Embezzlement and the Fiscal Crisis in Chicago Public Schools

The news of former Simeon High School’s finance manager, Marilyn Jenkins-Evans, being charged with embezzling $450,000 in school funds while working in $79,800 position should shed light on hiring and promotion policies at the Board of Education, but it probably won’t. Ironically, Ms.Jenkins-Evans was promoted to a central office position at the same time she was embezzling money from Simeon; so much for the vetting process downtown. For a picture of this 47 year-old diva, click here. The questions begin to bubble to the surface. Who hired Ms. Jenkins-Evans? What are Ms. Jenkins-Evans’ credentials? Does she wear Prada? Does she have a drug habit? Christ, how many Ms. Jenkins-Evans types are there out there in CPS in charge of the cashbox? Where did all the money go? How did she get promoted so fast? Why did Pastor Katie Peecher of New Heritage Cathedral feel compelled to call her a "wonderful woman"? WTF? What is no surprise is that with folks like Ms. Jenkins-Evans in charge it is no wonder that CPS is in a fiscal crisis. Many budget directors, finance managers, and principals across CPS are probably quite worried today. In all likelihood there will be more charges in the near future. Perhaps it is time we have highly qualified individuals not only in the classroom but manning the money too. For all you high school math teachers prepping for the PSAE, try these timely word problems out: 1) Assuming that #2 pencils cost $0.78 a dozen, how many pencils could Ms. Jenkins-Evans have purchased for Simeon students? 2) If a tutoring company offers private, one-on-one, tutoring for $75/hour, how many hours of private, one-on-one, tutoring could Ms. Jenkins-Evans have purchased for Simeon students? 3) What is the minimum number of central office administrators’ salaries that Ms. Jenkins-Evans could have picked up? Use The Champion to obtain salary information. Good Luck