Keeping school reform on the move is Daley's job <http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?article_id=16505> June 04, 2001 The high drama going on between Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas makes for interesting political chatter and news stories. But the real issue is not Mr. Vallas' fate. Rather, it is whether the Daley administration has the vigor to regroup and keep school reform alive once Mr. Vallas departs. Indeed, Mr. Vallas' exit appears to be a foregone conclusion, even if the schools CEO currently refuses to take City Hall's none-too-subtle hints that he follow the lead of Gery Chico, who resigned last month as school board president after nearly six years. In their distinct ways, both men have been instrumental in resurrecting Chicago's schools and deserve much credit for their accomplishments. Yet despite his yeoman turnaround efforts, Mr. Vallas has lost the backing of his boss, who has grudgingly said that the energetic CEO can remain on the job "if he wants to." In the private sector, no corporate head succeeds without the support of his board of directors and major shareholders. In the world of Chicago politics, no department chief � even one who's won national acclaim, as Mr. Vallas has � stays very long after Mr. Daley becomes unhappy. One could also ask why Mr. Vallas would care to stick around. Lacking strong political support from City Hall, he becomes the man in the middle � someone who has to watch his back and can't focus on the challenges the school system faces. And make no mistake about it: The city's school reform journey is heading into stormy weather. Budgetary woes, a more confrontational Chicago Teachers Union and the need to boost sagging test scores are only a few of the rough patches ahead. Mr. Daley � who has made known his frustration with the schools' weakened progress, especially when it comes to reading-test scores � is also eager for a new regime to take the Chicago Public Schools to a higher level. Just what that means and how he intends to accomplish that goal are unclear. Aside from looming financial and labor issues, there are some important questions that City Hall needs to confront. Among them: Should the next Chicago Public Schools CEO be less entrepreneurial than Mr. Vallas? Is an established educator better-suited for the job at this point in the reform process? Should the Vallas-inspired array of programs and initiatives be streamlined? Should the communities have a greater say in neighborhood school-related issues? What continuing role does business play in school reform? A hallmark of Mr. Daley's tenure has been improving education. He knows that better neighborhood schools attract middle-class families, and voters, back to the city. He recognizes that a literate, skilled workforce keeps companies here and draws them from other places. The executive team he put in place six years ago made great strides toward achieving the mayor's objectives. But that team's players are gone or going. It's Mr. Daley who remains. It's up to him to ensure that school reform gets a second wind and keeps forging ahead. �2001 by Crain Communications Inc. -- This is the CPS Science Teacher List. To unsubscribe, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For more information: <http://home.sprintmail.com/~mikelach/subscribe.html>. To search the archives: <http://www.mail-archive.com/science%40lists.csi.cps.k12.il.us/>
