Meet Robert Jones, candidate for the Chicago school board’s 10th District

Academics

About 31% of Chicago Public Schools elementary students are meeting state standards in reading, and 19% are meeting math standards. How would you approach growing reading and math achievement?^*
Working together with the other members of the board to bring about increased interventions to strengthen the students’ achievement level opportunities.

Do you support standardized testing more than once a year?
No. Nationally and locally, school districts have placed too much of an emphasis on standard testing in which results are often used to unfairly penalize educators and students. I would like the district to explore additional ways to monitor student progress. I believe that standard tests should be given once a year.

Do you support requiring all schools to select from a certain curriculum authorized by the board of education?
Yes. I feel that the direction of curriculum should be determined through careful discussion, research and community input by the board of education, and I support that position.

Chicago Public Schools has consistently fallen short when it comes to serving students with disabilities. What would you do to improve special education?
Working with the members of the board to make sure that time with our students with disabilities and resources are directed to improve special education.

CPS finances

In recent years, Chicago’s Board of Education has consistently raised the property tax levy to the maximum allowed by state law every year. Should the board continue to raise the levy to the maximum?
No. I support working with allies at our state legislature to identify additional funding for schools so that we are not so reliant on the property tax system. I supported the Fair Tax campaign’s effort to get the wealthy to pay their fair share, so that additional state funding would be available for schools. While raising the levy to any level is a short-term approach, we need long term strategies.

Do you think CPS needs more funding, or do you think the school district’s budget is bloated? How would you balance the CPS budget?^*
The budget is bloated toward those things that do not improve education, curriculum, facilities or safety. The budget can be balanced by taking a look at new revenue streams from the state and federal government, making tough decisions while keeping our children first.

School choice

Do you support the current board of education’s decision to prioritize neighborhood schools and shift away from the current system of school choice with selective enrollment, magnet and charter schools?
Yes. While there needs to be priority given to our neighborhood schools, this shift should not starve the existing magnet, selective enrollment and existing charter schools. The goal is to ensure that all schools are sufficiently resourced.

Given the board of education’s decision to prioritize neighborhood schools, how would you balance supporting those schools without undermining the city’s selective enrollment schools and other specialized programs?^*
By making sure that the existing selective enrollment and specialized programs are not starved the way many of our neighborhood schools have been starved.

The first charter school opened in Chicago in 1997 and these privately run, publicly funded schools grew in number throughout the 2000s. Today, 54,000 Chicago Public Schools students, or about 17%, attend charters and contract schools. Do you support having charter schools in CPS as an option for students?
No. Charters increased as politicians and privatizers sought to remove funding from neighborhood schools and invest resources into charters, whose operators made it difficult for teachers and school staff to have collective bargaining and for communities to elect local school councils. While parents sent their children to charters because their neighborhood school was under-resourced, I would support existing charters that treat students, teachers and staff respectfully and are meeting the needs of the students. I will not support opening additional charter schools.

Independence

If elected, how will you maintain your independence from the mayor’s office, the Chicago Teachers Union or other powerful forces shaping the school system?^*
By maintaining the positions that compelled me to be a candidate for the position. Knowing that we all must work together in order to have a successful system of education for our children as well as a safe environment for all.

Police in schools

Do you support having sworn Chicago Police Department officers stationed in schools?
No. There are more efficient ways to provide safety for the students, teachers and staff than to have sworn officers stationed in the schools, such as the most recent Whole School Safety Plan submitted.

Busing and facilities

Last year, in an effort to prioritize transportation for students with disabilities as required by state and federal law, CPS canceled busing for general education students who attend selective enrollment and magnet schools and hasn’t found a solution to reinstate that service. Do you support busing for general education students?
Yes. I feel that CPS should work diligently to find a solution to provide busing to all of those who need it. Our children deserve uninhibited access to a good education.

About one-third of Chicago public school buildings have space for at least double the students they’re currently enrolling. Chicago officials have previously viewed under-enrolled schools as an inefficient use of limited resources — and a decade ago the city closed a record 50 schools. Do you support closing schools for low enrollment?
No. School closures have displaced tens of thousands of students and thousands of educators and school staff. School closures have caused spikes in violence across the city. Parents, educators, students and school staff should be engaged to discuss solutions if a school is under-enrolled. The district needs a process that engages those most impacted in a transparent process before school buildings are closed.

Bilingual education

CPS has long struggled to comply with state and federal laws requiring bilingual programs at schools that enroll 20 or more students who speak a different language. The recent influx of migrant families has exacerbated the problem. What policies do you support to ensure the district is supporting bilingual students and in compliance with state and federal laws?
I will support all policies necessary to bring about compliance to support our bilingual students.

Top local issue

Please share one issue that’s a top concern for your community or your larger elected school board voting district.
The need for sustainable community schools throughout our community of CPS Board District 10.