnnel?
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Aramark will make sure the streets are clean for the kids.
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Hooray. Hooray. Hooray. But she is really not a pawn. She could have grown a backbone and used it to stand up and spill the beans on BOSS HOGG Of Cook County.
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John Deasy.
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Speaking of Chicago, R3, Resist Reimagine Rebuild (they have a Facebook page) plans a rally for May 1 at 11:00 on the corner of Ogden and Roosevelt.
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http://wfpl.org/teachers-continue-lawsuit-state-underfunded-pensions/
Teachers Continue Lawsuit Against State For Underfunded Pensions wfpl.org The Teachers Retirement Legal Fund argues state leaders have broken the law by not setting aside enough money for the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System.
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Byrd-Bennett was a problem before she was hired in Chicago. Her kind of past work history should have precluded anyone hiring her, anywhere.
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She left her mark….on the former Chancellor’s District in NYC. Both the Teachers’ union, and the NYC DOe obstruct all review of her acts as Superintendent of the Chancellor’s Dstrict. Current Chancellor Farina, and Mayor DeBlasio refuse to address the following:
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Funding for the physical plants of schools in the Chancellor’s District.
Refusal of Chancellor Farina to furnish hot running water, soap and toilet paper in the childrens’ bathrooms.
She has those things in her bathroom.
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