Departing Brizard (CEO of Chicago Schools) to get full year's salary - chicagotribune.com
Departing Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard will get a full year's salary as part of his severance package, district officials said today.
The school board gave Brizard a two-year contract at $250,000 a year when it hired him in April 2011. The contract was set to expire next May.
That news came as Mayor Rahm Emanuel formally introduced Barbara Byrd-Bennett as the district's new CEO.
Byrd-Bennett, who was the interim chief education officer, takes control following a seven-school-day strike.
Byrd-Bennett said she had a "very, incredibly productive conversation" with Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis Thursday night.
"I'm looking forward to two things: a collaborative and productive relationship with Karen and the members of the CTU, as well as the rank and file teachers," Byrd-Bennett said.
Emanuel called Bennett's strong working relationship with Lewis "an aspect" of why he thinks Bennett will be successful as CPS considers closing schools.
The mayor said Brizard approached Chicago Board of Education President David Vitale about stepping down because questions about how long he would last in the post had become a distraction. Brizard offered a similar account last night.
Emanuel said Bennett is the right person to move the system forward.
Full Story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-departing-brizard-to-get-full-years-salary-20121012,0,804291.story
LP - Another example of rewarding failure upwards.
