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Chicago's Republican Party chairman filed an ethics complaint with the Chicago Public Schools inspector general Wednesday alleging district CEO Forrest Claypool improperly used taxpayer resources to deliver a "blatantly political letter" to parents this week.

"It was misusing taxpayer money for political purposes," Chicago Republican Chairman Chris Cleveland said during a news conference with a small group of GOP volunteers and staffers outside Inspector General Nicholas Schuler's office. "It is not only improper; it is entirely illegal."

The school district's battle with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner over education funding escalated this week with dueling letters delivered to parents of students at the financially troubled district.

In a letter to parents that coincided with the announcement of a $46 million spending freeze for schools, Claypool wrote that "Governor Rauner, just like President Trump, has decided to attack those who need the most help."

The district says cuts are necessary because of a veto by the governor that cost the district $215 million in anticipated state aid.

"If we are not able to win the political battles in Springfield, we will have to make more cuts," Claypool's letter said. "Those cuts will be even more painful. We need not just the $215 million first step that the Governor has stolen from your children. We need real change that is fair to your children."

The Rauner administration sent its own letter to CPS parents in which state Education Secretary Beth Purvis accused CPS of trying to "arbitrarily create a crisis" with "a curiously timed and unfortunate announcement" on Monday about the spending freeze.

Purvis told parents that "continued mismanagement left (CPS) with a $215 million hole in the current fiscal year," despite an annual special block grant from the state, declining enrollment within the district and increased property taxes.

In his letter urging Schuler to investigate Claypool, Cleveland cited the bribery scandal that brought down former district CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett.

"I ask that you look into Mr. Claypool's pattern of unethical behavior to help guard against CPS finding itself with the same fate under Mr. Claypool as it had under Ms. Byrd-Bennett," the letter said.

Claypool defended his letter to parents at a news conference where he continued his campaign against Rauner and the state's education funding system. He dismissed the GOP complaint as "a silly smokescreen.

"It is well within my authority, and it is actually my responsibility to do something," Claypool said.

"This not partisan at all. This is about the kids of Chicago and how politics in Springfield and the actions of the governor affect them. I'm not the one who decided in the middle of the school year, when it could do the most harm to kids, to pull resources away from them. The governor chose to do that."

Rauner has said he vetoed the measure that would have provided $215 million to CPS because Democrats went back on a deal that tied the aid to broader changes to the state's employee retirement system.

School ethics policies generally prohibit CPS employees from engaging in a broad list of "political activity" during work time including activities such as participating in or assisting with political campaigns or organizing political demonstrations.

Those prohibitions exclude activities "relating to the support or opposition of any executive, legislative, or administrative action" as defined by state lobbying laws. The policy also does not prohibit political activities "that are otherwise appropriate for an Employee to engage in as part of his or her official employment duties."

Schulers office declined comment.

jjperez@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @PerezJr

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Republicans cry foul over CPS chief's letter to parents - Chicago Tribune