Chicago is preparing for its first election for school board president. Three candidates are running: Jessica Biggs, Hilario Dominguez and Victor Henderson. Each must answer questions about his or her professional or personal past. In conversations with reporters, they offered their own explanations of the allegations and controversies.
Hilario Dominguez Rejects Allegations of Inappropriate Conduct
Hilario Dominguez, a former teacher and former deputy political director of the Chicago Teachers Union, addressed allegations of sexual misconduct. The case involved an incident from about 10 years ago. At the time, a 17-year-old girl claimed that during a one-on-one meeting he asked her questions about her romantic life.
Dominguez maintains that the allegations were reviewed four times and each time were found to be baseless and unsubstantiated.
He also addressed the renewed interest in the case from the Office of the Inspector General at Chicago Public Schools (CPS). According to him, reopening the investigation and commenting on the case publicly violated the rules governing that office. The candidate says he cooperated with the investigators and was cleared of the allegations again.
Jessica Biggs Explains Circumstances of Her Dismissal From a School
Jessica Biggs, a former school principal, was dismissed from her post in 2018. Concerns raised by the CPS inspector general included possible falsification of student attendance data and directing school employees to drive students, which was said to violate district rules.
After those events, Biggs was placed on a list of people CPS should not hire. Her name was removed from it last year.
The candidate says the investigation was incomplete and the decision to put her on the list was unfair. She says she opposed cuts to support for students with disabilities and spoke out in their defense.
Victor Henderson Responds to Allegations in Divorce Records
Questions about his personal past have also arisen in the case of Victor Henderson, an attorney and certified public accountant (CPA) who has a child in CPS schools.
In 2010 divorce records, his ex-wife accused him of hitting the oldest child, allegedly leaving marks on the child’s face and arms. Henderson denied ever abusing his children. He acknowledged that he disciplined them and raised his voice, but stressed that there was no violence.
The candidates offer differing explanations of matters from their pasts. The controversies have become one of the campaign topics ahead of Chicago’s first election for school board president.
Source: Polski.FM
