Prairie State Wire

Jim Dodge thinks the Chicago Public School system now too closely resembles the general assembly in Springfield.

“Just like Springfield, CPS is too insular in and of itself,” Dodge told the Prairie State Wire. “It’s all a broad reflection of people forgetting what they’re supposed to be doing. They’re all supposed to be public servants, but none of that is what they’re doing.”

Dodge points to the brewing CPS scandal where a Chicago Tribune investigation found that numerous CPD students were sexually preyed upon by school district employees over a prolonged period after at least some of the workers were only submitted to minimal background checks.

Illinois State House Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills)

“It’s horrifying, because these kids are entrusted to these adults,” said Dodge, running as a Republican for state treasurer in November’s general election. “We can’t have institutions that are left to police themselves, especially when they have a history of having not done a good job at it.”

In the end, Dodge said such an environment breeds the same kind of abusive culture that is now plaguing Springfield, where at least four of House Speaker Mike Madigan’s close associates have recently been ensnared in an ongoing sexual assault scandal, including his second in command, Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie). 

He added he stands in support of proposals like House Bill 5914 put forth by Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills), which would require the Illinois State Board of Education to “be aware of and monitor, the process of each individual background check” conducted by school districts and also make the act of an authority figure engaging in a sexual relationship with a student a criminal act, regardless of age.

“Any legislation that increases accountability and visibility is a good thing,” he said. “If those rules are rigorously enforced for all to see, it could all work. Right now, we are the land of institutionalized corruption.”