In an ongoing struggle for transparency and accountability in Chicago, the Illinois Attorney General has issued a determination letter on March 22, 2016 that Chicago Public Schools violated the Freedom of Information Act in Illinois by not responding to requests for school safety and training documents by Substance News.
“The facts are undisputed that CPS failed to properly respond to Dr. Kugler's FOIA requests,” (3/22/16, Office of the Attorney General, State of Illinois)
"It is a fundamental obligation of government to operate openly and provide public records as expediently and efficiently as possible in compliance with this Act." 5 ILCS 140/1 (West 2014).
Just like what happened in Flint, Michigan, the Chicago Public Schools are covering up massive safety problems, exposures, training and preparedness in the city schools by obstructing Freedom of Information requests for those safety documents.
The information requested is to see if the third largest school district in the United States of America is properly training staff to keep the schools safe for the 400,000 children that attend school every day. In the light of the Flint Michigan 2-year cover up of lead poisoning of an entire city, Substance News has taken on the fight for full disclosure, transparency and accountability for the safety of the staff and children in the Chicago Public Schools. The school district is obstructing the public’s right to safety information for the children and staff of the Chicago Schools.
To this date no documents have been provided since the Illinois Attorney general clearly stated:
“In accordance with the conclusions expressed in this determination, this office requests that CPS take immediate and appropriate action to provide Dr. Kugler with all responsive records…”
The different documents requested were the following some of which were made 9 months ago:
1. Training on the handling, storage and use of Chemicals (glues, cleaning solvents, aerosols, etc…) 2015 PAC 36318 (Request for Review - HAZCom Training)
2. Training on how to handle any injuries and disease outbreaks (Ebola, Zika, Meningitis, AIDS...) All staff should have this training since staff are dealing with health issues every day, especially with a high mobility student population. 2015 PAC 36328 (Request for Review - Bloodborne Pathogens Training)
3. Training on the use of safety equipment. 2015 PAC 36329 (Request for Review - PPE Training)
4. Training on emergencies including activity shooter. 2015 PAC 36336 (Request for Review - Emergency Action and Response Training)
5. Training on working in small spaces (Closets, boiler rooms, etc….) 2015 PAC 36334 (Request for Review - Confined Space Training)
6. Medical confidentiality training (IEPs, 504 Plans, medications, etc...) All staff should have this training since staff are dealing with health issues every day. 2015 PAC 36218 (Request for Review - HIPAA Training)
What makes this report more disturbing is this falls on anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre and the school district under Mayor Rahm Emanuel's control is playing hide -and-seek with the safety of 400,000 students in Chicago. The pattern of cover-up and malfeasance is clearly evident with Rahm Emanuel just as he obstructed the Laquan McDonald police dash-cam video.
The Chicago Public Schools are 85% minority (44.1% Latino, 41.6% African-Americans). More than ever the institutional racism of the school system is coming to light despite Karen Lewis and the Chicago Teachers Union continuously making these claims over deaf ears. In 2013 Mayor Rahm Emanuel, 'The Murder Mayor' closed 50 public schools in predominately black communities that now has been shown to have been a privatization scheme to expand charter schools in Chicago.
In a show of good faith and understanding of the bureaucracy of CPS this story was withheld for a month to see if there would be any response. Accordingly, this story is now released since it is clear that Chicago Public Schools is operating as a criminal enterprise that believes it is above the law this despite the last CEO who was convicted of bribery and kickbacks!!!
Below is the determination letter from the Illinois Attorney General:
Illinois Attorney General Determination Letter March 22, 2016 Chicago Schools OSHA Documents Obstruction