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Nobody in authority is talking on the record, including Calvin Davis, the Chicago Board of Education's director of sports administration, but it has been confirmed that the Chicago Public League's office that supervises the city's vast sports programs has been "gutted" by a series of recent personnel layoffs and budget cutbacks.
According to reliable sources within the sports department, 21 employees have been jettisoned since the Chicago Board of Education announced that it is facing a $700 million budget deficit and as many as 2,700 teachers could be laid off. At the same time, it was revealed that all sports in the CPS below the varsity level are in jeopardy of being cut.
"They don't care about sports," one CPS official said.
At the moment, there is no budget for summer activities in CPS and there is no budget for frosh-soph sports for the 2010-11 school year.
Among the longtime CPS employees laid off were two consultants, former King basketball coach Landon Cox and former Robeson football coach Roy Curry.
Also laid off were five of six stadium directors, including former King basketball star Levertis Robinson at Rockne, Clarence Notree at Gately and Eddie Curry at Stagg, and many stadium workers. Last fall, former Parker (now Robeson) and Marquette basketball star Maurice "Bo" Ellis lost his job as stadium director at Lane.
Recently, Simeon basketball coach Robert Smith expressed a fear for what could happen if thousands of CPS boys and girls who normally would be participating in frosh-soph sports are left with no after-school activities. CPS hasn't addressed the issue.
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Nothing good will come of this gutting of the sports office. I know the CPS must be in dire straights from a budgetary standpoint, but this will impact the poorest, toughest neighborhoods in Chicago most because they can't afford to pay for club sports. Catholic and private schools may be recruiting more public kids. On the flip side gangs will be recruiting more too because kids will be available. It's a shame, and I really hope something changes to stop the bloodletting on sports in Chicago.
THE CPS IS DOING LIKE THE MARINE CORPS, THEY ARE TRIMMING THE FAT OFF THE BONE, AND THEN THEY WILL REORGANIZE THEIR SPORTS PROGRAMS, THEY WILL LOOK VERY TACKY IF THEY DON'T HAVE A QUALITY SPORTS ADMINISTRATION!
REMEMBER EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE AN EXTENSION OF THE CLASSROOM!
WAY TO MANY GREAT ATHLETES HAVE COME FROM THE CPS, NOT TO HAVE A SPORTS ADMINISTRATION THAT STRIVES FOR EXCELLENCE ON AND OFF THE PLAYING FIELD!
TONY ALLEN OF THE BOSTON CELTICS PLAYED AT CRANE TECH, KEVIN GARNETT PLAYED AT FARRAGUT ACADEMY, IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE CPS GUYS IN THE NBA FINALS, WE MUST HAVE A QUALITY SPORTS PROGRAM IN THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
This is truly sad news.
What is even sadder is 6 million dollars of the tax payer's money has recently been allocated to create a radio broacasters/communications Hall of Fame in Chicago.
Huh? Even if that money had not been used for CPS athletic programs, I have to believe that there are certainly more important uses for that kind of money in the city.
We most certainly have enough tourist attractions in Chicago. I sincerely doubt that such a Hall of Fame will do that much to increase tourism to make it worth the dollars.
Shame on the legislators who gave a nod to such a seemingly wasteful project when CPS is in such dire need. I guess they figured $6 million would hardly make a dent in a $700 million dollar deficit. I say...every little bit helps.
If the problem is in Springfield/Washington, Why does everyone keep re-electing the same politicians?
If you want a change, you must change the people in charge.
Saying "my congressman is good, its the others" just leads to the status quo being maintained.
Watch what happens in November... the same people will be elected to their offices in Springfield.