SE Illinois News

Darren Bailey wants to see improved standards for the Chicago Public School system (CPS).

“Right now, there’s no accountability and that’s why you see all the dysfunction and all the scandal,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “Something’s got to change, for the sake of all these kids.”

The latest CPS controversy stems from a recent Chicago Tribune report that found numerous students were sexually preyed upon over a prolonged period by school district employees who were only required to submit to a minimal background check.

Illinois State House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago)

“It wasn’t too long ago that we were hearing about the gift card scandal where the $250,000 in cards earmarked for students were misused,” said Bailey, running against Democrat Cynthia Given of Olney in the 109th House District. “This is so much worse because of what it does to the kids. Clearly, Chicago needs to wake up and stop sweeping everything under the table.”

Bailey sees parallels between what’s happening at CPS and in Springfield, with the #Metoo scandal that has recently ensnared at least four close associates of House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) on allegations of sexual harassment, he said.

“It’s the way we’ve allowed these abusive cultures to exist and even grow,” Bailey said. “Madigan has always been out of control, but with these kids, you would think someone would be watching over them.”

While Bailey said he supports proposals like House Bill 5914 by Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) that would require the Illinois State Board of Education to “be aware of and monitor, the process of each individual background check” conducted by school districts and also make the act of an authority figure engaging in a sexual relationship with a student a criminal act, regardless of age, he said more needs to be done.

“We also need to expose who’s responsible for these egregious acts by naming names and talking about who dropped the ball,” he said. “We need immediate action on that and not just more bureaucracy. We’re already the king of the hill when it comes to just that.”