Great article by Ben Joravsky of the Chicago Reader about how the CPS CEO has taken a nice chunk of change from the CPS budget while teachers aren't being properly compensated for their work.
Given his stated wish to "minimize direct impact on schools," you might think Huberman would dedicate as much of the available money as possible to people who actually work with students—teachers, teaching aides, coaches, etc. But instead it seems the further you get away from the classroom, the better your chances of being rewarded.
You would THINK you would dedicate as much money as possible teachers... but no. This is Chicago. I take that back. This is the U.S. Just like with the bonuses given out to high ranking employees of failed Wall Street banks and businesses... we are rewarding failure. CPS doesn't exactly have an outstanding report card either. Hardly any Chicago middle and high schools are ranked in the top 100. It doesn't help that our PPS for Chicago hovers just under $10,000. To put things in perspective, Niles Township is around $17k and Deerfiled/Highland Park Township is $18k.
Yet, here we are.... hearing once again about CEOs and people the furthest from the problem receiving the greatest amount of pay. I understand compensating people in power for the amount of work they need to do. However, what are they REALLY doing when CPS schools continue to fall behind their suburban and parochial counterparts?
I don't know about you... but, while I've definitely struggled, I don't see why people need THAT much money! I think if I can survive off what little I've made, I think Huberman can give up a raise or two. But a 13% raise? In a recession? Get out of here!!!
I couldn't have put it better than Ben:
She said that while it's true Huberman's budgeted pay went way up, he's voluntarily taking a pay cut in the form of unpaid furloughs. Therefore "he did not receive an increase," Bond wrote in an e-mail. "His true salary as a result of the unpaid holidays and furlough days is $216,660, a 5.9 percent reduction in salary. The 5.9 percent reduction also applies to all Central Office employees making more than $50,000." We're taking her word on this, since she didn't respond to my request for documentation of Huberman's furloughs.
Well, it's nice to know Huberman's giving up something for the team, but he's still making nearly $13,000, or 6 percent, more than he did last year. In effect Huberman and these other bureaucrats got their salaries jacked up to insulate themselves against any voluntary pay cuts they might take. It's like the department store that doubles its prices and then announces a half-off sale.
Sigh. One of these days, we'll figure it out. I hope.
