CPS Watchdog Announces New Data Analysis Team

Chicago Public Schools Inspector General Nicholas Schuler announced Wednesday his office has hired two former Sun-Times reporters to run its new Performance Analysis section. (Chicago Tonight)

Chicago Public Schools’ Office of the Inspector General is expanding its investigatory reach this month, adding a pair of data analysis and research experts to its team of district watchdogs.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Inspector General Nicholas Schuler announced Wednesday the creation of a new performance analysis branch he says will greatly improve his office’s ability to root out system-wide issues through the use of data-driven review. 

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Schuler said. “It’s been in the works concretely since the spring, but it’s something I knew our office needed and so it’s been a broad goal I’ve had in mind since I became inspector general two-and-a-half years ago.”

While OIG investigations typically focus on individual employees or schools, this new section will be able to look at broad topics and issues throughout CPS, analyzing chunks of data to be used in OIG reports and its recommendations to CPS and the Board of Education.

Schuler described the performance analysis branch as more of an offshoot of the work already being done by his office.

“Over the years, in my time as a deputy here and as inspector general, it was clear to me that this office needed a broader capacity to look at issues at a system-wide level, look at the data and see what the data is saying across the board in areas,” he said. “We needed to have a dedicated capacity for that.”

Rosalind Rossi and Art Golab, a pair of former reporters at the Chicago Sun-Times, are slated to head up the new section beginning Jan. 17.

Rossi had covered education, courts and, most recently, transportation for the Sun-Times, while also contributing as an editorial board writer. Golab had worked as a data journalist at the paper for more than a decade before moving on to lead the data team at Modern Healthcare, a Chicago-based nationwide publication for healthcare executives.

Given their background and history of working together, Schuler said he expects both to “hit the ground running” when they begin next week.

“(Rosalind) and Art have worked together at the Sun-Times using data on educational issues involving CPS specifically so, frankly, I think they’re going to be a force multiplier because they’re bringing data analysis skills, writing skills and interviewing skills to this,” he said. “And on top of that they have specific CPS educational background.”

The OIG created the branch by converting traditional investigative positions, which means the new section will not affect the office’s overall budget. That reorganization will also allow for a third member to join on sometime in the future.

CPS spokeswoman Emily Bittner said the district shares data related to academic performance, school quality and district operations to allow education experts, universities and the public to review their performance.

"Because CPS already has strong partnerships with respected independent organizations, the District has been able to act quickly on research-driven recommendations – and has seen the fruit of those partnerships," she said in an email. "In that vein, we will carefully review any OIG suggestions.”

Schuler’s office recently released its 2016 annual report, which highlighted a graduation rate misclassification scheme in at least one CPS high school where chronically truant or dropout students had been intentionally misclassified as homeschool transfers.

Last year, the OIG also released reports on fraudulent attendance record keeping within four district schools and the free use of high school facilities by privately run sports clubs.

Schuler also spoke publicly at last month’s Board of Education meeting, saying his investigation into whether CPS general counsel Ronald Marmer had violated district policy had been stalled by the board’s use of attorney-client privilege.

Schuler had no update on that situation as of Wednesday morning. The district reiterated it must not undermine the legal principle that is essential to board operations and the privileged information between an attorney and client.

CPS employees, parents or members of the public wanting to report issues for OIG or performance analysis review can contact the office at www.cpsoig.org or 773-534-9400.

Follow Matt Masterson on Twitter: @ByMattMasterson


Related stories:

Watchdog Says CPS Board Blocking Ethics Investigation

Dec. 8: An investigation into whether or not the Chicago Board of Education’s top attorney violated a Chicago Public Schools ethics policy has been stalled, according to the district’s Inspector General Nick Schuler.


CPS Says Employee Provided Noble Charter Schools With Unauthorized Student Information

Nov. 17: Chicago Public Schools is investigating an employee who allegedly turned over confidential student information to the Noble Network of Charter Schools earlier this fall, according to a letter sent to district parents this week.


CPS Head Investigator Claims District Auditors Interfered in Theft Probe

Sept. 19: Internal auditors reportedly ignored multiple warnings from the CPS inspector general against conducting its own probe into the theft of tens of thousands of CTA transit passes, which the OIG says jeopardized a possible criminal prosecution and hindered its investigative efforts.


Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors