Will County Gazette

State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is calling for a “complete overhaul” of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system after an investigation found approximately 40 students were sexually abused over the last decade.

The Chicago Tribune special investigation found the students were sexually abused by other students and just as many were preyed upon by adult staff, including teachers and coaches.

“This is totally unacceptable,” Batinick told the Will County Gazette. “Now that we know what’s been happening, not enough is being done in Springfield or CPS to address it. The leadership is completely inept, and the fact that there is still a lack of transparency about everything is simply appalling.”

Mica Freeman, Democratic candidate for Illinois House District 97.

The Tribune series found nearly half of the victims of the student-on-student sexual misconduct were special-needs pupils.

Running for re-election in the 97th District against Democrat Mica Freeman, Batinick said the scandal is another example that Springfield has taken the wrong approach in dealing with CPS.

“With all the money that the state has pumped into CPS over the years, there definitely should have been more oversight,” he said. “It’s completely plausible that we’ve allowed this system to become too much of a behemoth for its own good and for the good of our children.”

All options should be on the table when addressing the issues with CPS, including splitting the system up into smaller districts that would make it easier to monitor activities, Batinick said.

“The system has to be able to function and do the job it needs to do,” he said. “We owe that to all the children of CPS.”

The 97th District includes all or parts of Oswego, Plainfield, Troy and Wheatland.