Ron Huberman
It’s been a little over a year since Ron Huberman was named chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools. In January 2009 Huberman was tapped for the top post by Mayor Richard M. Daley to replace Arne Duncan, who resigned to become secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. In a recent interview with the Defender, the public schools CEO declined to grade his work in the school district, thus far. Instead, he yielded assessment of his performance to others.
Black clergy, community organizations, local school councils, and elected officials had no problem weighing in on the school chief.
Huberman’s annual salary is $230,000 although after he takes three weeks of mandated furloughs and six unpaid holidays, Monique Bond, spokeswoman for CPS, said his salary this year would be $216,660.
Supporters praised his ability to successfully manage the nation’s third largest school district despite the many challenges it faces, such as insufficient state funding and a growing budget deficit. But critics collectively said Huberman has to improve his relationship with the community, career educators at CPS such as teachers, and learn how to run the school district not as a business but as an institution of learning if he wants to improve his overall performance.
Previously, Huberman served as president of the Chicago Transit Authority, mayoral chief of staff, and executive director for the city’s Office of Emergency Management. He was also a Chicago police officer for several years.
Now he controls the city’s 482 public elementary,122 high schools and 71 charters for a total of 675 schools that make up the district. Its operating budget this school year is $5.3 billion. Huberman predicts CPS’ deficit could grow to nearly $1 billion next year largely due to pension obligations, and has suggested that teachers consider forgoing a scheduled pay raise next year to help reduce the deficit.
And despite never being a classroom teacher as some parents and community members have suggested is needed for anyone holding the top post, Huberman’s boss, Daley, said he supports the CEO’s efforts.
“When I chose Ron Huberman to be the CEO of Chicago Public Schools one year ago, I made it clear that his focus should be to improve neighborhood schools, increase parent involvement, team up with community organizations and churches to provide mentoring and support, and partner with businesses to provide summer jobs and activities for kids,” Daley said. “Despite the challenging economy, Ron has worked to keep the Chicago Public Schools on track.”
Daley was not the only elected official to give Huberman high praise for his efforts thus far. U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis, D-7th Dist., said what little he knows about Huberman he likes. “It is not easy to assign a letter grade to Ron Huberman because as usual, the school system will get mixed reviews,” he said. “Mr. Huberman has managed expectations, therefore, he has passed.” One local parent-teacher association organization also approves of Huberman’s first year. Cynthia Flowers is president of the Black Star Community PTA and gave Huberman a “C” but suggests he needs to improve in listening to the community.
“I think he attempts to listen with a sensitive ear but that needs to improve,” she told the Defender. “It has only been a year so he has a long way to go, but so far I would say he is doing an okay job.” Even clergy leaders praised Huberman’s efforts for improving CPS, which serves over 400,00 students.
“The Culture of Calm initiative he started was a great idea because our kids need to feel safe before they can think about learning,” said the Rev. Steve Jones, president of the Baptist Pastors Conference of Chicago. “This program earned him a “B” from me.”
Jones said Huberman can earn an “A” next year but that would require him to involve the community more in the decision process.
“We (the clergy and community) would like to be at the table when solutions are discussed and not after they have been made,” he told the Defender.
The Chicago City Council’s 19 Black aldermen make up its Black Caucus and Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) is the chairman.
“Ron Huberman is a work in progress. I would give his performance this first year a ‘B,’” Burnett told the Defender. “I have known him to always keep his word, so if he says he will work to improve our schools, I believe him.”
He added that Huberman could improve his grade by making sure all kids have a chance to attend schools in their community even if it is a selective enrollment or magnet school.
“I think Ron needs to also strengthen his relationship with the Chicago Teachers Union if he plans to make things right for our kids,” Burnett said.
CTU President Marilyn Stewart gave Huberman an “F” and said he has a lot of work to do. “Based on the deficit, wasteful spending and lack of respect for career educators, Mr. Huberman gets an “F” from me,” Stewart told the Defender. “He does not respect people who have come up through the system. He wants to blame the budget problems on teacher pensions and is asking teachers to forgo a raise they have earned.”
Stewart added that Huberman more than likely will not stick around long enough to see changes needed to improve public education.
“He does not stay anywhere too long so I do not think he will be around for the long haul,” she said. “He needs to improve his reckless and irresponsible actions. (For example) he admitted that the process for which CPS uses to determine what schools to close or turn around is flawed but yet he continues to use it.”
Stewart is not the only one to give Huberman an thumbs down.
Derrick Harris, president of the North Lawndale Local School Council Federation, also “flagged” him.
“He has a long way to go before he receives a passing grade from me. He has failed our kids, parents and the community,” he said. “His inability to listen to the needs of the community largely contributed to him receiving an ‘F.’”
Harris added that Huberman’s mission is driven more by the business of education rather than the vision of education.
One community organization chose not to give Huberman an F but an incomplete grade. “If I had to grade his performance this year it would be an ‘Incomplete,’” said Herman Brewer, acting president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “My ‘Incomplete’ is not to give him a passing grade (either).”
Among the things Brewer said needs to improve is the overall leadership at CPS and Huberman’s relationship with the community when it comes to concerns about schools.
In 2008, the Chicago Urban League filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois and the Illinois State Board of Education for funding disparities between minority and white school districts.
The suit is ongoing and Brewer said the Urban League is currently completing the discovery process and expects a hearing to be set by the fall.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
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