Jul 24, 2009 12:20 pm US/Central
Huberman Furious Over Secret CPS Job Fair
'Invitation Only' Job Fair Was Planned For July 31
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
Chicago Public Schools officials burst into laughter this week after a teacher announced at a School Board meeting that she heard a rumor CPS was holding a "secret job fair'' July 31.
"I can dispel the rumor,'' schools CEO Ron Huberman told the giggling crowd. "There are no secret teacher fairs. Any teacher fairs are public. Everyone is invited, and they are advertised.''
Hours later, Huberman hit the roof after learning CPS was, indeed, planning what some might call a "secret job fair.''
Tickets had already been issued to an "invitation-only'' CPS job fair at McCormick Place. One invitation, obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, stated that tickets were non-transferrable and attendees were required to have their tickets checked off against a "master list.'' "Misuse'' of any ticket "may result in non-admittance to future CPS events,'' the invitation warned.
Huberman "did not know about this fair, not at all,'' said CPS spokeswoman Monique Bond.
As soon as he learned of it, Huberman ordered the job fair be opened to the public and advertised, Bond said.
Any teacher looking for a job in the middle of one of the worst economies since the Great Depression may now attend the July 31 event from noon to 3 pm. at the Lakeside Center of McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Bond said the original fair, organized by the CPS Recruitment and Workforce Unit, was planned as an "invitation-only" event because CPS expects to hire fewer teachers for this coming school year than in years past -- about 1,500 instead of the usual 2,000. And three open job fairs so far have already attracted 8,000 attendees, she said.
The 2,000 invited to the "invitation-only'' fair had included rookie teachers from Teach for America and the Chicago Teaching Fellows, as well as CPS teachers who lost their jobs because of declining enrollment, school consolidations or closings, or budget cuts, Bond said.
"It is clear that the invitation has caused confusion and concern,'' Bond said.
But no heads will roll because of it. Explained Bond: "There will be no reprimand for an honest mistake.''
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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