April 16--Federal authorities are investigating Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and a $20.5 million contract the district awarded on a no-bid basis to a training academy that formerly employed her, sources said.
The ongoing federal investigation follows a long-running probe by the district inspector general's office into the contract given to the SUPES Academy.
CPS officials have discussed the possibility of appointing an interim CEO depending on the outcome of the investigation, a source said. Byrd-Bennett, who was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in October 2012, attended a regularly scheduled meeting at CPS headquarters on Wednesday and remains in her post.
CPS officials on Wednesday revealed a federal investigation was underway at the district but offered little further information. The district said authorities have requested interviews with several district employees.
David Vitale, president of the Chicago Board of Education, said in a statement the district was made aware of the investigation Tuesday.
"We take any allegation of misconduct seriously, and we are fully cooperating with investigators who requested that we not discuss any specifics regarding the ongoing investigation," Vitale said in a statement.
At a news conference Wednesday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel was asked about the investigation and repeated much of what was in the CPS statement, adding that he did not have additional information.
The mayor, asked about Byrd-Bennett's status said, "There's no information yet in the sense of who, what, who's the target, who are the individuals."
The mayor said he did not know if the FBI had spoken to Byrd-Bennett. Asked if he still had confidence in the schools chief, even given a lack of information on the investigation, Emanuel said: "I can't answer, I don't even know who they are looking at."
CPS has paid The SUPES Academy roughly $15 million since the 2012 budget year, according to school district purchasing records
The district approved a "leadership development services" agreement with The SUPES Academy that was to extend from June 2013 to June 2016 and pay the corporation up to $20.5 million, according to CPS documents.
CPS and the academy had already entered into a similar, one-year agreement in 2012, but CPS records show both sides agreed to terminate that contract early and replace it with the updated version.
The contract gave broad authority to SUPES to train the district's high-ranking network chiefs and deputy chiefs, as well as a broad array of new, developing and "rising" school principals and assistant principals. SUPES Academy was to "design and deliver the Academies and their coaching services" to all eligible employees.
Byrd-Bennett, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, could not be reached Wednesday.
Byrd-Bennett worked for SUPES before being hired as an adviser to her predecessor at CPS, Jean-Claude Brizard, who resigned.
She took over at CPS less than a month after a bitter seven-day teachers strike. She faced entrenched financial issues and then, in 2013, oversaw the closing of nearly 50 schools the city said were under-enrolled.
A former teacher, Byrd-Bennett held top posts at large school districts including New York and Detroit. She led the Cleveland school district from 1998 to 2006. There, her use of private donations on expensive hotels and fancy restaurants led to a state audit. The audit found no wrongdoing but recommended the district keep a tighter watch on spending.
But also in Cleveland, Byrd-Bennett was credited with straightening out finances, improving test scores and raising the high school graduation rate.
jjperez@tribune.com
hdardick@tribpub.com
