FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: For more information, contact:

Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017 CPS Office of Communications

Phone: 773-553-1620
Website: http://www.cps.edu
Facebook: ChicagoPublicSchools
Twitter: @ChiPubSchools

Statement From CPS CEO Forrest Claypool

I made a mistake. I can't put my mind back in that high pressure place--when we were negotiating with the
CTU and fighting to keep schools funded and open in the final days of the legislative session. But I look at the
facts today and see that I misread the situation, and made mistakes in judgment, and I apologize for this.

I pursued the goal of keeping schools open with the same single-mindedness with which I pursued every
public position Ive held over nearly 30 years. Like anyone else, Im embarrassed by my mistakes, but remain
proud of how weve moved this system forward despite seemingly insurmountable financial hurdles.

However, lets be clear about what this situation is and what it isnt.

This is not a case of anyone profiting off of CPS; no one in this story gained a dollar. This is not a case of
anyone taking anything from children; this is a case of fighting to get more resources for children. In fact,
the only ones who profited from this pursuit of justice were our students, who have another $450 million of
funding from the state due to the efforts our team.

To put this in perspective: This situation is about how I zealously tried to get Chicago students their fair share
of state education dollars, after years and years racial discrimination, and getting those kids the best possible
legal representation.

While I continue to have a strong disagreement with Mr. Schulers interpretation of the Board policy which I
believe was written to prevent profiteering off the schools I have already acknowledged that in my desire to
ensure the best possible legal representation, and keep public attention focused squarely and solely on the civil
rights injustice against CPS kids, that I mishandled some matters.

I have fully acknowledged my mistakes in judgment and apologized. I apologize again today. But I do not
regret the passion for justice that led to that mistake. I will always fight hard to ensure that CPS children,
regardless of race or income, receive the educations they deserve.

With apologies for errors I made along the way, I stand proud of the work Ive done at CPS and throughout
my career in service to the City of Chicago, to give its residents better parks, better trains and buses, and, most
importantly, the best schools.

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