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The following is written by Edspresso contributor Collin Hitt, who was present at the legislative meetings he recounts below.  It should be noted that he does not take a position on the proposed charter school ban (Illinois House Bill 232) and that any opinions expressed below are solely his own. -ed.

Last month, State Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) introduced House Bill 232, which would ban local school boards and the Illinois State Board of Education from “establishing, maintaining, or in any way supporting any virtual schools or virtual classes for elementary or secondary students in this State.

It has become abundantly clear that this is a thinly-veiled attempt by the Chicago Teachers Union to close the newly-opened Chicago Virtual Charter School – a mixed delivery virtual school open to all students in Chicago. The CTU, it should be noted, is currently involved in litigation to close that school down.  When the school was approved by the state board of education last fall, the CTU pledged to “block or stop the opening of this school.”  Well, it’s open, and doing well.

Davis and the CTU’s intentions were made clear last week, when she amended HB 232 to extend the proposed ban to charter schools, as well.  Now, if the bill becomes law, neither public funds nor charters’ private foundation funds will be allowed to support or maintain virtual schools or classes.  After amending the bill, however, Rep. Davis elected to hold HB 232 and not vote on it.  You see, the meeting room of the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee was at that time packed to the rafters with students, parents and teachers from the virtual charter school.

For her part, Davis denied any connection to the Chicago Teachers Union, when a fellow representative insinuated that the legislation was initiated by CTU.  Shortly thereafter, she was passed a note from a teachers union official present at the meeting.  Reading from that note, she stated that she had information from the State Board of Education, showing that the virtual charter school had received $20,000 per pupil.  Sharon Hayes, head of school at CVCS, denied that allegation.

A CTU official then helped herself to Hayes’ microphone, stating that she had only a moment before received that information from the state board of education.  “Chicago Virtual Charter School received $849,000 from the State last year,” she said in more or less words.  With around 250 students, “that comes out to $20,000 per student.”  As one of the students pointed out in the hallway after the meeting, 849,000 divided by 250 comes out, roughly, to 3,500.

Neither side recognized the mistake at the time it was made.  Nevertheless, Davis went on to make comments which can best be described as ‘in poor taste.’  And by all accounts Davis had her hat handed to her in the debate by both the gallery and fellow representatives.

Over the past week, she has taken the time to regroup.  Yesterday, Rep. Davis introduced another amendment, which lifted the proposed ban on school boards and ISBE from funding virtual classes, and will not allow virtual schools to open after the date that the bill is passed, if it is passed.  Her new amendment, however, does nothing to alter her first amendment to the bill, from last week, which banned all charter schools from “establishing, maintaining, or in way supporting” virtual classes and schools.  So, if passed, even as most recently amended, the bill will force the Chicago Virtual Charter School to close.

It isn’t known when Davis will eventually call the bill for a vote, or if she plans to amend it again. One can only wait and see.  But if past behavior is any indication of how that day will play out, the CTU will show up and paint a ridiculous picture of virtual education, Davis will probably help them, and there is more than a good chance that the bill will be passed onto the House floor for a vote.

Collin Hitt may be reached at collinhitt at hotmail dot com.