Kane County Reporter

Republican House candidate Dan Ugaste thinks it’s time Chicago Public School (CPS) officials start to show more respect for the rules and guidelines they’ve instituted for themselves.

“This is a Chicago issue that, from what I understand, grew from them not following their own guidelines for assuring the safety of students,” Ugaste told the Kane County Reporter. “It’s incumbent on them to fix this, unless we’re talking about a total takeover of the system. Chicago needs to put the right people in place to enforce its own rules and protect all these vulnerable children.”

A recent Chicago Tribune investigative series found approximately 40 students have been sexually abused by other students in Chicago schools over the last decade. During that time, the Tribune reported more than half of the students were special-needs pupils.

Richard Johnson

Ugaste, running against Democrat Richard Johnson in the 65th District, believes the scandal is another example of how much Springfield is in need of a complete overhaul.

“I don’t know if anyone had any idea something this sinister was going on, but now that it’s come to light I would say we need to tie more oversight into all the money and funding the state has been providing for CPS,” he said. “Going forward, just watching how all the money is being spent may not be enough.”

Ugaste said that his opponent has steered clear of the issue, which doesn’t come as too much of a surprise to him.

“I haven’t heard from him on this or anything else,” he said. “All he talks about is how he is an independent candidate when he is clearly is supported by (House Speaker) Mike Madigan, the man as responsible for this state’s problems as anyone.”

The 65th House District includes Batavia, Burlington, Dundee, Elgin, Geneva, Grafton, Hampshire, Plato, Rutland and St. Charles.